Arts Project Australia (APA) has reached an impressive 50-year milestone.
Founded in 1974, APA is a gallery and supported studio that represents artists with intellectual disabilities – it promotes their work and advocates for their inclusion in the contemporary art world.
Throughout 2024 and beyond, APA will continue to acknowledge that individual creativity will always triumph over conformity. For APA, it is clear that divergent voices make life much more interesting.
As part of its 50-year celebrations, APA will open its Northcote Studio to the public with workshops, demonstrations, art sales, live music and more.
APA Executive Director, Liz Nowell, says the Northcote Studio is always buzzing, “Each week, we have more than 150 artists who utilise the different areas across our multi-level studio.”
“Our Northcote Studio Open Day is a rare opportunity to show friends, supporters and newcomers the spaces where the magic happens. Visitors can see where our artists come together to create their world-renowned works,” explained Nowell.
“So many of our artists exhibit at major national and international galleries. They work in a wide variety of mediums such as painting, drawing, ceramics, printmaking, photography, sculpture, digital, animation and zines,” said Nowell.
At the Northcote Studio Open Day on Sunday 24 March, art lovers can purchase artwork at the pop-up stockroom sale with works by Terry Williams, Fulli Andrinopoulos, Julian Martin, Bronwyn Hack, Anthony Romagnano and more.
Visitors can meet APA artists and pre-book for free workshops in the upstairs spaces. These include line and tone dry point etching printmaking with Adrian Lazzaro as well as kids making a ceramic camera with Alan Constable.
Costume life drawing sessions with Samantha Ashdown and William Murray will be available for visitors to drop-in as they please and people can try badge making with Chris O’Brien at the zine stall in the downstairs gallery space.
The outside entrance area will have plein air painting with Amani Tia and a live music offering, which will feature a DJ set from APA artist Jordan Dymke and the Jon Campbell Band.
New APA collectable 50th merchandise will be available that includes t-shirts and totes with works by Fiona Longhurst and Will McConnell.
Guests can roam around the APA Northcote Studio at their own leisure or join a casual guided tour.
