StArt Up: Top Arts 2014

Georgia Mein Agenda 2Forty-nine of Victoria’s freshest emerging young artists will showcase their highly-commended work in the National Gallery of Victoria’s annual exhibition, StArt Up: Top Arts 2014, opening on 11 April.

Now in its twentieth year and one of the most popular, diverse and engaging exhibitions on the NGV calendar, StArt Up: Top Arts 2014 supports arts education and the future of contemporary art in Victoria.

To celebrate its twentieth anniversary at the NGV, Top Arts has been given a fresh title, StArtUp: Top Arts 2014, which pays tribute to the role the exhibition has played in starting the career of many of Victoria’s emerging and established artists and creative practitioners.

“The twentieth anniversary of Top Arts provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the students who have been selected for the current program and also those who have been a part of this landmark exhibition since 1994,” says Tony Ellwood, Director, NGV.

“The NGV is very proud to be involved in the development and profile of these young artists and every year we look forward to supporting the next generation of contemporary artists and innovative thinkers.”

A special twentieth anniversary, magazine-style catalogue has been published to coincide with StArt Up: Top Arts 2014, featuring profiles on all 49 exhibiting artists. The publication will also revisit eight former students whose work has been showcased in Top Arts over the last twenty years, including those who have gone on to pursue careers in the arts.

“The critical thinking and the creative approach to problem solving that these students experience in their learning provides valuable and transferable skills across many stages in life,” says Mr Ellwood.

“Over two decades, we have seen hundreds of former exhibitors embark on interesting pathways in a wide variety of careers, not just in the arts.”

From over 3,000 submissions, and a thorough short listing and selection process, students studying VCE Art and Studio Arts from government, independent and Catholic schools across Victoria are represented in the exhibition. This year’s students have worked across a diversity of media including multimedia, painting, printmaking, photography, drawing, installation, 3D imaging and a digitally produced graphic novel.

StArt Up: Top Arts 2014
NGV Studio – Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne
Exhibition: 11 April – 20 July 2014
Free admission

For more information, visit: www.ngv.vic.gov.au for details.

Image: Georgia Mein Agenda colour inkjet prints (1-10) 39.2 x 83.8 cm (each), (11) 39.2 x 80.1 cm Catholic College, Sale