About Us

We aim to assist & encourage the Hobsons Bay and wider community to pursue their artistic talents & their love of art.

Hobsons Bay Arts Society Incorporated is situated in Hobsons Bay, located at the Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre in the heart of Altona, Victoria in Australia. We welcome new members of all ages who would like to meet people with like interests in a friendly environment, to indulge a lifelong ambition or to further skills already learned.

We offer a number of classes and art groups covering most mediums which are conducted by award-winning tutors with many years experience. Tutored class environments are friendly and encouraging - not only do our members learn new skills, but form new friendships too. We hold regular exhibitions of member's works and, along with our major sponsors, Hobsons Bay City Council, Atelier Art Supplies and Altona Picture Framing, hold the 5X7 Art Prize, an annual exhibition open to artists from the western region of Melbourne.

Our Story

Founding Member the late Joan Craggs OAM

One evening in late 1979, a small number of artists gathered at the home of Joan and Derek Craggs, invited via an advertisement in a local paper expressing an interest in forming a group for local creatives. With 26 members, the Altona Artists Association was formed. It was formally registered in 1981, later changing its name in 1998 to Hobsons Bay Arts Society when local councils amalgamated to form the city of Hobsons Bay.

Now with over 100 members from a wide demographic, our not-for-profit Society takes pride in its purpose - encouraging the arts in our community - and over the years has facilitated art education and exhibitions for our members and the wider community.  An annual community art competition, supported by local businesses and Hobsons Bay City Council, is proudly organised and presented by HBAS. This event - currently the 5X7 Art Prize - attracts many artists from the western region of Melbourne.

The Hobsons Bay Arts Society has had a number of homes over the years;

  • the Salvation Army Community Centre in Queen Street in the early years

  • the Art and Crafts centre in Somers Parade during the 1980s

  • the former Altona East library during the 1990s.  

In 1998 the Society moved into the old Altona Hospital which had been acquired by a public shareholding - the Hobsons Bay Community Advancement Co-operative, formed to save the site from commercial development, and retained for community purposes.

Thus the Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre was developed, with consultation at the design stage from a board of directors (which included HBAS’s founders, Joan and Derek Craggs) and a view that the venue would be a permanent home for HBAS and - with a purpose built gallery at the front of the building - the arts in Hobsons Bay.

Whilst the centre was being redeveloped in 2003-05, the Society found a temporary home in the Altona Library meeting rooms. In October 2005 the Society moved into the Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre, offering a range art classes and social art groups at affordable rates, tutored by experienced and talented HBAS members.

Our commitment to purpose

Hobsons Bay Arts Society is a friendly, approachable group of creatives representing a wide range of ages, cultural backgrounds, artistic styles and experience. The Society continues to grow, looking forward to continuing to encourage and promote the arts in our community and make art accessible for all.

The Hobsons Bay Arts Society warmly invites you to attend our upcoming events.