It takes senior curator Kent Wilson and curator Travis Curtin almost two years to plan, source and exhibit works at the La Trobe's Art Institute in View Street.
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Such foresight requires flexibility.
"We don't want to plan too far ahead because there are changes of government and environmental situations that could have major impacts on society," Mr Wilson said.
The institute's mantra is to not focus solely on exhibitions, but rather a program that engages young minds with presentations, discussions, workshops and a gallery space.
"By thinking about these elements during the planning stage, we are able to develop an interrelated program" Mr Wilson said.
This week's announcement of the closure of the Susan McMinn's Arnold Street Gallery after five years of operation leaves a gap in arts programs in Bendigo, according to La Trobe University's public programs coordinator Karen Annett-Thomas.
"Sue has done a fantastic job providing opportunities for local artists to showcase their work.
"I think her workshop program has been brilliant for families and school kids, especially for kids that aren't into sport and want a creative outlet.
"There will be a hole there and Bendigo needs that filled and it could be something the institute looks at," Ms Annett-Thomas said.
The loss of the Arnold Street Gallery cuts to the ecology of the arts scene in Bendigo, Mr Wilson said.
"There seems to be an absence of infrastructure for arts in Bendigo.
"We have a wonderful, internationally renowned gallery and museum in the Bendigo Art Gallery, but not a lot of intermediary gallery spaces for artists to show their work.
"For Arnold Street to disappear leaves an obvious gap and I anticipate it will be filled, but don't know by who," Mr Wilson said.
Almost 2500 school children from across central and northern Victoria visited the La Trobe Art Institute in 2019, an increase on the 1000 students who visited in 2018.
Ms Annett-Thomas said the big increase in school engagement offers a chance to advocate for higher learning.
The biennial Emerging Curators Program is another that promotes a career in the arts.
"The program is a way to engage with early practitioners, exhibition makers, curators and people wanting to put on an exhibition to show that there is value in further education in the arts," Ms Annet-Thomas said.
On February 17, They Cannot Take the Sky: Stories from Detention debuts at the La Trobe Art Institute.
The exhibition will feature stories of refugees and their experiences on Manus Island and in Nauru.
"It will have lots of elements - video work, booths set up where you can sit and listen to particular stories and engage with those, portraits of migrants and refugees and audio work," Mr Wilson said.
They Cannot Take the Sky was booked prior to the last federal election in May.
"Talking to the producer, I remember saying that every anticipation was that there will be a different government.
"That hasn't happened and so this provides another interesting context for us," Mr Wilson said.
At the heart of the exhibition's genesis was the emotion it would evoke in the central Victorian community.
"The stories speak to a broader experience.
"We have engaged with Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services and the exhibition will be part of Bendigo's cultural diversity week in March," Ms Annett-Thomas said.
The La Trobe Art Institute is located at 121 View Street, Bendigo.
Entry to the gallery is free.
For more information and to view the full 2020 program, visit latrobe.edu.au/art-institute
