paranaple arts centre

Located in the heart of Devonport, the paranaple arts centre serves as a hub for exhibitions, performances and community events.

The arts centre is part of a broader development project aimed at revitalising Devonport’s city centre. Its name, paranaple, reflects the Indigenous heritage of the area, deriving from the Tasmanian Aboriginal word for the nearby Mersey River. The centre houses several key cultural institutions, including the Devonport Regional Gallery and the Devonport Library. These facilities contribute to the city’s growing reputation as a centre for creativity and learning.

The centre also plays an important role in preserving and showcasing the history and culture of Devonport and its surrounding areas. The Devonport Regional Gallery, in particular, has a strong focus on works by Tasmanian artists, providing insight into the island’s diverse artistic traditions. By hosting regular exhibitions, workshops and events, the paranaple arts centre supports both established and emerging talents while fostering a connection between the community and the arts.

What to see at the paranaple arts centre

The paranaple arts centre offers a range of attractions for visitors. The Devonport Regional Gallery is a central feature, showcasing a mix of contemporary and historical art. Its permanent collection includes works by significant Tasmanian and Australian artists, while temporary exhibitions often highlight local themes or international influences. Visitors can expect a varied programme, with changing displays ensuring there is always something new to explore.

In addition to the gallery, the centre hosts a range of performances and cultural events. The theatre is a versatile space that accommodates plays, concerts and film screenings. Local productions and touring performances are regularly featured, offering entertainment for a wide audience.

Temporary exhibitions at the Devonport Regional Gallery

The Devonport Regional Gallery has a programme of temporary exhibitions. Current and planned exhibitions include:

Infinite Realms (Part Two) by Emily-Rose Wills
Part of the Little Gallery Emerging Artist Programme 2025, this exhibition (until 3 May 2025) explores memory and landscape through abstract mark-making. It began as a response to fleeting recollections but has expanded to consider interconnectedness and infinite universes. The work examines shifting landscapes, blending memory and experience. Influenced by artists such as Anselm Kiefer and John Wolseley, it reflects on the relationship between perception, intuition and unseen forces shaping the world.

Between Buildings as Between Stars
This exhibition (until 10 May 2025) features work by Andy Hutson, Alicia King, Georgia Lucy, Meg Walch, Kate Marshall, Ali Noble and Grace Wood. It examines the relationship between physical spaces and imagined or speculative worlds. Referencing the phrase ‘as above, so below’, it considers human attempts to find meaning in both tangible and unknown realms. Themes include alchemy, science, the occult, cosmology and technology, reflecting on spaces that are familiar or yet to be discovered.

Touching Other People’s Butterflies
Joan Ross’s Touching Other People’s Butterflies, on loan from the National Gallery of Australia, is displayed daily at Devonport Regional Gallery’s Market Square Screen at 10am and 2pm until 6 December 2026. This 2-minute-30-second digital animation reimagines Joseph Lycett’s Distant View of Hobart (1825), blending colonial and contemporary elements to explore themes of possession and dispossession in the Australian landscape. The loan is part of Australia’s Sharing the National Collection programme.

Visiting the paranaple arts centre

The paranaple arts centre is in the city centre with easy access to public transport and accommodation options.

The centre’s opening hours vary depending on the facilities and events. The Devonport Regional Gallery is open Monday–Saturday, although the theatre and event spaces may have extended hours depending on scheduled performances or activities.

Admission to the Devonport Regional Gallery is free, although some special exhibitions or workshops may have entry fees.

The paranaple arts centre also has its own on-site café and its central location means that there are plenty of other options for eating and drinking nearby.

Market Square, 145 Rookes Street, Devonport TAS 7310
Website www.paranapleartscentre.com.au
Admission Free
Open Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 9am–2pm