Art After Hours celebrates the next generation of creative minds

The ever-popular ARTEXPRESS returns to the Art Gallery of New South Wales from 12 March, bringing together an outstanding and diverse selection of works from teenage artists.

Drawn from works submitted for the 2013 NSW Higher School Certificate Visual Arts examination, ARTEXPRESS provides insights into students’ creativity and the issues and ideas that are of importance to them.

Over three weeks in March, Art After Hours will be collaborating with these up-and-comers to present a program brimming with the dynamism of youth. Each evening will be a unique opportunity to not only celebrate such exemplary achievements but also help foster creative futures.

As usual for Art After Hours, the entire Gallery will be open until 10pm with an array of entertainment, food and drinks on offer. Don’t forget there is a courtesy bus running every 15 minutes throughout the evening, dropping at various transport hubs in the city.

Program highlights

On 12 March at 6.30pm TV personality Gretel Killeen is in conversation with six exhibiting student artists for our weekly celebrity event. Join them as they discuss their work and aspirations. You can even come to the Gallery a bit earlier to meet the students and chat with them one-on-one. They will be in the exhibition space from 5.30pm.

On 19 March we hand over the reins. Our very first Student Showcase night sees teenage talent take over the Gallery. This night is all about youth and the creative arts. From 5.30 to 7pm, students across the visual arts, drama, music and dance will present an exciting mix of staged and pop-up performances.

On 26 March immerse yourself in colour as Nike Savvas’s new work Rally canopies the Gallery’s entrance court. Savvas herself will be joining us for this week’s celebrity event as Triple J presenter Tom Tilley chats to her and ARTEXPRESS students from 6.30pm. They will be exploring the significance of colour and energy in their art practice.

Hear live music from 7.15pm on each of the above dates. Emerging Australian musicians Kent Eastwood and Sam Buckingham will fill the entrance court with their beautiful, original folk sounds.

Full program

12 March
19 March
26 March

The Student Showcase night is organised in collaboration with The Arts Unit for the Department of Education and Communities (DEC) and the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES).

Art After Hours is supported by Gallery members.