Art Month Sydney returns this March

Art Month Sydney, the non-for-profit art festival that throws open the doors of the city’s hottest galleries and creative spaces is returning to Sydney. Running from 4 to 28 March 2021, Art Month Sydney will, for the first time, open in the Western regions of Sydney, with one of its key highlights being the Art at Night event in Parramatta.

Since 2008, Art Month Sydney has provided Sydneysiders the opportunity to immerse themselves in new experiences, inviting people to engage with artists, curators and collectors. Emma O’Neill, Art Month Sydney Festival Director, says, “Art Month Sydney comes at the perfect time to tempt Sydneysiders back into galleries, encouraging the wider community to reconnect with our creative industries.”

The 2021 program includes art parties, artist talks, exhibitions, studio visits, openings, art walks, and artist-led workshops. Leading artists will give rare insights into the conceptions of their works, while the city’s leading curators will facilitate informal talks and tips on art collecting.

“The art market seems as optimistic and vibrant as any other time I’ve known,” says Jarrod Rawlins, Art Month Sydney Board Member and Senior Curator at Mona, Museum of Old and New Art. “I’m looking forward to getting out and exploring what Sydney has on offer. It’s been a while.”

Key events for art collectors include:

• Collectors Space

Art Month’s signature exhibition returns to unveil artworks from some of Sydney’s most exciting private collections. This year’s theme, You Never Forget Your First is curated by Gina Mobayed, Director of Goulburn Regional Gallery. It is a rare and personal journey through the private collections of practitioners, philanthropists and arts leaders across NSW. Collectors include Chris Kirby and Ray Monde, Michelle Newton, Evan Hughes, Megan Monte, Jasper Knight and Isabelle Toland. This event runs at 17b Oxford Street, Paddington from 4 to 28 March (Wed to Sun, 11am to 4pm).

• The Collector’s Item

This exhibition invites you to consider the nature of collection, either as a curator, collector or creator of material. How do you value, collect, organise and care for items, from personal collections to cultural custodianships?  Parramatta Artist’s Studio artists Tully Arnot, Kalanjay Dhir, Amy Prcevich, Shan Turner-Carroll, Gillian Kayrooz and Justine Youssef share works reflecting on collecting. This event runs at Parramatta Artist’s Studios, from 4 to 28 March (open by appointment).

For more information about the upcoming festival, visit artmonthsydney.com.au.

Image: Art Month Sydney opening event, 2020.