New space is magnetising

By Edward McLeish

Open space turned thriving photography exhibition hub on Wharf St, MAGNET Galleries Melbourne has unveiled its upcoming exhibition plans, which has its president Michael Silver excited.

“MAGNET has been in our new space for less than four months but an incredible amount has happened, all of it good,” Mr Silver (pictured below) told Docklands News.

The president said moving to Docklands was easy for the not-for-profit organisation.

“Moving to The District Docklands is as if someone turned on a switch,” he said.

“There is a huge amount of interest in our exhibitions and events - we’re almost booked out both this year and next in an incredibly short time.” 

MAGNET is a space that preserves and celebrates the best of Australian photography and encourages excellence among established and emerging photographers.

The next exhibition to hit The District space is How Raold Amunsden Won the Race To The South Pole, sponsored by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Canberra and in conjunction with the Royal Norwegian Consulate General, Melbourne.

MAGNET is collaborating with Independent Schools Victoria (ISV) to organise school visits to see the Amundsen exhibition and to visit the ISV art show, on at the same venue.

This Amundsen exhibition opens October 6 and closes on October 27, while there will be an official reception for the Norwegian Ambassador on October 16.

Following this event is a group exhibition by the Victorian Photographic Society, to be followed by another exhibition by visually-impaired local photographer Andrew Follows.

The range and density of works featuring at MAGNET has left Mr Silver “very pleased”.

“It feels like every day there is something new opening,” he said. “We’re feeling part of a community and are pleased to have just joined the Docklands Chamber of Commerce.”