Explore the rich intersection between visual art and theatrical design in Australia.

This exclusive forum examines how iconic Australian artists like Sidney Nolan and Arthur Boyd shaped our cultural identity through their groundbreaking stage collaborations, and how their legacy continues to inspire today's most innovative creators. The program will explore:

THE MID-CENTURY MOMENT
9:15am - 11:45am (includes morning tea)

Delve into a transformative period when Australia's leading visual artists stepped beyond gallery walls to revolutionize stage design. Hear from distinguished experts including Dr Emily Collett, (Costume Designer Victorian College of the Arts), Virginia Rigney (Senior Curator, CMAG) and senior curators from the National Gallery of Australia, as they unpack Sidney Nolan's visionary approach to "The Rite of Spring" and Arthur Boyd's legendary collaboration with Robert Helpmann. This session also includes a performed reading and artist talk regarding Emma Louise Pursey's one woman show "Where is Joy?" which illuminates the life and work of Melbourne modernist artist Joy Hester.

CONTEMPORARY CROSSOVERS
11:45am - 1:45pm (Includes lunch)

Witness how today's boundary-pushing artists continue this tradition of cross-disciplinary innovation. Featuring acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Dean Cross, who brings fresh perspectives to the Nolan-Helpmann legacy and Dale Ferguson, multi-award winning set and costume designer with a career spanning 30 years across all leading Australian theatre and opera companies, and international credits including Broadway and the West End.

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
2:00pm - 5pm (Includes post program drinks and nibbles)

In this final session past, present and future practices are explored in dialogue with one another by leading practitioners. Hear from Elspeth Pitt, Senior Curator NGA and Dr Rochelle Haley, Sydney University as they explore A Sun Dance, a multi-disciplinary durational performance commissioned for the National Gallery of Australia. Aislinn King will share their collaborative practice in stage design for Australian Dance Party. The session will come to a close with a keynote address from Dr Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM, founder and first Artistic Director of Australian Dance Theatre, sharing insights from the past and looking forward to the future.

EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES

• Intimate, senior curator guided tour of the Nolan Gallery
• Emma Louise Pursey's compelling reading on artist Joy Hester
• Networking reception with leading figures in visual art and performance
• Discounted tickets for evening performance of Circa's mesmerizing "Duck Pond" (tickets available through Canberra Theatre)

Don't miss this rare opportunity to explore the vital dialogue between Australia's visual arts and performance traditions—a conversation that continues to shape our cultural landscape.

*Limited places available. Book now to secure your seat at this landmark event.*

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.

Who's Appearing?

Dr Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM

Dr Elizabeth Cameron Dalman OAM is the founder of Australian Dance Theatre (1965) and a pioneer of contemporary dance in Australia. With a career spanning over six decades, she continues to choreograph, perform, and mentor through Mirramu Creative Arts Centre, emphasizing the transformative power of dance across generations.

Dean Cross
Dean Cross is a Worimi artist born on Ngunnawal/Ngambri Country, working across installation, sculpture, and painting. His practice explores the intersections of materials, ideas, and histories, enacting First Nations sovereignty through contemporary art. Cross's work is held in major institutions, including the National Gallery of Victoria and the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Dale Ferguson
Dale Ferguson is an acclaimed Australian set and costume designer with over three decades of experience in theatre and opera. A NIDA graduate, his work spans major Australian companies and international stages, including Broadway. Ferguson received Tony and Drama Desk nominations for Exit the King and multiple Green Room Awards.

Dr Rochelle Haley
Dr Rochelle Haley is a Sydney-based artist and academic at UNSW, specializing in the relationship between movement, painting, and spatial experience. Her interdisciplinary practice includes performance, installation, and drawing. Haley's recent work, A Sun Dance, commissioned by the National Gallery of Australia, exemplifies her exploration of embodied perception.

Dr Elspeth Pitt
Elspeth Pitt is Senior Curator of Australian Art at the National Gallery of Australia. She specializes in modern and contemporary art, with a focus on performance and conceptual practices. Pitt co-curated the landmark exhibition Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now, advancing recognition of women artists in Australia.

Dr Emily Collett
Dr Emily Collett is a Melbourne-based set and costume designer and lecturer at the Victorian College of the Arts. Her research examines costume as a cultural marker in Australian performance. Collett's design work spans theatre, dance, and film, earning her a Green Room Award nomination for Dream Home.

Virginia Rigney
Virginia Rigney is Senior Curator of Visual Arts at Canberra Museum and Gallery. With a career in public museums since the mid-1980s, she has curated numerous exhibitions and public art projects. Rigney previously served as Senior Curator at Gold Coast City Gallery and was awarded a Queensland Government Smithsonian Fellowship in 2016.

Aislinn King
Aislinn King is a set and spatial designer based in Canberra. A NIDA MFA graduate, her practice focuses on immersive, movement-led design. King has collaborated with Australian Dance Party and was selected for World Stage Design 2022 in Calgary, highlighting her innovative approach to performance environments.

Emma Louise Pursey
Emma Louise Pursey is a Melbourne-based actor, writer, and producer with over 25 years of experience in theatre and film. Trained in the Suzuki Method, she developed Integrated Actor Training to support sustainable performance practices. Pursey's solo work, Where is Joy?, brings modernist artist Joy Hester's story to the stage.

Dr Ella Barclay
Dr Ella Barclay is a contemporary artist and academic working across installation, sculpture, performance and moving image. Her works explore the aesthetics of network systems and information. Her work resides in numerous government, institutional, corporate and private collections and has been the recipient of several commissions, residencies, scholarships and awards. 

Save 20% when you book during Early Bird. Ends 22 August.