SAM is recognised for many things that differentiate it from its colleagues and other regional galleries. It has a unique collection focus, holding one of Australia’s leading collections of Australian ceramics in regional Australia. It is also recognised for the way it engages, excites and inspires audiences young and old and from near and far, with a dynamic program of exhibitions and educational and public programs conceived to have a strong local relevance, while engaging with global and contemporary ideas.
Shepparton’s community is unique, and it is in part what makes the art museum’s role special. Located on the traditional lands of the Yorta Yorta Nation, Shepparton is home to the second most populous Indigenous language group in Australia, and the largest Aboriginal community outside Victoria’s capital city. The community has a strong history of Indigenous advocacy and leadership, both nationally and internationally. An estimated 4% of residents have Indigenous heritage, and approximately 19% of residents were born outside Australia.
Shepparton is also known for its diverse, multicultural population. Waves of migration from the 1930s onwards have resulted in a strong, culturally rich community. In the aftermath of World War I, migrants came mainly from Southern Europe, predominantly Greece, Italy, Macedonia and Albania. After World War II, further migration occurred from Europe with many Turkish immigrants settling in the region. In the late 1980s Punjabi Indians and Pacific Islanders began to arrive. In the 1990s Greater Shepparton welcomed Afghani, Iraqi, Sudanese and Congolese populations. SAM works to develop strong ties with these communities, creating exhibitions, programs, a Collection, and educational opportunities that have
