Shepparton Art Museum

SAM Toddlers 2026 | April
2026-04-02 10:00 - 11:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
SAM Toddlers 2026 | April
Join us for creative playtime with SAM Toddlers! Little ones can enjoy a hands-on session of sensory play, exploring an array of art activities that encourage early creativity while stimulating different developmental areas.
Toddlers can move across several activity stations, including:
– Messy Arts Play: A space for little hands to explore colours, textures, and the joy of messy artmaking
– Thinking & Feeling: Encouraging curiosity through simple problem-solving, sensory play and hands-on discovery
– Wall Activation: A vertical playground for sticking, tracing, building and exploring
– Quiet Corner: A peaceful spot for storytelling, gentle play and quiet thinking
Pram access and nappy-changing facilities are available.
Book now
Program details:
Date & Time: 5 February 2026 & 2 April 2026, 10am-11am
Location: SAM Workshops, Level 2
Price: $16.50 inc. GST per child
Best suited to: Kids aged 18 months – 4 years
Please note that this program may use materials such as paint, water and glue. Art smocks are provided. All materials used are non-toxic and washable.

SAM Storytime with Emma (GV Libraries) | March
2026-03-05 10:00 - 10:45 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
SAM Storytime with Emma (GV Libraries)
Little ones will catch the reading bug with our new story time sessions in our Children’s Gallery, led by Emma from GV Library. Each 45-minute story time will begin with a lively reading by Emma, followed by a hands-on crafting activity that brings the stories to life.
Program details
Date and time: Thursday 5 March, Thursday 7 May, Thursday 2 July, Thursday 3 September & Thursday 5 November, 10am – 10.45am
Location: SAM Children’s Gallery, Level 2, Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton
Price: Free – registrations essential
Register now
Best suited to kids aged 2-6 years.
PLEASE NOTE: All children younger than 12 years of age must be supervised by a parent/guardian at all times during their visit to SAM.

Bar SAM: February
2026-02-20 17:00 - 20:00 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
Date night, friends’ drinks, end-of-week debrief – Bar SAM, your favourite location for an evening out, is here for 2026.
We’ve teamed up with the Elsewhere at SAM crew to bring you an ambient bar experience on our Level 4, where you can enjoy drinks and bar snacks in an architectural space while taking in the best view in town.
So, join us for our first Bar SAM of the year on Friday 20 February from 5 – 8pm – where better to ring in the weekend than Bar SAM?
Bar SAM will be open on select dates across the year, start from 20 Feb. All upcoming dates will be published on our website’s event page, in our monthly newsletter, and on our social media channels.
Please note: This event is strictly 18+.
Book now
Program Details:
Date + time: Friday 20 February, 5 – 8pm
Location: Level 4, Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street
Price: $16pp (inc. GST) – ticket includes drink on arrival. Additional drinks and snacks available at bar prices. Registrations essential.

SAM Presents: An Evening with the Australian Tapestry Workshop
2026-02-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Australian Tapestry Workshop, 262-266 Park Street, South Melbourne, Victoria, 3205, Australia
SAM Presents: An Evening with the Australian Tapestry Workshop
With a major tapestry slated to enter the SAM Collection in mid-2026, we invite you to join us for an exclusive evening that goes behind the scenes at the Australian Tapestry Workshop in South Melbourne to discover the fascinating project translating artist Philip Hunter’s 2008 painting Salt Creep with Fence No. 2 into a large-scale tapestry.
Attendees will enjoy a tour of the workshop and a conversation with the weavers set in front of the loom, giving you an exclusive preview of the tapestry and insight into the process, from brewing the natural dyes to weaving on the loom.
Registrations are essential for this free event, with light refreshments provided.
Program details
Date + time: Wednesday 11 February, 6pm-8pm
Location: Australian Tapestry Workshop, 262-266 Park Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Price: Free – attendees must be aged 18+
Register now
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Order of Proceedings:
6:00pm – Welcome & refreshments served
6:30pm – Tour of the workshop
7:00pm – Conversation with the weavers, set in front of the loom
7:30pm – Q + A
8:00pm – Event concludes

SAM Toddlers 2026 | February
2026-02-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
SAM Toddlers 2026
Join us for creative playtime with SAM Toddlers! Little ones can enjoy a hands-on session of sensory play, exploring an array of art activities that encourage early creativity while stimulating different developmental areas.
Toddlers can move across several activity stations, including:
– Messy Arts Play: A space for little hands to explore colours, textures, and the joy of messy artmaking
– Thinking & Feeling: Encouraging curiosity through simple problem-solving, sensory play and hands-on discovery
– Wall Activation: A vertical playground for sticking, tracing, building and exploring
– Quiet Corner: A peaceful spot for storytelling, gentle play and quiet thinking
Pram access and nappy-changing facilities are available.
Book now
Program details:
Date & Time: 5 February 2026 & 2 April 2026, 10am-11am
Location: SAM Workshops, Level 2
Price: $16.50 inc. GST per child
Best suited to: Kids aged 18 months – 4 years
Please note that this program may use materials such as paint, water and glue. Art smocks are provided. All materials used are non-toxic and washable.

SAM Summer Camp: World Cup Crafts with Tully Moore
2026-01-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
SAM Summer Camp: World Cup Crafts with Tully Moore
Get World Cup ready in this creative workshop led by artist Tully Moore! Kids and families are invited to drop in to create their own soccer flag and mascot designs to celebrate the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the Shepparton community’s passion for football.
This program is suited to all ages – children under 12 years must be accompanied by an adult.
Program Details:
Date + time: Saturday 17 January, drop in from 10am – 12pm
Location: Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton
Price: FREE – no registrations required

SAM Summer Camp: Spin It! Intro to Wheel-Throwing
2026-01-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
SAM Summer Camp: Spin It! Intro to Wheel-Throwing
Get behind the wheel in this exciting pottery workshop for teens! Over two hours, participants will learn the basics of working with clay on a pottery wheel, experimenting with forming simple vessels to fire in the kiln.
Ceramics can be very messy – participants are encouraged to bring a towel and wear clothing they don’t mind getting dirty.
This workshop is designed for teens aged 13-17 years.
Program Details
Date + Time: Friday 16 January, 10am – 12pm
Location: SAM Workshop, Level 2, Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton
Price: $42.00 inc. GST (Friends of SAM members receive 10% off – enter code FRIENDSOFSAM at checkout to apply discount)
Book now

SAM Summer Camp: Painting Tapestry Tales with Sarah Levett
2026-01-15 10:00 - 14:00 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
SAM Summer Camp: Painting Tapestry Tales with Sarah Levett
Guided by Wiradjuri/Gundungurra artist Sarah Levett, kids will learn how to use symbols to tell their own stories in this delightful workshop.
Over an hour, kids will create a mini hanging tapestry using symbols to represent themselves, their family, or home, while learning about the way symbols are used in First Nations cultures to tell stories about identity and Country.
This workshop is suitable for kids aged 5-12. All participants must be accompanied by an adult.
Program Details
Date + Time: Thursday 15 January
Morning session: 10am-11am
Afternoon session: 1pm-2pm
Location: Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton
Price: $13.00 inc. GST – bookings essential
Book now

SAM Summer Camp: Fantastic Beasts in Print
2026-01-14 10:00 - 14:00 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
SAM Summer Camp: Fantastic Beasts in Print
Discover the art of printmaking in this exciting workshop inspired by Kat Parker’s fantastic fauna prints in the Community Gallery! Kids will be introduced to the process of making prints, from etching designs to pressing to paper.
This workshop is suitable for kids aged 5-12. All participants must be accompanied by an adult.
Program Details
Date + Time: Wednesday 14 January
Morning Session: 10am-11am
Afternoon Session: 1pm-2pm
Location: SAM Workshop, Level 2, Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton
Price: $8.00 inc. GST
Book now

SAM Summer Camp: On the Road with Family Haven
2026-01-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Family Haven, 15-17 Young Street, Mooroopna, VIC, 3629, Australia
SAM Summer Camp: On the Road with Family Haven
SAM Camp is back on the road, and this time we’re coming to Mooroopna with Family Haven! Kids and families are invited to drop in to our free hands-on workshop, where we’ll be sculpting own athlete-inspired tennis ball figurines as tennis mania takes over for the summer!
This workshop is suitable for kids aged 4-10. All participants must be accompanied by an adult.
Program Details
Date + Time: Tuesday 13 January, drop in from 10am – 12pm
Location: Family Haven, 15-17 Young Street, Mooroopna VIC 3629

Price: FREE – no registrations required

SAM Summer Camp: Shrinky Dink Charms
2026-01-12 10:00 - 14:00 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
SAM Summer Camp: Shrinky Dink Charms
Using the magic of shrink plastic, kids take inspiration from the bold graphics of JXSH MVIR: Forever I Live to design their own custom shrinky-dink creations and take them home, ready to clip on to bags and pencil cases as a funky charm!
This workshop is suitable for kids aged 5-12. All participants must be accompanied by an adult.
Program details
Date + time: Monday 12 January
Morning session: 10am -11am
Afternoon session: 1pm -2pm
Location: SAM Workshop, Level 2, Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton
Price: $8.00 inc. GST – bookings essential
Book now

Guided tour | JXSH MVIR: Forever I Live
2025-11-22 11:00 - 11:30 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
Join SAM Staff for a special series of free guided tours exploring JXSH MVIR: Forever I Live, a touring exhibition from Koorie Heritage Trust showcasing the career of Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta, and Barkindji artist Josh Muir. Hear from local Yorta Yorta creative Chris Walker, and SAM Programs Coordinator Bryony Large, as they present a 25–30-minute tour of the exhibition, guiding visitors through key works and offering personal insights, cultural perspectives, and art historical context.
These free conversations invite audiences to deepen their understanding of contemporary First Nations art and the many stories it holds.
Guided tour dates + details
Date + time: Saturday 22 November and Saturday 10 January, 11am-11.30am
Location: Level 1, Shepparton Art Museum
Free – all ages welcome, no registrations necessary

SAM Summer Camp: Kids Art Trail
2025-12-20 10:00 - 2026-02-01 16:00 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
Our SAM Kids Summer Art Trail leads kids and families on an adventure around the museum through a free, self-guided booklet containing puzzles, activities, scavenger hunts and more.
Pick up your free Art Trail booklet at the front desk and get ready to discover art like never before!
No bookings are required for this Art Trail activity. Designed for kids aged 5-12 years, but suitable for all ages.

SAM Club Term 4: Science
2025-10-13 16:00 - 17:30 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
SAM Club Term 4: Science
Join us for SAM Club Term 4 (the last for 2025) – our after-school program for primary-aged students in grades 2-6 who love to learn and explore their creativity!
This term, science and art collide to unleash new ideas and spark new inspiration. From biology to chemistry and everything in between, local artist Reese Truscott and RiverConnect program staff will lead kids through hands-on workshops that explore the exciting possibilities that emerge when science and art intersect.
Through an assortment of creative activities, we’ll discover how scientific ideas can inspire artistic expression – and how art can help us approach science in new ways.
SAVE THE DATE: To celebrate the end of SAM Club for 2025, you’re invited to join us for a special final session on December 8, where the whole family can participate!
Program details:
Date + time: Every Monday from 13 October to 8 December, 4:00 – 5:30pm
Location: Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton
Price: $55 per child (inc. GST)
Book now
SAM Club is supported by the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series that supports activities to extend accelerated students in Victorian government schools.

SAM Talks: Kat Parker
2025-12-06 13:30 - 14:30 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
Join us at SAM for an in-conversation event with local artist Kat Parker and SAM Community Curator Caroline Esbenshade. Over an hour, the pair will explore Kat’s practice, and the inspirations behind Lament — A memorial of Australian extinction, her current exhibition for SAM Spotlight in SAM’s Community Gallery.
Event details:
Date + time: Saturday 6th December, 1.30 – 2.30pm
Location: Level 2, Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton
Price: Free – registrations essential
Register now
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About the artist:
Kat Parker is an emerging artist based in Shepparton. In 2021, she graduated from RMIT with a Bachelor of Fine Art, specialising in printmaking. Parker’s practice focuses on the dysfunctional relationship humanity has with nature, with a particular interest in promoting the overlooked aspects of our environment, especially unremarkable animals and extinctions. Her practice aims to encourage an appreciation for, and love of, nature through printmaking and paper art processes. Parker’s artworks have recently been included in the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize at South Australian Museum, Not Your Kitchen Lino at Burrinja Cultural Centre, Fresh 2024 at Shepparton Art Museum and Geelong Art Gallery’s Acquisitive Print Awards.

SAM Toddlers x See Make Play
2025-05-01 10:30 - 11:30 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
Enjoy creative playtime with SAM Toddlers x See Make Play! We’re once again partnering with the legends at See Make Play to present hands-on sessions of sensory play and exploration for toddlers, with art activities designed especially to support early childhood development.
Please note that this program may use materials such as paint, water, and glue. Art smocks are provided. All materials used are non-toxic and washable.
Pram access and nappy-changing facilities are available.
Program details:
Date & time: First Thursday of each month beginning 1 May 2025, 10.30am-11.30am
Location: SAM Workshops, Level 2
Price: $16.50 inc. GST per child
Friends of SAM receive 10% discount on programs – enter code FRIENDOFSAM-TODDLERS-SMP at checkout
Book now
Best suited to: ages 18 months – 4 years
Pram access and nappy-changing facilities are available.

Bar SAM: SAM's 4th Birthday Celebration
2025-11-27 17:30 - 19:30 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
Bar SAM: SAM’s 4th Birthday Celebration
We’re launching into summer with a special Bar SAM evening to celebrate our fourth birthday!
Wind down from your week and enjoy drinks and bar snacks on our fabulous Level 4 terrace, plus be amongst the first to hear a sneak peek into what’s coming to the museum in 2026!
Snacks from the stunning grazing table served by the Elsewhere at SAM crew are included with your ticket, with drinks available for purchase at the bar throughout the evening. Capacity is limited – book now to secure your spot!
Please note: This event is strictly 18+.
Program Details:
Date + time: Thursday 27 November, 5.30 – 7.30pm
Location: Level 4, Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street
Price: $6.65pp (incl. GST and booking costs) – includes light food offerings. Drinks at bar prices. Bookings essential.
Book now

Spring at Summerhill - Friends of SAM Garden Party
2025-11-22 14:00 - 16:00 | Summerhill, 14 Waters Road, Shepparton, VIC, 3630, Australia
Spring at Summerhill – Friends of SAM Garden Party
The Friends of SAM Committee invite members and friends to join them for a garden party at Summerhill, a charming setting overlooking the Goulburn River. Enjoy a spring afternoon outdoors amongst friends, with afternoon tea, garden strolls and live music, plus a raffle of garden-themed prizes.
Members and non-members welcome – learn more and book your tickets at the button below.
View event
Event details
Date + time: Saturday 22 November, 2pm-4pm
Location: Summerhill, 14 Waters Road, Shepparton VIC 3630
Price: $30 for Friends of SAM members; $35 for non-members

Seasonal Exhibition Celebration | JXSH MVIR: Forever I Live, SAM Open, Yuria Okamura, Prue Venables + Philip Hickingbotham
2025-10-31 17:30 - 20:00 | Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
Seasonal Exhibition Celebration | JXSH MVIR: Forever I Live, SAM Open, Yuria Okamura, Prue Venables + Philip Hickingbotham
Join us at SAM for an evening celebration welcoming a new season of exhibitions. From the opening of Koorie Heritage Trust’s touring show JXSH MVIR: Forever I Live to looking back on another incredible exhibition of talented homegrown artists in SAM Open 2025, as well as new displays from Prue Venables, Philip Hickingbotham, and Yuria Okamura, celebrate the arts with us on Friday 31 October.
Enjoy an evening of art, connection, and conversation as you experience the museum after-hours, with refreshments available from the Elsewhere at SAM team.
Event details:
Date & time: Friday 31 October, 5.30pm – 8pm
Location: Shepparton Art Museum, 530 Wyndham Street, Shepparton
Cost: Free – registrations encouraged
Register now
Evening program details:
5.30PM: Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country (to take place on lake side of SAM building)
6.00PM: Official opening proceedings
6.30PM: Bar opens
7.30PM: SAM Open – People’s Choice Award announcement
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Featured image credits, clockwise from left: 1. Josh Muir (Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta, Barkindji), Forever I Live (detail), 2015, digital print on aluminium, Private collection; 2. SAM Open 2025, installation view, Shepparton Art Museum, 2025. Photo: Leon Schoots; 3. Prue Venables, assorted artworks. Image courtesy of the artist and Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert; 4. Yuria Okamura, Temple of Nature II, installation View, National Gallery of Victoria as part of Melbourne Now. Image courtesy of the artist; 5. Philip Hickingbotham, Patterned Luminescence (detail), 2025.
