CREATIVES from Australian galleries converged on Bendigo's art precinct to discuss the future of creativity in the area of public art.
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Public Galleries Association of Victoria hosted the event for people working within the public gallery sector.
The summit was titled The Art of Reinvention with the colour yellow, for optimism, the summit's theme.
Gallery director Karen Quinlan said the summit would look at how and why the Bendigo Art Gallery has become what it is now in such a short period of time.
"People are in awe of what we have done here," she said.
Gallery leaders have said the success of the Bendigo Art Gallery is owed to "the Quinlan Effect".
This describes the transformative process whereby a regional gallery becomes so different, so adventurous and so popular that it puts its city firmly on the international
cultural map and brings in millions of dollars in tourist revenue.
"We have a lot to be proud of here," Ms Quinlan said.
"To find a difference is very important in a regional gallery.
''We had a building of international standards, so let's see what we could do with it. It was an evolution from there."
Tony Grybowski said Bendigo was a "beacon" of artistic development for all of Australia.
"It is a reinvention," he said.
"Bendigo came from sheep, to gold, to industry - to then be reinvented with such a cultural focus.
"It is a beacon in the landscape of both a quality gallery and community engagement."
Mr Grybowski made reference to the New York Times feature on Bendigo - referring to the town as a cultural escape north of Melbourne.
He said art-world leaders developed new ways to engage audiences and worldwide recognition was testament to that.
Beyond the success of reinvention for the Bendigo Art Gallery the summit addressed the ways public galleries could increase viability.
National Gallery of Vitoria Director Tony Ellwood discussed how a revitalised focus on audiences engagement remains central to exhibition and program and development.