8 March 2018

Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) goes local from 29 March to 13 May, spotlighting the practice of regional artists with three exhibitions, SAM Local Spotlight, SAM Local: Best of Friends and SAM Education Lab.
An official opening will be held on Wednesday 28 March from 5.30 to 7.30pm, and all are welcome to attend and support their local artists.

SAM Local Spotlight is an exciting, profile-raising exhibition for a regional artist, this year, Kate Hill. In a work that takes her directly back to her childhood farm in Boorhaman, North East Victoria, and to the banks of the Goulburn River, Shepparton, Kate Hill continues her investigation of local clays, industry and the intersection of waterways. 

Every year the talents of the Friends of SAM are showcased in an exhibition which brings together the works of community artists practising in painting, drawing, textiles, sculpture, photography and design. SAM Local: Best of Friends highlights this diversity, and the artists’ commitment and skills. The opening event provides an opportunity to meet the artists, celebrate their artistic talent and their contributions to our creative community. Friends are invited to showcase their work at SAM. If you’d like to download an application form, click here, and for information on becoming a Friend of SAM, click here.

The SAM Education Lab will be an evolving exhibition process that will see a range of schools and educational groups work with an artist to transform the gallery space on a weekly basis. Students’ work will remain in the gallery space over six weeks, providing them with the opportunity to see their work displayed in the galleries in an open lab-style mode of display. Masato Takasaka is the first practicing artist to take up residency in the Education Lab for six weeks from 29 March to 13 May 2018. Save the date for the closing party of SAM’s inaugural Education Lab on Monday 7 May, 6 to 8pm.

SAM Director, Dr Rebecca Coates said:

“These are great projects that engage artists and communities across our region, telling unique stories, inviting people of all ages to get involved with SAM’s programs and activities, and be inspired by the amazing creativity and imagination on our own doorstep.”

Local media preview:                Tuesday 27 March, 10.30am

Exhibition Dates:                      Thursday 29 March – Sunday 13 of May 2018
Official Opening:                      Wednesday 28 March, 5.30 – 7.30pm

Featuring music by Wade Gregory and Brian Matthews.

RSVP: rsvp-sam@shepparton.vic.gov.au or call (03) 5832 9861

For further information please contact SAM Marketing Officers Amina Barolli or Trent Howard on (03) 5832 9494.