The gallery is considered to be one of Melbourne's most vibrant art spaces and has a constantly changing exhibition program of architecture, craft, contemporary art, design, fashion, and fine art.[4][5][6] It also presents regular talks, lectures, discussion, and public events and publishes widely on art and design research in partnership with RMIT Publishing.[3][7][8]
The gallery is also charged as the caretaker of RMIT's permanent University Art Collection.[9] The collection includes the substantial Linsday Edward Collection of fine art and the invaluable W.E. Macmillan Collection of gold and silver—as well as a number of other sub-collections. The Linsday Edward Collection has a strong focus on Australian art. It holds works by leading Australian artists (many of whom are alumni or former faculty of RMIT) such as: Howard Arkley, John Brack, Leonard French, Roger Kemp, Inge King, Max Meldrum, John Olsen, Lenton Parr, Fred Williams, and others.[10]
A history of the art collection is documented in the publication A Skilled Hand and Cultivated Mind: A Guide to the Architecture and Art of RMIT.
Edquist, Harriet; Grierson, Elizabeth (2008). A Skilled Hand and Cultivated Mind: A Guide to the Architecture and Art of RMIT. Melbourne: RMIT UP. ISBN978-1-921166-91-4.
