The National: New Australian Art biennial launches in Sydney

In spring 2017, Sydney will debut The National: New Australian Art, a biennial exhibition focused on contemporary Australian art. The event will be held across three venues: the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Carriageworks, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. The initiative is planned to run for six years across three editions until 2021. It features emerging and midcareer artists, with approximately 50 participants including Zany Begg, Matthew Bradley, Marco Fusinato, Khaled Sabsani, and Agatha Gothe-Snape. The exhibition will present new works and commissions across media such as video, sculpture, installation, and painting. The National draws inspiration from the earlier Perspecta series (1981–1999) and the New Museum's Generational triennial, but emphasizes innovative ideas rather than age. The Sydney Biennale, now in its 20th edition, continues alongside this new national-focused event.