The gallery's Art Extension Project will receive $94,000 from the State Government and is one of 12 statewide to secure money for gifted and talented students.

Gallery director Adam Harding said students would work with a professional photographer, designer and journalist to create an exhibition in term three next year.

"It will give the students a real-world experience to give them an understanding of how a professional gallery works, as well as giving them the confidence to talk and write about their work," he said.

Gifted and talented year 10 and 11 students will work with professional photographer Melissa Powell .

Design students will work with a graphic designer to create promotional material for the exhibition and another group will work with a journalist to give media coverage to the exhibition.

"The participants will get a great insight about how an exhibition is staged and managed," Mr Harding said.

"The greater student population will be able to visit the gallery and see art that directly relates to them and their lives."

Mr Harding said the project would provide a major boost for students who wanted to pursue art and design after completing school.

He said the gallery had undertaken three similar projects with secondary students in the past five years.

He said the gallery's new rooms at the Horsham Town Hall would be perfect for housing the classes and exhibition space for the project.

This year the gallery has worked with students, getting them to respond to The Wimmera and the Great War exhibition.

Mr Harding said students' subsequent photo essays would be displayed from November 7 to 23.