Bega Valley Shire Council has announced the new South East Centre for Contemporary Art (SECCA), a purpose-built contemporary art space, will be unveiled this summer following completion of a major redevelopment and expansion of the 30-year-old site formerly known as Bega Valley Regional Gallery.

Award-winning Melbourne-based architecture practice, Sibling was selected from a public tender to design the $3.5 million renovation, working with Council to elevate the contemporary exhibition facilities and create a new gallery reflecting the rich cultural landscape of the region. Located on the traditional lands of the people of the Yuin Nation in the pristine landscapes of the south east corner of NSW, SECCA is home to the Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award, one of the most pre-eminent awards for portrait in the county and the historic Bega Valley Arts & Crafts Society collection.

The gallery will feature a significantly larger exhibition space, expanded from 180m² to 290m² and will include a state-of-the-art main gallery space for touring exhibitions.