ART GALLERY OF BALLARAT — 40 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat. Phone 03 5320 5858. LINK

In Your Face! Cartoons about politics and society 1760-2010

This exhibition celebrates the tradition of making social and political comment in the form of the cartoon and caricature about current affairs, a tradition that goes back many centuries but has been at its most vibrant since mass circulation printing became commonplace in the late 18th century. Until 8 Aug.

Image: Norman Lindsay, World War I recruitment poster for the Commonwealth of Australia.

CASTLEMAINE ART GALLERY — 14 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine. Phone 03 5472 2292. LINK

Golden Journeys: 50th Anniversary of the Embroiderers Guild Victoria

Over 250 works by 33 artists reveal a diverse range of techniques and stitch themes, from traditional and historic approaches, to work which represents and interprets stitches and materials in new and exciting ways. Until 25 Jul.

Image: Hilary Williams, Over the Top with the Birds 1995