Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Art geeks and cultural tourists alike swoon over Sydney's (MCA) . But it isn't just those in the know that should be interested in the gallery.



Located in the historic Rocks district of the city, the gallery is a welcome place for anyone with an open mind and a creative imagination.

The added bonus is that admission is free. This allows patrons to spend as much time as they'd like browsing the permanent collection of contemporary art by Australian artists.



There are three floors of exhibits. The first houses new additions to the MCA collection, and the second has a larger selection of works. The third is where traveling exhibitions are displayed. Those have ticketed admission.



The art ranges from the beautiful to the bizarre - eliciting a range of emotions from sadness to amusement.



It's worth browsing the large collection of aboriginal art - admiring the earthy tones, raw materials and connections to the ancient and mysterious.



The cafe and restaurant are on levels 4 and 5 respectively, and offer great views of Circular Quay and if you're lucky, (read: if there isn't a cruise ship in the way) unrivalled views of the Sydney Opera House.





For kids who love to daydream, the gallery is a good place to let their thoughts run wild, but some may get a little bit bored by the lack of activities within the collection spaces.

There are, however, workshops for kids every day that are free or ask for a $5 donation.

Daily adult workshops, talks and events are also on offer.



The Australian art scene has a lot to brag about, and the MCA is a great venue to show it off.

Rating: 9/10

Where: 140 George Street, The Rocks.
Why: Because many museums in different parts of the world charge big bucks for the privilege of seeing their contemporary art collections. It's worth taking advantage of this unique and free cultural experience.
Cost: Free except for ticketed exhibitions.
When: Mon-Wed: 10am-5pm
Thu: 10am-9pm
Fri-Sun: 10am-5pm

Good for kids: Some kids will love it, others will get bored.

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