NSW art bosses arrive in Melbourne to promote Sydney shows

While Melbourne was distracted by Moulin Rouge’s opening night, a number of New South Wales gallery bosses spent the day launching a low profile art attack

NSW art bosses have visited Melbourne to promote their offerings.

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers.

NSW arts bosses have crossed the border to launch an art attack.

While Melbourne was distracted by Moulin Rouge’s return to the Regent Theatre, Justin Paton and Jackie Dunn, of the Art Gallery of NSW, and Suzanne Cotter and Jane Devery, of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, held court at Andrew McConnell’s Cumulus Inc restaurant to sell three major exhibitions.

Oh, it was devious and, paired with three course menu and matching wines, delicious.

Paton was the first to show his nerves about standing on enemy soil, talking up his Kiwi citizenship to put distance between any potential Sydney-Melbourne rivalry.

“I thought it was a supreme piece of diplomacy,” he told The Source later.

Paton, Dunn, Cotter and Devery made a quiet visit to Melbourne.

Dunn said: “It’s not just about rivalry. Melbourne audiences are committed to seeing some of the artists we display, just as we enjoy coming to Melbourne to see Bonnard, and everything else.

“I think there’s a great difference between the cities, but there’s a common thread, which is a love of culture. I think it’s something that one feels palpably in Melbourne, and it’s perhaps a little more hidden in Sydney.

“Sydney is just as excited by significant cultural events. It’s just that we spend the daytime at the beach and return to the gallery a little later.”

Cottar agreed: “It’s not about rivalry, it’s about how we can experience diversity and breadth of art forms and exhibitions across Australia.

“But if you want to talk up a tabloid rivalry,” she added with a laugh, “Sydney and Melbourne is a productive rivalry. It’s great, and we love it.”

MCA Australia will host a Tacita Dean exhibition from December 8 to March 3, 2024, and the Art Gallery of NSW will host Kandinsky (November 4-March 10, 2024) and Louise Bourgeois: Has the Day Invaded the Night or Has the Night Invaded the Day (November 25-April 28, 2024) as part of the Sydney International Art Series.

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