MPRG goes to town: The Social Studio, Collingwood + NGV Australia

Arrive first to MPRG by 9am for an exhibition floor talk with MPRG curator Dunja Rmandic.

See the works from the Social Studio artists Atong Atem and Romance was Born as well as Kaylene Whiskey's collaboration with WAH-WAH. Kaylene's vibrant and colourful work is widely recognised and is currently featured at NGV Australia. You may recall seeing Kaylene's work Cooking my famous Indulkana soup in the 2023 Archibald Prize at MPRG too!

Following the exhibition introduction we will drive (mini-bus) to The Social Studio at Collingwood Yards, a vibrant hub of creativity and community engagement. A talk and tour by CEO Dewi Cooke will provide insight into the Studio's innovative programs and the transformative power of art in social enterprise.

The Social Studio is a not-for-profit social enterprise operating as a fashion school, clothing label, retail shop, digital-textile print studio, clothing manufacturer and community space. It has supported young people from new migrant and refugee communities since opening on Smith Street, Collingwood in 2009.

Following the visit we will have lunch nearby in Collingwood, at your own expense.

After lunch, we will head to the NGV Australia for a talk by Sophie Gerhard, Curator of Australian and First Nations Art.

Sophie will lead us through the 2023 MECCA Holiday Collaboration: Kaylene Whiskey exhibition whose vivid paintings of fabulous divas and pop icons interact with Whiskey’s daily life in Indulkana, north-west of Adelaide. Sophie will also guide us through Whurrda Marra, NGV Australia's permanent collection of First Nations art.

Don't miss this opportunity to engage with two influential voices in the Melbourne arts community and explore the dynamic intersection of art, culture, and social change.

Your ticket fee for the day is supporting The Social Studio to run a creative workshop for 12 refugee youth.

Image: The Social Studio retail and workshop space, Atong Atem, and WAH-WAH x Kaylene Whiskey at MPRG.