Back, Artist Tank, Shepparton Art Museum’s Danny Lacy and Last Straw’s Jennie Chen. Front, OMG! Decadent Donuts Shepparton’s Teresa Crifo and Mooroopna Hardware's April Campanelli.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
From Picasso pizzas to paint-your-own donuts, local businesses are turning Shepparton Art Museum’s blockbuster exhibitions into a region-wide experience.
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The Eat, Play, Stay & Shop guide launches on Saturday, May 23 to complement Facing Modernity: Degas to Picasso and later the Archibald Prize 2026, which opens on September 20.
The guide includes over 55 local businesses that have embraced the creative spirit, offering food, clothes, gifts, activities and experiences inspired by the exhibition.
The new initiative is a collaboration between Greater Shepparton City Council and SAM and aims to get visitors not only to attend the exhibitions, but to extend their stay, discover more of the region and support local businesses.
The new initiative features a pocket guide that details what’s on offer across the Goulburn Valley.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
To help visitors and locals make the most of what's on offer, a free ‘Out & About Bus’ will be running on Facing Modernity: Degas to Picasso’s opening weekend, May 23 and 24, and on the King’s Birthday long weekend from June 6 to 8.
The bus will be stopping at SAM, Shepparton CBD, Emerald Bank (Museum of Vehicle Evolution) and Shepparton Railway Station in a loop from 10am until 4pm during these dates.
City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali said the added buses would connect people to some key landmarks, supporting the whole town’s involvement with the exhibition.
“This isn’t just a weekend, the exhibitions are providing sustained visitation for some time,” Cr Sali said.
“With over 60,000 people expected to visit Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley over the coming months, it’s an ideal moment to encourage them to ‘Eat, Play, Stay & Shop’.
“SAM have done an incredible job putting our region in the spotlight, and now it’s our time to shine,” he said.
City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali says the Eat, Play, Stay & Shop campaign exposes a wonderful exhibition.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Inspired by the different mediums displayed in the exhibition, co-owner of Mooroopna Hardware April Campanelli said they were holding art workshops where kids could get creative painting on rocks, plant pots and bookmarks.
“It’s about putting people outside their normal comfort zone — get creative and see what you get.”
Mrs Campanelli said with the exhibition sparking people’s imaginations, the hardware store’s take-home kits and workshops would be a fun activity for all.
OMG! Decadent Donuts Shepparton is also encouraging people to get creative.
Co-owner Teresa Crifo said visitors could paint their own donuts using flavoured drizzles.
“With the exhibition and the buzz of it all, we just wanted to be part of that and bring something fun for families and visitors to do.”
Mrs Crifo said their donut pop-up store would be at MOVE on Saturday, May 23 and urged those interested to keep an eye on their social media accounts to know where to find the store.
With so many businesses involved, there is something for everyone, whether that be exhibition ticket holder discounts, Picasso pistachio cinnamon rolls at The Last Straw, Matisse cocktails at the Aussie Hotel or taking in wearable art at MOVE.
Artist Tank, OMG! Decadent Donuts Shepparton’s Teresa Crifo, The Last Straw’s Jennie Chen, Mooroopna Hardware's April Campanelli, City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali, SAM’s Danny Lacy and council manager of economic development Anthony Nicolaci.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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