History of the BAC

In 1939 Dr Egmont Theodore Carl Schmidt (1886-1956) founded the Bundaberg Art Society, becoming the first President. Its aim was to provide a collection of Australian Art for the community of Bundaberg. The Society lapsed during the war, and was later reformed at a meeting called by Dr Schmidt and Mayor Alderman F. H. Buss. In 1957 approximately 52 works of historical Australian Art, including 6 from Dr Schmidt's original collection, were donated to the City of Bundaberg for a permanent collection in a community gallery.

In 1981, the Bundaberg Art Gallery was opened with a showing of works by present, past and life members of the Society, and the Dr Egmont Schmidt Collection was given a permanent place in the gallery. This gallery was located at the School of Arts building in Bourbong Street from 1981 to 1995. It was the voluntary work of the Art Society members, which kept this gallery functioning. They also facilitated the expansion of the Permanent Collection through donations, purchases and Arts Festival acquisitions.

A new facility to adequately house the growing Bundaberg Permanent Art Collection and a public venue to enrich the expanding cultural base of the city had been needed for some time. Local artists and the general public petitioned the Council to consider the former Library building as the new site. The Council listened and the project commenced.

The Council recognised the need for professionally trained paid staff for the new Centre. The first Arts Centre Manager, Steven Alderton, along with then Councillor Janet Tallon were major players in the development and establishment of the new Bundaberg Arts Centre (BAC). In consultation with professional bodies such as the Queensland Art Gallery, the Regional Galleries Association of Queensland and consulting architects, they developed plans for a contemporary gallery with open viewing spaces and adequate climatic controls. In 1995 $437,000 worth of renovations began. After much debate and public interest, the BAC was officially opened on 9 March 1996.

The BAC has established itself as the hub for the arts and cultural activities in Bundaberg and surrounding areas, with up to 32 exhibitions per year of local, regional, state and national visual arts in a wide range of media. It is a large multi-purpose facility consisting of three distinct exhibition spaces - Gallery One (the main gallery), The Vault Contemporary Exhibition Space found within Gallery One and Gallery Two upstairs.