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Curated by Hetti Perkins and Jonathan Jones as part of Carriageworks’ 2016 program, Black Arts showcases the cultural heritage of South-Eastern Aboriginal Australia in a marketplace environment from November 12 – 13
CREDIT: Esme Timbery, Sydney Harbour Bridge 2002 courtesy of the artist and photographed by Jenni Carter/Supplied
Australia’s artistic landscape is set to change dramatically with the announcement of a major new exhibition partnership that brings together the holy trinity of Sydney’s premier cultural institutions – the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Carriageworks and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Encompassing three editions over a period of six years beginning in 2017, The National: New Australian Art is a game-changing new contender in the annual national arts calendar, and will present a single curated program across the venues of Sydney’s major cultural precincts, including the Domain, the Rocks and Circular Quay. On the agenda? An exclusive program that highlights the contributions of emerging, mid-career and established practitioners alike from all around Australia.
Speaking with GRAZIA recently, Carriageworks director Lisa Havilah anticipated the demand for such an event, saying “that audiences in Sydney and contemporary audiences in general are hungry for large-scale immersive arts and cultural experiences that have more than one facet to them.”
The National will showcase the work of Australian artists working across all states and overseas, with a focus on those created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. As opposed to the Biennale of Sydney which has a strong international focus, The National initiative will focus exclusively on contemporary Australian works, the need for which Havilah also singled out to GRAZIA, saying:
“The [Australian arts scene] needs to be more reflective and engaged with the actual diversity of the communities around. There’s still a big focus in the arts on America and Europe and we need to be giving more international opportunities to Australian young artists, and institutions like Carriageworks have a responsibility to provide those pathways.”
Spearheaded by curators from each institution, The National: New Australian Art begins on March 30 and will run until June 18, 2017. Mark your calendars.
