Location
Ararat Gallery TAMA (Textile Art Museum Australia)
82 Vincent Street, Ararat
Victoria 3377, Australia
Hours
Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm
Weekends 10am to 4pm
Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day
and New Year’s Day
ANZAC Day 1pm to 4pm
Driving
Ararat lies at an important junction of several highways about 198 kilometres north west of Melbourne.
Due to the Western Highway Duplication Project between Beaufort and Ararat travellers may experience delays.
Driving Times & Distances
Parking
Limited parking is available on site near the art gallery entrance (six spots plus one accessible spot).
Parking is also available within close proximity of the gallery on Barkly Street, High Street and a limited amount in Vincent Street.
Public Transport
Trains run directly to Ararat from Southern Cross Station daily with coach connections to Halls Gap, Hamilton, Warrnambool and Horsham. Centrally located to the Grampians National Park, the Goldfields, the South Coast and to Metropolitan Melbourne, the Ararat Region is not far from anywhere!
Accessibility
Wheelchair Access
Ararat Gallery TAMA (Textile Art Museum Australia) is wheelchair accessible from the east side of Vincent Street footpath via a slight incline. There is a limited number of tables and chairs sparsely arranged from Foragers Cafe in the undercover entry area. The automatic double glass doors open into the foyer which has polished concrete flooring, with the service area with low counter benchtops to the left. As well as being the service area for the Art Gallery, this area is also Ararat Visitor Information Centre. This accredited centre offers a range of services including detailed information on the region and its attractions, quality publications, and souvenirs.
Ararat Gallery TAMA has three collection display areas, with all areas accessible and displays spaced appropriately to ensure ease of movement through areas. The first exhibition is on the left-hand side passing the service counter this area has a flat open and level polished concrete floor. An accessible toilet is also located on the left-hand side via a clearly signed door on the LHS of the building, which leads to a short passage with the bathroom
directly ahead. The exhibition space has contrast between walls and floor, natural lighting and ceiling lights making movement around the exhibition area comfortable. Due to the artwork being highly sensitive to both Ultraviolet (UV) and Infrared (IR) damage, the lighting may be dimmed for artwork conservation. Light near the artworks is carefully monitored and limited by using indirect positioning of light sources and lux level monitoring. This may affect a person with vision impairment, please ask staff on hand if assistance is needed.
Upon leaving the first exhibition space the remaining two exhibition spaces are accessed via the main foyer and large walkway on the right-hand side. The two exhibition spaces are on another level and can be accessed via the accessible lift to the left or the stairs which have tactile indicators at the top and bottom. The stairs are wooden and accessed through the double glass doors that are open, the stairs have metal handrails on both sides.
The two exhibition spaces are interconnected with a small, tiled foyer connecting them. The two exhibition spaces have polished timber flooring with slight ramping in two sections of the 2nd exhibition space and there is a contrast between walls and floor. This area is open with slight internal walling making movement around the exhibition area accessible. Due to the artwork being highly sensitive to both Ultraviolet (UV) and Infrared (IR) damage, the lighting may be dimmed for artwork conservation. Light near the artworks is carefully monitored and limited by using indirect positioning of light sources and lux level monitoring. This may affect a person with vision impairment, please ask staff on hand if assistance is needed.
The 3rd exhibition space is accessed through the small, tiled foyer area via open glass doors. Due to the artwork being highly sensitive to both Ultraviolet (UV) and Infrared (IR) damage, the lighting may be dimmed for artwork conservation. Light near the artworks is carefully monitored and limited by using indirect positioning of light sources and lux level monitoring. This may affect a person with vision impairment, please ask staff on hand if assistance is needed.
If you have further questions or need assistance, please inform a staff member, or make contact prior to your visit via the telephone number or email address provided above to discuss further.
Toilets
An accessible toilet is located via a clearly signed doorway on the LHS of the building past the front counter, which leads to a short passage with the toilet at the end of the passage. The accessible toilet is identified as a unisex accessible toilet RH facility & parent room and has both braille and raised tactile lettering on the sign. The toilet has a wide wooden door that swings inwards (assistance may be needed) with tiled flooring, lever tap with a basin and a wall mounted baby change table. There are grab rails behind the toilet and to the side at a height of 900mm to assist a person rising. There is a contrast from the dark tiled floor to the light-coloured walls to increase accessibility for people with a vision impairment.
Sensory environment
Many people who are neurodiverse can have difficulty processing sensory information. Unfortunately, due to the historic nature of the building and polished concrete and timber flooring, the venue has a slight echo that may be noticeable in the exhibition areas. Please consider bringing ear protection if needed, and other sensory items for your comfort.
The Gallery is inclusive for all to enjoy. If the sensory environment may be an issue for you or someone you care for, make contact prior to your visit via the telephone number or email address provided above to discuss further.
Companion Cards
This card has been developed by the Victorian Network on Recreation and Disability (VICNORD) and allows carers to attend as a complimentary guest.
The gallery does charge an entry fee, so a companion card is not required.
Assistance Animals
Assistance animals are welcome. There are no extra accommodations for assistance animals, however if you need support, please inform a staff member, or make contact prior via the telephone number or email provided. The closest safe greenspace is at the front of the venue. There is a large landscaped grassed area that is open to the public on the right-hand side of the Gallery entrance and is accessed via the footpath.
Parking / Public Transport
There is a single designated accessible parking space located at the front of the Gallery building located in the carpark to the right-hand side of Foragers café. There are an additional 5 parking spaces in this carpark that are not designated accessible parking spaces. Ararat Gallery TAMA can be accessed via the concrete footpath that has a slight inline gallery entrance is approximately 15 metres from the carpark.
In addition, there is public bus stop that is located to the left of the Gallery on High Street. This bus stop is identified as the Ararat RSL public bus stop and has public transport signage and inlaid tactile indicators for patrons with vision impairment. The Gallery can be accessed via concrete footpaths that have a slight incline to the Gallery entrance which is approximately 35 metres from the bus stop.
The gallery may be available as a venue to complement the many hire spaces available within the Ararat Town Hall.
The gallery's abiding focus is protecting the artworks we have on display and in our care. As always, availability of spaces is dependent on collection, exhibition and programming considerations.
Therefore, spaces may be available for hire for intimate events such as book launches, policy and program announcements and professional gatherings that align with the gallery's purpose and brand.
The gallery's Art Craft Workshop is available to hire and is perfect for creative activities, meetings and social occasions.
The gallery's exhibition spaces are not available to hire for displays or exhibitions.