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Newcastle Art Gallery Prepares for Grand Reopening

intouch Magazine
4 hours ago
1 min read

Crowd gathers outside a modern building under a clear sky. People move energetically, with some stopping to chat. The atmosphere is lively. — Source: City of Newcastle | Credit: Lachlan Matheson.

Newcastle Art Gallery will officially reopen to the public on Saturday, 28 February, following its estimated $47 million expansion. The landmark reopening will be celebrated with a three-day festival and the debut of the major exhibition Iconic Loved Unexpected.

Celebrations commence on Friday, 27 February with Friday Night Sounds, a free street party transforming Laman Street into a temporary sculpture park featuring local artists from the Gallery's collection. The precinct will come alive with interactive family spaces, roving performances, live music and DJs, food trucks, a pop-up bar, outdoor dining, and lighting installations. Inside, visitors can preview Iconic Loved Unexpected through special events activating the gallery spaces.

The opening weekend features a dynamic program of artist talks, collaborative community artmaking projects, and live performances spanning music, dance, poetry and performance art.

Iconic Loved Unexpected will span two levels, showcasing close to 500 works by local, national and international artists from the early nineteenth century to today. The exhibition includes artists with strong local ties such as Joseph Lycett, William Dobell, Margaret Olley and John Olsen; leading First Nations artists Emily Kam Kngwarray, Tracey Moffatt and Albert Namatjira; and global figures from Auguste Rodin to avant-garde ceramicist Kazuo Yagi.

The expansion has more than doubled the Gallery's exhibition space, adding 1,600 square metres. Stay up to date on Facebook and Instagram @newcastleartgalleryaustralia.

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