The NGV proudly presents Art Party, a one-night-only celebration of art, music, games, talks and workshops for teens, including exclusive access to the summer blockbuster exhibitions Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines and KAWS: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness.
‘The NGV is committed to providing fun, lively, tailor-made events for our younger audiences to experience art in a safe, inclusive and accessible environment,’ said Tony Ellwood AM, NGV Director. ‘Programmed in collaboration with the NGV Teen Council, Art Party gives teenagers the opportunity to foster new connections and strengthen their identities through positive engagement with art.’
Art Party will feature a headline performance by Thandi Phoenix, a driving force in the Australian music scene with her singular blend of pop, electronica and raw storytelling elements. Thandi brings her live show to the Great Hall at the NGV after performing with Ta-ku and Wafia at the Sydney Opera House and playing major festivals including Splendour in the Grass.
Terra Rouge, featuring Collingwood College students Brianna O’Neill, Sophie Nguyen, and Miabella Vaughan, will perform their soothing vocals, deep bass and harmonic keys on the night. DJ Slymewave, aka Joanna Syme from Melbourne musical duo Big Scary, will get the dance floor started with a mix of indie, RnB, and soul music.
Underground Sundae, featuring contemporary jeweller Annemieke Ytsma, will host a jewellery-making workshop. Paying homage to the relationship between trash and treasure and taking a DIY approach, Annemieke will assist teens to fashion paper into striking neckpieces. Workshop attendees can enter an Instagram competition on the night for the chance to win an NGV Design Store prize.
Open to high school students aged 13 to 18 years of age, entry to Art Party includes access to the NGV’s summer blockbuster exhibition program, as well as talks by the NGV Teen Council on Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines. This unprecedented, world premiere exhibition presents the work of two of the most significant and influential artists of the late twentieth century. It offers new and fascinating insights into their unique visual languages and reveals, for the first time, the many intersections between the artists’ lives, practices and ideas.
Art Party attendees can also experience KAWS: Companionship in The Age of Loneliness. KAWS is one of the most prominent and prolific artists of his generation. His body of work straddles the worlds of art and design to include paintings, murals, large-scale sculptures, public art, and graphic and product design. KAWS: PLAYTIME, an interactive and immersive exhibition space for young audiences, will also be open for Art Party.
At the end of the school year, applications open for the NGV Teen Council. The NGV Teen Council is a group of passionate young people from across Melbourne appointed each year to meet with NGV curators and staff, and contribute to the design, coordination, and promotion of programs for teens. In addition, Council members go behind the scenes at the NGV throughout the school year to learn and experience more about the Gallery.
Art Party is a fully supervised event open to teens with valid secondary school ID. The event is inclusive and wheelchair accessible. A detailed event information sheet is available for download via the NGV website.
The NGV Kids and Teens program is supported by The Truby and Florence Williams Charitable Trust, managed by Equity Trustees.
Art Party is supported by The Ullmer Family Foundation, The Betsy and Ollie Polasek Endowment and Official Supplier, Canson Australia.
Art Party takes place at NGV International on 15 February 2020 from 6pm to 9pm. Tickets on sale now. Student: $18.00. Further details are available via the NGV website.
IMAGE CAPTION: Guest enjoying an evening of art, dancing, music and food at the NGV Teen Art Party, 2019. Photo: Eugene Hyland
