Bendigo is at the heart of a new arts strategy by La Trobe University, which would see the city promoted as a creative hub for regional Victoria.

The university intends to launch a major touring exhibition celebrating its 50^th anniversary at Bendigo Art Gallery mid next year. 

It wants to relocate its 7000-piece art collection to Bendigo for storage, management and curation.

A redevelopment is proposed for the La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre on View Street.

And the La Trobe Art Institute, based in Bendigo and headed by Bendigo Art Gallery director Karen Quinlan, has been noted for its potential to play “a significant role in the next stage of cultural development in regional Victoria.”

“We see this as a major vote of confidence in the future of visual arts in Bendigo,” La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor John Dewar said.

“We want the university to be a destination of choice for students interested in studying creative practice and cultural management in a regional context.”

The university is keen to build and bolster its arts and cultural industry partnerships, in Bendigo and elsewhere, to make that happen.

Working with parties like the City of Greater Bendigo on ideas like a sculpture plaza at the corner of View Street and Rosalind Park, where Forever Marilyn stood, are among strategic priorities for 2017 and beyond.

Professor Dewar has invited contributions and suggestions about the plan, elements of which are pending feedback from relevant university staff.