The back story
From Naala Badu to the Opera House: Sydney’s arts
The Art Gallery of New South Wales and its new building, the MCA at Circular Quay, Chinese contemporary art in Chippendale, the Sydney Symphony under the sails and the theatres of Walsh Bay: the arts in Sydney.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Kgbo · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsSydney’s great collections face the harbour. The Art Gallery of New South Wales has two buildings in the Domain: Naala Nura, “seeing Country”, and Naala Badu, “seeing waters”, its newer wing. At Circular Quay, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia fills an art deco building; in Chippendale, the White Rabbit Gallery shows one of the world’s great collections of Chinese contemporary art.
The galleries
The Art Gallery of New South Wales opens daily 10am–5pm, until 10pm on Wednesdays, with general entry at no charge; the MCA, at 140 George Street, opens every day but Tuesday, until 9pm on Thursdays. The White Rabbit Gallery, opened in 2009, holds Judith Neilson’s collection of more than 3,000 Chinese contemporary works.
On stage
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra plays in the Concert Hall of the Opera House; Opera Australia performs in the Opera House. Sydney Theatre Company plays at the Wharf at Walsh Bay, the Drama Theatre and the Roslyn Packer Theatre; Belvoir St Theatre is in Surry Hills; City Recital Hall is in Angel Place.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Ymblanter · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsThe festivals
Sydney Festival fills January (first held in 1977); Vivid Sydney lights the city from 28 May to 19 June 2027; Sculpture by the Sea lines the Bondi to Tamarama walk each spring.
The Art Gallery stays open until 10pm on Wednesdays.
Our advice: book the Opera House a season ahead, and walk in to the galleries.
Why it's on our list
- The galleries
- On stage
- The festivals
Location
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