COUNTDOWN TO THE 20TH BIENNALE OF SYDNEY

Cockatoo Island / Museum of Contemporary Art Australia / Art Gallery of New South Wales / Artspace / Mortuary Station / Mobile Book Stall / Carriageworks / In-between Spaces 

In just six weeks the 20th Biennale of Sydney will unfold across seven 'embassies of thought' and multiple 'in-between spaces' around the city. The future is already here – it’s just not evenly distributed, curated by Stephanie Rosenthal and featuring over 80 artists from 34 countries, many creating new commissions, is set to inspire and engage audiences in new and exciting ways. 

Between Friday, 18 March and Sunday, 5 June, hundreds of events; talks, workshops, performances and other public programs, will take place over the duration of the exhibition. 

As an eNews subscriber, it is our pleasure to offer you advance ticket bookings to some Opening Week highlights: Biennale Opening Night; our 20th Biennale Keynote Address; and Justene Williams with Sydney Chamber Opera’s production of 'Victory Over the Sun'.

BIENNALE OPENING NIGHT | FRIDAY, 18 MARCH 

Celebrate the art after dark at Biennale Opening Night.

Tickets are now available for the premier after-hours event on Cockatoo Island. To mark the opening of our 20th edition we extend our exhibition hours into the night, with one-off performances, music and Sydney’s finest food trucks!

Friday, 18 March, 7.30–11.30 pm

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BIENNALE OPENING WEEK PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 

20th Biennale Keynote Address

Saturday, 19 March at Carriageworks

This year’s address will be delivered by Boris Charmatz on Saturday, 19 March, 6.30 pm at Carriageworks. Charmatz is a radical innovator of dance. Over the past twenty years in his work as a dancer and choreographer he has explored the relationship between art and philosophy, challenging preconceived notions of dance in the process. Charmatz has presented work in numerous contexts internationally – in theatres, festivals, and at institutions including the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and Tate Modern, London.

Tickets to the Keynote Address also include advance access to the Australian premiere of Charmatz’s work manger (2014). To purchase your ticket to the Keynote Address and one-time only performance follow the link below: 

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Victory Over the Sun

Friday, 18 – Sunday, 20 March at Cockatoo Island

In collaboration with Sydney Chamber Opera, Justene Williams presents a radical revisiting of the legendary Futurist (anti-) opera Victory Over the Sun, first performed in St Petersburg in December 1913. This very limited capacity event will be presented only three times during the opening weekend of the Biennale and is not to be missed. Please book via the link below using the following special code VICTORY2016 to purchase your advance ticket:

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BIENNALE REGIONAL PREVIEW TOUR (NSW)

Over the next month, our Public Program and Education team visit more locations in and outside of greater Sydney, introducing the ideas and artists in the 20th Biennale. Regional Preview Tour dates:

Friday, 5 February, 6.15 pm: Hazelhurst Regional Art Gallery (public talk)
Saturday, 6 February, 10 am: Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (presentation for educators)
Saturday, 6 February, 11 am: Wagga Wagga Art Gallery (public talk)
Saturday, 20 February, 11 am: Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo (public talk)
Saturday, 27 February, 11 am: Blue Mountains Cultural Centre (artist talks featuring 20th Biennale artist Charwei Tsai)

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JOIN THE 20TH BIENNALE VOLUNTEER TEAM

Love contemporary art? Want to get-behind the scenes of the 20th Biennale?

There’s still time to Join the Volunteer Team! There are various roles available to suit everyone: Biennale Envoy, Public Programs and Education Assistant, Info Hub Assistant and more…

Head to 20bos.com  for more information about the volunteer program and to register your interest.

Applications close: Thursday, 25 February

BE A FRIEND OF THE BIENNALE

Sign up to our Friends Program to get VIP treatment and gain exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the 20th Biennale.

As a Friend of the Biennale, you will get a number of benefits, such as:

• A complimentary ticket to the Biennale Opening Night at Cockatoo Island (Friday, 18 March)
• Complimentary official #20BOS merchandise - one limited edition exhibition catalogue, guidebook and souvenir tote bag
• VIP Friends guided tours of Cockatoo Island with members of the curatorial team
• Access to VIP events such as artist and curator talks
• and much more ...

Hurry, limited numbers only!

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Call Out: Assembly for Alternative Futures Inaugural Event

Led by artist/researcher Kelly Doley and part of an ongoing research project, the Assembly for Alternative Futures holds its inaugural meeting in May 2016 as part of the public program of the 20th Biennale, and invites participants from diverse fields and interests to take part in this intensive event focusing on the questions: How can we radically rethink the future with agency, hope and creativity? How can we generate alternative realities to the narrative of capitalist apocalyptic collapse?

The Assembly for Alternative Futures is currently recruiting participants from the fields of architecture, climate change, health,hacking, biotechnology, radical education, artificial intelligence, First Nations and traditional cultural knowledge, history/re-enactment and experimental economics. However, they are open to anyone that is working in a field that takes interest and care in the future, has a desire for change and can work collaboratively over an intensive 24-hour period. 

The first Assembly for Alternative Futures will meet on 13 May 2016 in Sydney at Artspace. The group will be made up of 12-15 participants. Should you be interested in taking part, please email a short paragraph about why you want to participate and how what you do takes an interest and care in the future, along with a short bio. 

Alternative Futures Committee: Kelly Doley, Dr. Kristin Alford (futurist), and Genevieve Murray (Future Method)

Applications close: Friday, 1 April 

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