Join us for this new series of talks exploring the question ‘What is Contemporary Art?’

Today’s artists work in a global environment that is culturally diverse, technologically complex and multifaceted. How does contemporary art speak to our experiences of the present?

Hear from Sophie Oxenbridge and Katharina Prugger, Curators of Contemporary Art at the NGV as they present their insights into the world of contemporary art.

Join us for a glass of bubbly after the talk.

In this illustrated talk Corbett Lyon explores the relationship between works of art, their placement and the point of view of the engaged spectator. How do these three elements work together to produce a vivid and engaging experience for the museum visitor?

Using examples from Australia and overseas Lyon presents a challenge to the ubiquitous ‘modern hang’.

Join us for a glass of bubbly after the talk.

Join us for this special night-time event in the Original Housemuseum.

Hear the story of the creation of this unique project which combines ‘house’ and ‘museum’.

Enjoy the experience of seeing the museum’s artworks and gardens by night and listen to some music on the Housemuseum concert organ. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Housemuseum at the conclusion of the talk.

Join us for a glass of bubbly at the end of the evening.

Spend the morning with Corbett Lyon learning how to set up a drawing in two-point perspective. Discover the fundamentals of sketching and colouring, and master the art of lines and proportions.

Beginners and aficionados are all welcome! Drawing paper and pens provided on the day. Ticket includes admission to our current exhibition in the Galleries.

Hear some of the latest curatorial approaches to working creatively and critically with permanent art collections.

Join our expert panellists Dr Louise Voll Box, Director of the Johnston Collection and Chole Jones, Collections and Exhibitions Manager at Heide Museum of Modern Art as they present insights into their museums’ collections and how they are exploring new ways to reinterpret them to maximise engagement with their audiences

We invite attendees to join us for a glass of bubbly after the forum.

In this interactive ‘in-gallery’ workshop we look at ways in which paintings can be read and appreciated to increase our understanding of them and to enhance our viewing experience.

Should we explore a painting as a whole or as the sum of its parts? Or both? How is the painting composed and structured? How does it set up a relationship with us as the viewer?

These and other questions will be explored by our regular panellists Dr Mimi Kelly and Corbett Lyon as they analyse works from the Lyon Collection including paintings by the Ken Sisters, Stephen Bram, Ry David Bradley and Linda Marrinon.

Howard Arkley was one of Australia's most celebrated contemporary artists best known for his brightly coloured paintings of suburbia. Arkley was among the first to challenge the prevailing focus on the Australian outback as a genre, instead shifting his attention to the visually rich environment of the Australian suburbs.

Join us for this special forum as our panel members Kalli Rolfe and John Gregoryexplore Arkley’s work and his contribution to Australian contemporary art.

Join us for a glass of bubbly after the session.

Contemporary art museums around the world are continuing to evolve and innovate to retain and attract new audiences.

Join Lesley Harding, Artistic Director at Heide Museum of Modern Art and Victoria Lynn, Director of TarraWarra Museum of Art as they discuss the challenges and opportunities of leading two of Australia’s major contemporary art museums.

We invite attendees to join us for a glass of bubbly following the forum.

Group bookings can be made to join a member of the Galleries team for a 30 minute guided tour through our current exhibition Works from the Lyon Collection. Discover more about the works on display, their relationship to one another and the artists' commitments to their practices and to ongoing experimentations.

Bookings can be made for group of 10 or more.

Cost of tour included in Galleries admission price.