Art Month Sydney announces huge 2018 lineup

Art Month Sydney returns in March (1 – 25 March 2018) for a massive city-wide celebration of contemporary art and artists, with a diverse program of exhibitions, workshops, talks, tours, studio visits, precinct nights and more.

The month-long festival will transform the city, as galleries and creative spaces throw open their doors and stay open late in honour of Sydney’s thriving arts ecology.

Art Month Sydney, Artistic Director, Kate Britton says the ninth annual festival presents the perennial favourites and introduces some exciting new events.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Sydney’s amazing art galleries to present a packed program of unique exhibitions and events, including five precinct nights, the much-loved Collectors’ Space exhibition, and late-night gallery opening hours across the city every Thursday during Art Month.”

Returning in 2018, the infamous Collectors’ Space exhibition (1 – 17 March) at MAY SPACE, Waterloo offers a glimpse into the private collections of some of Sydney’s art luminaries. Occupying the entirety of MAY SPACE, Collectors’ Space features works from the personal collections of artists and curators Abdul Abdullah, Tony Albert, Tess Allas, Daniel Mudie Cunningham, and Emma Price.

“This year, we have brought together a diverse group of collectors – including artists, curators and cultural leaders. The must-see exhibition looks beyond the accumulation of objects and explores the relationships each collector has with the works in their care, and the artists who created them.”

A new initiative for Art Month Sydney, Present exhibition (3 – 31 March) at Darren Knight Gallery, Waterloo showcases the work of Sydney’s most exciting talent and shines the spotlight on artists working without gallery representation, including Kalanjay Dhir, Caroline Garcia, Get to Work, Samuel Hodge, Claudia Nicholson, and Athena Thebus.

“We look forward to honouring Sydney’s emerging and experimental arts community with the launch of this new exhibition initiative, which aims to connect artists working outside the realms of commercial gallery representation with new audiences.”

Clay Date (15 – 24 March) at 541 Art Space is an exciting new exhibition of contemporary ceramics from artists working in the kil.n.it studio, including David Helmers, Jan Downes, Scott Duncan, Angela Butler, Luke Ryan O’Connor, Racheal McCallum, and Vivienne Hill. 

“As ceramics earn renewed critical attention and commercial interest, Clay Date introduces audiences to fresh talent from the kil.n.it experimental ceramics studio in Glebe, who are busy bringing contemporary approaches to this ancient practice,” said Britton.

Art Month Sydney will fire up after dark in a different part of the city each Thursday (and the last Friday) with the much-loved Art at Night: Precinct Nights. Galleries in each precinct will open late – from 6-8pm – for curated Art Month walking tours, followed by spectacular Art at Night parties until late. Events include:

Art at Night: Chippendale-Redfern & Art Month Sydney Opening Party at the Lansdowne Hotel on Thursday, 1 March 2018, 8pm-11pm. Wander the streets exploring galleries before kicking onto The Lansdowne, where the Art Month Opening Party will launch the festival with a cornucopia of performances, live music, and installations from some of Sydney’s hottest talent. Galleries open from 6-8pm.

Art at Night: Paddington-Woollahra-Darlinghurst at National Art School on Thursday, 8 March, 8pm-10pm. Party all the way down Oxford Street with some very special performances, interventions, and an after-hours pop-up bar at the National Art School. Galleries open from 6-8pm.

Art at Night: East Sydney at Firstdraft Gallery on Thursday, 15 March, 7pm-10pm. In the opening week of the Biennale of Sydney, Art Month celebrates all things artist-led and grassroots. Ramble through the streets of Kings Cross, Potts Point and Woolloomooloo, winding up with a night of live performance at Australia’s longest running artist run initiative, Firstdraft. Galleries open from 6-8pm.

Art at Night: Waterloo-Green Square at The Other Art Fair, Australian Technology Park on Thursday, 22 March, 8pm-10pm. In an Art Month first, explore this burgeoning arts precinct before heading to the opening of The Other Art Fair, featuring an exclusive Art Month party. Galleries open from 6-8pm.

Art at Night: St Leonard’s & Art Month Closing Weekend Block Party at TWT Creative Precinct on Friday, 23 March, 5.30pm-9pm. TWT Creative Precinct host a massive Block Party to kickstart our closing weekend festivities, inviting you to explore the labyrinth of galleries, artist studios, and new creative maker-spaces in the precinct. Presented by Brand X & TWT.

Explore a creative corner of the city and meet the makers with the Inner West Open Studio Trail presented by the Inner West Council from Balmain to Marrickville on 10-11 March and 17-18 March, or go behind-the-scenes at Parramatta Artist Studios, featuring live music, artist talks and tours on Saturday, 24 March.

Cap off the month at The Other Art Fair at Australian Technology Park, with a suite of talks and special behind-the-scenes tours across the final weekend of the festival on 23-25 March.

Art Month Sydney offers something for everyone, with family friendly events and activities happening throughout the month to engage children and families in Sydney's dynamic art scene.

Art Month Sydney is proudly supported by Principal Sponsor City of Sydney, Major Sponsors AON/Hiscox and Woollahra Council.

To see the full Art Month Sydney program, please visit www.artmonthsydney.com.au.

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About Art Month Sydney 2018
Art Month Sydney is a city-wide celebration of contemporary art and artists. Featuring a diverse program of exhibitions, workshops, talks, tours, studio visits, precinct nights and more. The ninth annual festival takes place in galleries and creative spaces across Sydney from 1 to 25 March 2018. Art Month Sydney 2018 is proudly supported by Principal Sponsor City of Sydney, Major Sponsors AON/Hiscox and Woollahra Council, Program Partners MAY SPACE, Darren Knight Gallery, 541 Art Space, Firsdraft Gallery, National Art School, The Other Art Fair, The Lansdowne, and TWT Creative Precinct, and Supporters Formist, UNSW Art& Design, Epilepsy Action and Countplus One. Art Month Sydney is a not-for-profit festival of contemporary art for the Australian Art Events Foundation. www.artmonthsydney.com.au #artmonthsydney