Art Month Sydney 2020: Program Highlights

Sydney’s biggest contemporary art festival takes place in March.

Words: Donnalyn Xu

As a massive, city-wide celebration of contemporary art and the creative community, Art Month has firmed up its reputation as a vital part of Sydney’s culture.

The annual festival returns in March 2020 for its 11th year, with a packed program of free exhibitions, workshops, tours, panel discussions, precinct nights, and more. Galleries and art spaces across Sydney will present more than 200 exhibitions and events over the month of March.

“Art Month Sydney is moving into an important new chapter. Our vision in 2020 promises to be one of the most exciting yet,” says artistic director Georgia Hobbs.

At the heart of its vision is the idea that Art Month is for everyone, from seasoned collectors to emerging art enthusiasts. Here are just some of the highlights not-to-be-missed this year…

Party: Art at Night
Throughout March

Art Month Sydney will fire up after dark with an exciting series of flagship Art at Night events. Across Sydney, galleries will open late in a different part of the city each Friday from 6–8pm, followed by a party at the final destination from 8–10pm. The nights include curated Art Month walking tours, and the much-anticipated Art at Night parties. For the first time, Art at Night events will also extend to Parramatta. Art at Night Precinct Events include:

  • Paddington & Woollahra Precinct Night: Friday 6 March at UNSW Galleries
  • Waterloo & Green Square Precinct Day: Saturday 7 March at Artbank
  • East Sydney Precinct Night: Friday 13 March at Firstdraft
  • Chippendale & Redfern Precinct Night: Friday 20 March at The Old Clare Hotel
  • Parramatta Precinct Night: Friday 27 March at Parramatta Artists’ Studios
Exhibition: Collectors’ Space
15–28 March 2020
Shapiro Annex Gallery, Chippendale

Art Month’s Collectors’ Space will unveil artworks from some of the most exciting private collections in Sydney. Visitors will be able to view prized works from the personal collections of established creative duos and tastemakers shaping the art scene today.

Curated by Rowena Talacko, the exhibition Finders, Lovers, Keepers will exhibit works from Nicki Townsend and Andry Maryr; Patricia and Robert Postema; Stephen Cassidy and Richard Perram OAM; and Lindsay Clement-Meehan.

Art Collector is delighted to be the media partner for the Collectors’ Space. Pick up your copy of Art Collector at the show for $10.

Talk: Inside the Collectors’ Space
2–4pm Saturday 28 March 2020
Shapiro Annex Gallery, Chippendale 

Following the Collectors’ Space exhibitions, curator Rowena Talacko will present a talk in conversation with the dynamic creatives behind the Collectors’ Space exhibitions, Inside the Collectors’ Space. Learn how they first began collecting art, the stories behind the works, and gain valuable insight into starting – or expanding – your art collection.

Talk: Making art in a climate crisis

Tuesday 10 March 2020

UTS Gallery, Paddington

In the wake of climate crisis, artists, designers, and architectures from around the world are confronted by the urgent need to reflect on their environmental impact and make their practice more sustainable. As creatives, they also have the unique opportunity to shape the public view of climate awareness.

Featuring panellists Jed Long, the co-founder and project director of Cave Urban, and artist Angela Tiatia, (represented by Sullivan+Strumpf), the talk will look at the role of art as a call to action.

Food experience: Forage to Feast
Thursday 26 March 2020
Gallery pompom, Chippendale

Forage to Feast is a series of seasonal edible adventures that see a collaboration between renowned forager and environmental artist Diego Bonetto, and stylist and designer Marnee Fox.

The eight course vegetarian degustation menu including drinks is priced at $100 per head and will be held in the clean industrial spaces of Chippendale’s Galerie pompom. Artist Nancy Constadelia will give a talk on her current exhibition and recent resident in Paris.

Art Month Sydney runs from 6–29 March. See the full program on the website here.

Image: Art Month 2019.

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