Sydney Contemporary makes a splash each year when it takes over Carriageworks for four days, bringing with it plenty of art, music and performances. This year, more than 85 galleries are exhibiting works by 400-plus artists. You’ll have the opportunity to not only see thousands of artworks, but also buy them and connect with some of the biggest names in contemporary art.
And there’s plenty more going on alongside the exhibitions. The fair kicks off with Art Night on Thursday September 5, when the space comes to life with music and performance art. The centrepiece is a major work from western Sydney’s HOSSEI, which sees 10 elaborately costumed performers creating an “aquatic ecosystem” as part of the artist’s vibrant installation.
On Friday night, Sydney Contemporary opens late again for a special night of art and culture, including musical performances created especially for the fair: a “one-of-a-kind” appearance from electronic harpist Jake Meadows, and two sets by acclaimed jazz ensemble Mike Nock Trio. You can also whet your appetite at the fair’s food and drink pop-ups, featuring Campari, Four Pillars Gin, Tasmania’s Hellyers Road Distillery and Yalumba, before kicking on at one of dozens of nearby bars and diners – perhaps grabbing a meal at one of the fair’s 15 Art + Dine partners.
And that’s just the start. We’ve put together some of our favourite spots to check out before and after your visit to Sydney Contemporary, all located within easy distance of Carriageworks, so you can stay fuelled for your weekend art itinerary.
Pasta, regional Italian snacks and produce-driven dishes – what else could you want? Just 14 minutes’ walk from Carriageworks, Fontana is an ideal spot to close out the night. It’s a love letter to rustic Italian cuisine from the team behind old Sydney favourite Don Peppino’s. Start your visit with a Martini before ordering some house-made focaccia and polpette di sarde (sardine “meatballs” – trust us). It’s hard to go wrong with mains, but the kangaroo ragu is a highlight. Fontana is also open till midnight, so it’s a perfect spot to debrief at after a long day (and night) discovering new artists at Sydney Contemporary.
It’s hard to know exactly what you’ll get when you visit Cafe Paci, where the inventive Finnish-inspired menu changes regularly. One thing is guaranteed though – a very good glass of wine from a curated list of mostly natural and biodynamic bottles by small producers. Cafe Paci is modelled on a European bistro, so you’re just as welcome to pop in for a drink and a snack as to settle in for a longer meal. That (and the fact that it’s less than 15 minutes’ walk away) makes it convenient spot to stop by before or after the fair.
This CBD spot is a little further down the road from Carriageworks, but happily it includes accommodation. Kiln is located at the top of Ace Hotel and has a big focus on seafood and vegetables. It also has a wine list curated by P&V's Mike Bennie and plenty of cocktail options, too. Just make sure you don’t go past chef Mitch Orr’s speciality: Jatz crackers with smoked butter and anchovy. If you’re visiting Sydney Contemporary from another state (or you just want to make a staycation out of it), why not end your night with a drink and snack at Kiln before resting up for the day ahead in a sweet room at this smart boutique.
If you’ve never been to a jazz kissa, or Japanese-style listening bar, now is the time to visit Ante. It’s an intimate venue combining speciality drinks with vinyl records, with the sake – sourced from both small producers and celebrated breweries – coming courtesy of the owners’ own import business, Black Market Sake. The staff know their way around the menu and can help you find the right drop, or you can sample a few with a tasting flight. Just a kilometre from Carriageworks, it’s a stylish spot to wind down after a day spent browsing the fair.
Scandinavian and Japanese cuisine might not seem like natural bedfellows, but Edition Coffee Roasters blends the two seamlessly, and serves up very good coffee as well. Expect Japanese bento boxes, Scandinavian-style open sandwiches, miso-glazed lamb and, for dessert, a take on the classic cinnamon bun. Edition Coffee Roasters is open from 8am each day, so you can start your morning there, fuel up with a pastry and a coffee, then make the 10-minute drive over to Sydney Contemporary for a full day of art.
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Destination New South Wales. Australasia’s premier art fair, Sydney Contemporary runs from September 5–8 at Carriageworks, showcasing very best in contemporary art, current trends and emergent practice.