Betty and Radha’s Parade Viewing Party at NAS
PROGRAM
Betty and Radha’s Parade Viewing Party at NAS
25 February 2023
National Art School
156 Forbes Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
6pm – midnight
Tickets: $65 (+$4 booking fee)
Children under 12 are free
Image: (Left) Betty Grumble photographed by Liz Ham. (Right) Radha on The Set, ABC TV, photographed by Jess Gleeson.
Celebrate the Mardi Gras in comfort within a stone’s throw of the parade with co-hosts Betty Grumble and Radha the Diva from India!
As a partner of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras since 2018, NAS invites you to Betty and Radha’s Parade Viewing Party at the iconic Darlinghurst campus.
On the doorstep of the parade just behind Oxford Street, you can catch all the action and excitement of the celebration without battling the crowds!
Enjoy the atmosphere with a live feed of the parade, and queer art open late across the NAS galleries.
You’ll have exclusive access to popup bars courtesy of Archie Rose, food trucks, bathrooms and plenty of seating on the stunning NAS campus – so grab a cocktail, pull up a beanbag, and watch the parade like a VIP!
View artworks by 40+ artists from within the LGBTQIA+ community participating within NAS’ Queer Contemporary exhibitions Braving Time: Contemporary Art in Queer Australia and Fulgora.
Tickets are $65 + $4 booking fee (concession options are available). Children under 12 are free! Please contact us if you are experiencing financial hardship on [email protected]. Tickets are limited to ensure minimal queues and plenty of space – so get in early!
Please note patrons under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult. The event is fully licensed and ID must be shown on request to purchase alcohol.
Shahmen Suku was born in 1987 in Singapore and arrived in Australia in 2009. He is a performance artist based in Sydney who explores racial, religious and cultural identity, gender roles, the home, and the kitchen through performance and storytelling. Growing up in a modern matriarchal Indian family in Singapore and moving to Australia has given Shahmen multiple perspectives on migration and displacement, race and culture, and colonisation and gender identity, and he discusses these issues in his work in different mediums such as live performances as his alter ego Radha, installations and video works.
Betty Grumble (aka Emma Maye Gibson) is a Sydney based award winning performance artist. Largely through the avatar/war mask/love letter/totem critter of Betty Grumble, she engages her body as a political and medicinal site of performative catharsis, often in a genre smash of ritual physical theatre, cabaret, performance art and multimedia.
NAS Fellow Guido Maestri (@_guido_maestri) opens his solo exhibition, `Buoy,` at Ames Yavuz. Inspired by the landscapes of Pittwater and Ku-ring-gai National Park, the show marks a new evolution in the artist`s work. The exhibition continues until September 27.
Congratulations to NAS Alumna Johanna Ng (@johanna__ng) for winning the 2025 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize for her work, `a woman wearing a choker is walking in a crowd`.
The 2025 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize is made possible by the Australian Photographic Society (@austphotosoc) in partnership with the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre (@muswellbrookartscentre), and with the support of Bengalla Mining Company, MACH Energy, Malabar Resources and AGL.
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1) Guido Maestri, `Whole sound`, 2025, oil on linen, 152 x 183 cm, courtesy of the artist and Ames Yavuz (@amesyavuz).
2) Johanna Ng, ‘a woman wearing a choker is walking in a crowd’ 2024, inkjet print on cotton rag, inkjet print on clear film, 59.4 x 80.5cm, courtesy of the artist and MCPP
Sep 12
Sydney Contemporary is now open!
We’re thrilled to welcome you to Booth J12, where we are showcasing the work of nine emerging artists and alumni, including Jake Bartley @_trizm__, Christian Bonett @christian_bonett_art, Harrison Chao @w4r.h4mm3r, Lewis Doherty @lewisstepsandrew, Isabella Kennedy @isa.kennedy, Rachel Mackay @rachelmackay.art, Megan McKenzie @megan_mckenzie_, Johanna Ng @johanna__ng, and Taylor Steel @taylor__steel.
Sydney Contemporary is on until Sunday 14 September 2025 at Carriageworks — we look forward to seeing you there!
Sep 11
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Open Day last Saturday! Don’t forget: applications for the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) round close on Friday 3 October.
We have more in-person and online info sessions coming up. Sign up via link in bio to find out what makes NAS different from all other Fine Art degrees or receive one-on-one feedback on your portfolio from a member of the NAS Academic Team.
Image credit: Nicole Anderson (@nicoleandersonphotography)
Sep 9
The National Art School is seeking an experienced Exhibitions Officer with strong attention to detail to join the NAS Gallery Team.
As Exhibitions Officer, you’ll be a key operational support to the NAS Gallery team, helping deliver a vibrant program of exhibitions, talks, and events. You’ll coordinate volunteers, maintain gallery presentation standards, assist with production and publications, and contribute to audience engagement aligned with the School’s strategic goals.
To learn more about the position and to apply, visit nas.edu.au (link in bio).
Sep 8
Buy tickets to join us for an unforgettable evening as we support the timeless treasures of the National Art School, our artists.
National Treasures is a glittering gala where the rare brilliance of our most esteemed artists shines brighter than a diamond.
Bid in silent and live auctions featuring extraordinary works by NAS Fellows and alumni and compete for once-in-a-lifetime experiences that money (almost!) can’t buy. Then dance into the night as our iconic Cell Block Theatre is taken over with live music, DJs, artist activations, immersive projections, gourmet food, and flowing beverages.
NAS Gala | National Treasures
Art Auction and Cocktail Party
Friday 21 November, 6.00pm – 11.30pm
Cell Block Theatre, National Art School
Purchase tickets at the link in bio.
Sep 7
Join us for Open Day this Saturday!
Today is your last chance to register to secure your spot (link in bio). Visit our Eventbrite page to download the Open Day program brochure and plan your day.
Sep 4
