The Neighbour at the Gate | Opening Weekend Celebrations

Join us for a dynamic program of public events at the National Art School to celebrate the opening of our major exhibition The Neighbour at the Gate.

Opening during NAIDOC week, the public program will take place over two days, Friday 11 and Saturday 12 July.

Program Highlight

Shared Skies Music Concert with BARKAA, Rainbow Chan and DJ Rocky Stallone

Saturday 12 July
8pm – 10.30pm
Cell Block Theatre
Ticketed, 18+

Friday 11 July – Arts Industry Day

You are warmly invited to join us for an industry day, focused on artist talks and art making opportunities. Hear directly from the guest curatorium and the featured artists in The Neighbour at the Gate exhibition, charts the entangled legacies of exclusion and resilience, drawing vital parallels between the past and present, memory and nationhood. 

Create a ceramic work to add to James Nguyen’s participatory installation artwork Homeopathies_where new trees grow (2025), or make a fabric tassel inspired by Jacky Cheng’s work Imaginary Homelands (2025). Learn more about the shared histories and stories behind this immersive exhibition.

Artist Talk – Jenna Mayilema Lee

Friday 11 July
10am – 10.30am
NAS Gallery
Free admission, all welcome

Artist Talk – James Nguyen

Friday 11 July
10.45am – 11.15am
NAS Gallery
Free admission, all welcome

Artist Talk – Jacky Cheng

Friday 11 July
11.30am – 12pm
NAS Gallery
Free admission, all welcome

Artist-led Demonstration – James Nguyen

Friday 11 July
12.15pm – 12.45pm
Gallery Green
Free admission, all welcome

Artist Talk – Dennis Golding

Friday 11 July
2pm – 2.30pm
NAS Gallery
Free admission, all welcome

Artist Talk – Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson

Friday 11 July
NEW TIME 2.45pm – 3.15pm
NAS Gallery
Free admission, all welcome

Artist-led Demonstration – Jacky Cheng

Friday 11 July
3.15pm – 3.45pm
Chapel Ground Floor
Free admission, all welcome

Saturday 12 July – Community Day

Join us from 11am until 3pm for a fun-filled day of family friendly, free creative activities. See the exhibition, participate in artmaking and mindfulness sessions led by Madina Yoga, and enjoy drop-in workshops facilitated by art educators, inspired by the artworks in the exhibition. Explore a range of mediums including ceramics, textiles and printmaking inspired by the work of exhibiting artists Jacky Cheng, Dennis Golding, James Nguyen and Jason Phu. Visitors can contribute a clay piece to the exhibition and take away their own textile tassel or hand printed tote bag at the end of the day.

From 12pm – 1pm, hear directly from the exhibiting artists and curators in a free panel talk, unpacking the themes of the exhibition.

After a day of artmaking and artist talks, join us for an evening of free DJ sets outdoors, with DJ Rocky Stallone, Sveta and Mason Kimber and food and beverages from 5pm. Closing out the Opening Weekend celebrations is our major program event, the Shared Skies Music Concert in the historic Cell Block Theatre, with live performances from BARKAA, Rainbow Chan and DJ Rocky Stallone (ticketed event, bookings essential).

Alongside our special celebrations and activities, the NAS Gallery will be open for extended hours until 8pm.

Sound Bath with Madina Yoga

Saturday 12 July
11am – 11.30am & 2pm – 2.30pm
Building 25 Project Space
Free admission, all welcome

Drop-in Community & Family Activities

Saturday 12 July
11am – 8pm
Campus wide
Free admission, all welcome

Artists and Curators Panel Talk

Saturday 12 July
12pm – 1pm
Cell Block Theatre
Free admission, all welcome

Shared Skies Music Concert with BARKAA, Rainbow Chan and DJ Rocky Stallone

Saturday 12 July
8pm – 10.30pm
Cell Block Theatre
Ticketed, 18+

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Final weeks to visit The Neighbour at the Gate, closing Saturday 18 October. 

Across various mediums and perspectives, The Neighbour at the Gate charts the entangled legacies of exclusion and resilience, drawing vital parallels between the past and present, memory and nationhood.

Learn more about the exhibition and plan your visit at the link in bio. 

Please note: the gallery is closed for Labour Day Monday 6 October
Enjoy 20% off a Summer School Short Course with code FLASHSALE20

Don’t miss this exclusive 20% off flash sale on the National Art School Summer School Short Courses (link in bio). Flash Sale starts right now and ends midnight Monday 6 October.*

*Offer begins midday Friday 3 October and ends midnight Monday 6 October. Terms and conditions apply.
We are pleased to share the exciting news that we are introducing a new BFA (Hons) degree at the National Art School in 2026.

The Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) is an intensive one-year program designed for graduates of the BFA who are ready to deepen their studio practice and expand their academic and professional capabilities. This course is ideal for emerging artists who want to refine their practice, build industry connections, and prepare for postgraduate study or professional opportunities in the creative sector.

New scholarships will be available to students entering the BFA (Hons), with further details to be shared later this year. For more information and key dates, visit futurestudents.nas.edu.au (link in bio).
Join us for free 18+ concert 'Afterglow' – The Neighbour at the Gate exhibition closing party.

Headlined by Miss Kaninna, the event features performances by HYLANDER, Rocky Stallone, BRINA, Kuya Hennessy, and DJ Court Jester. RSVP today as tickets are going fast!

Afterglow 
Thursday 16 October 
Doors: 4.30pm
Concert starts: 7.00pm
Cell Block Theatre, National Art School

Please note: if the Cell Block reaches capacity, you’re welcome to enjoy the concert from the courtyard until space opens up inside. Food trucks and pop up bar.

FREE ADMISSION, RSVP is essential due to limited capacity (link in bio)
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