Women and the Arts in Central Victoria: 1890s to mid-20th century and beyond

The team at Eureka Centre are delighted to welcome Dr Juliette Peers back to Talking History to discuss the visual world of female artists from the goldrush to the present day. From the 1890s onwards, Central Victorian women have played a prominent role as both artists and supporters of the arts, substantially contributing to the region’s robust and unique cultural life. This talk will cover both familiar and unfamiliar names, with some focus on Ballarat – which is often overshadowed by research on famous Castlemaine and Bendigo women. Juliette will explore many fascinating lives including artists with global careers, artists with substantial Australian profiles, and patrons and public gallery supporters, from the 1890s into the mid-20th century and a little beyond. Dr Juliette Peers is an art historian, curator and writer based in Ballarat. Feminist art advocacy is central to her practice and includes writing, research and the growth and maintenance of archives and foundations. She is a life member of the Women’s Art Register and has worked as a curator on projects with public galleries across Australia and in Europe, Britain and North America, including ‘Completing the Picture: Women Artists and the Heidelberg Era’ (1992) and ‘Beating About the Bush: a New Lens on Australian Impressionism’ (2022). Juliette taught design history at RMIT University from 1994-2019.