Melbourne Now, a contemporary arts project involving more than 400 artists over two venues, has been launched in the Victorian capital.
The Victorian government has called the four-month project the “largest and most ambitious project” in the history of the National Gallery of Victoria, which was founded in 1861.
Melbourne Now consists of a variety of artworks and installations, as well as musical performances, talks, workshops and tours. There will also be a dedicated nine-day children’s festival.
The contemporary project will dominate the NGV’s two sites – on St Kilda Road and Federation Square – and has already been noted by art critics as a significant break from the gallery’s usual reliance on classic masterpieces for its main seasonal exhibitions.
Tony Ellwood, director of the NGV, told the launch event that the project provided the gallery with “new opportunities” to showcase disciplines such as dance and sound.
Heidi Victoria, state arts minister, told the gathering the event showed Melbourne was “the cultural capital of Australia, but also one of the cultural capitals of the world.
“I’m so excited that Tony had a vision and came to me with a vision, to showcase something different, to showcase Melbourne,” she said.
Melbourne Now, which will be free to access, will be on display at the NGV International and the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia until 23 March 2014.
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