National Art School (NAS) has today announced NAS NEO, a new after-hours program that will bring together critical and progressive arts practice across inclusive and diverse platforms.
NAS NEO is a series of weekly multidisciplinary, artist driven cultural events in collaboration with the next generation of change makers, innovators and creators.
NAS NEO Co-Artistic Director and National Art School Director and CEO Steven Alderton said: “NAS NEO is a multi-dimensional creative platform where artists drive new ways of thinking, collaborating and looking at things that are happening in our everyday and global lives. NAS NEO is a fusion of new ideas and happenings at NAS enabled by the NSW Government’s Culture Up Late program.”
NAS NEO will launch this Thursday 10 February alongside the highly anticipated annual Grad Show exhibition. NAS NEO will open with the work of their Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) 2021 graduates, the next wave of Australia’s emerging talent, with 149 students exhibiting more than 1,500 works.
NAS NEO will feature music and moving image work with live performances by Kirin J Callinan, DeepFaith (with artists Daniel Stricker and Byron Spencer), DJ BRIA (FBi Radio) and DJ Leo Tanoi.
The NAS NEO event series will contribute to reignite Sydney’s cultural landscape with vibrant, contemporary, critical and innovative programming. NAS NEO will present a diverse, evolving program offering across the expansive 20,000+ sqm footprint of NAS including; visual arts, music, performance, installation and experiential work, moving image and short films, talks, art-making workshops, artist markets and rotating exhibitions, food and bars.
NAS NEO will focus on showcasing new art from emerging artists, celebrated alumni as well as established artists. Audiences are invited to participate and experience the varied venues at NAS including the recently refurbished Cell Block Theatre, the old Chapel and unknown mysterious spaces tucked away on the old Gaol site.
The NAS NEO curation will work in collaboration with the established NAS program partners for 2022 which include: Mardi Gras (18 February-6 March); Rivus: 23rd Biennale of Sydney (12 March-13 June) and Vivid Sydney (27 May-18 June). John Waight, NAS Head of First Peoples Programs (who was appointed earlier this month) will lead the programming for Reconciliation Week (27 May-3 June) and NAIDOC Week (3-10 July) with the local First Peoples community.
NAS NEO after hours experiences, will reconnect with the people of Greater Sydney and swing the spotlight on the inner-city’s greatest hidden gem located on Gadigal land on the heritage-listed site of the former Darlinghurst Gaol which was built by convicts from 1822. The year 2022 marks a significant milestone for NAS as they celebrate their 100 year anniversary of being onsite and teaching art in the Darlinghurst location. Further plans for the acknowledgement of 100 years of NAS will be announced later this year.
NAS NEO is every Thursday night to July from 6-10pm at National Art School. Entry along the wall opposite 170 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst. Free with registration.
NAS NEO is a National Art School project funded by the NSW Government’s Culture Up Late program.
Artistic Directors Steven Alderton and Rae Begley, Consultant Artistic Director Sam Watson-Wood.
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