Arts Project Australia warmly welcomes everyone to experience the energy, talent and imagination of its studio community at our 2025 Studio Open Day from 11am – 4pm on Sunday 14 September.
This one-day event celebrates neurodivergent artists and artists with intellectual disabilities, whose work continues to shape the landscape of contemporary Australian art.
Visitors can explore our Northcote Studio and experience a packed program of artist-led drop-in workshops, talks, roaming performances, art and merch sales, zine stalls, and live music. Highlights include a studio exhibition, zines and storytelling by Daniel Pace, costume life drawing with Bronwyn Hack, live portraits by Amani Tia, music from local rock legands PARSNIP, and the return of the iconic Retribution Teddy Bears workshop hosted by Arian Lazzaro. With live entertainment, a roaming MC, and creative activities for all ages.
Free, family friendly and open to everyone.
More details to come.
Details on activities and workshops:
Time: 11.30am – 12pm
Daniel Pace reads his hand-painted fairytales aloud to an audience of enchanted children and adults alike. An assistant staff artist dressed in black with white gloves will support Daniel, turning the pages. Ideally, he will have a Madonna mic and a small amplification system.
Time: 11.30am – 1pm
APA artists: Bronwyn Hack, Christian Semertzidis, Samantha Ashdown, Paul Hodges.
Life models don Bronwyn Hacks’ exaggerated bodysuits and pose upon a backdrop of Bronwyns’ design. Participants enjoy the fruits of the APA studio and draw the exquisite scene.
Time: 1 – 1.45pm
APA artists: Lisa Reid, Mark Smith, Michael Camakaris.
A practice run for their upcoming panel discussion at WEDGE: Australian Ceramics Triennale. Lisa, Mark, and Michael will discuss their ceramics practices in conversation with Marcel.
Time: 2 – 3.30pm
APA artists: James Dawes, Valerio Ciccone, Rakhi James, Andrew Nicolaides
Fan Factor is a workshop that invites participants to draw the musicians they are devoted to.
Time: 2 – 3.30pm
APA artists: Adrian Lazzaro, Matt Gove, Monica Lazzari
A fan favourite returns as Adrian Lazzaro leads a group of children and adults in the zombification and/or modification of a teddy bear.
Accessibiliy
Wheelchair accessible
Arts Project studio is a two-story wheelchair accessible building.
The second story is accessible via lift or stairs.
Wheelchair accessible and gender-neutral toilets available on site.
This is a public event that may be noisy. Those with audio sensory sensitivities are recommended to bring ear protection.
Service animals and guide dogs welcome.
Social pets are unable to be inside the studio.
You will not be able to drive down the street to be dropped off directly in front of the studio. Cars and taxis can drop visitors off at Cunningham or Walker Street. Please call us if you have any questions about accessibility on (03) 9482 4484.
Getting Here
The closest tram to the Studio is the 86 Tram.
Stop #506, on Westgarth/High Street is the closest stop. It is 100 metres from this stop to the studio.
The 250 and 251 (Cunningham/High Street), and the 506 (Westgarth St/McLachlan St) stops are less than 300 metres from the studio.
Westgarth Station and Rushall Station are the closes train station and less than a 400 metres from the studio.
Please note there is Limited parking in the surrounding streets.
We recommend travelling via public transport were possible.
