Curator Travis Curtin said the new exhibition - One Foot on the Ground, One Foot in the Water - would start on Tuesday and run through to January 17.

He said the opening date was only delayed by about a week.

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"We have been really lucky among a really tumultuous time for the arts sector," Mr Curtin said. "It's really great to have people back in the building to experience art again.

"It's a big relief to be opening to the public after such a long break."

The exhibition included paintings, sculptures, and installations that explored the concept of mortality and death.

Eleven contemporary artists from Australia, the UK, and United States were featured in the exhibition.

Mr Curtin said the gallery would be safe for patrons to explore, with increased signage, hand sanitiser, face masks, and other measures.

"We have implemented COVID-safe protocols that were developed in consultation with the university's policy and the arts sector advice," he said.

Read more: New La Trobe Art Institute Bendigo art exhibition explores the state between life and death

"We have developed a strategy to ensure a comfortable and safe space. It's trickled down into how the traffic will flow through the building with the limited capacity."

Mr Curtin said the institute also had a number of different virtual programs and events planned for the coming months.

"We will continue to maintain those online virtual engagements with the view of maintaining that increased accessibility to the exhibition experience and access to hearing artists speaking about their work," he said.

Mr Curtin said people should embrace the increased freedoms and explore the new exhibition.

"After spending so much time on screens and online - while we have tried to push those formats - nothing beats looking at art in person," he said.

"Nothing beats it in the flesh and having a bodily relationship with the art. It's unrivalled in person."

Mr Curtin said more information could be found at latrobe.edu.au/art-institute

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