sunset sessions

• Focus talks
  Saturdays 24 January – 14 March 2009
  4.30 pm | Free
  Enjoy free focus talks, live music and performance. Also, sample wines from around the world as part of the program Sunset sessions. Sunset sessions take place every Saturday from 24 January to 14 March. For further information, see nga.gov.au/Degas
  
• Wine tastings
  Saturdays from 24 January to 14 March 5.00–7.00 pm
  In association with Sunset sessions late night openings, we continue the tradition of exotic wine tastings every Saturday in the Members Lounge.
  $5; free for members | Members Lounge

talks and lectures

• Members’ opening party
  Members
  Friday 12 December 6.00 pm
  Jane Kinsman, Senior Curator, International Art, and exhibition curator, joins us for an introduction to the exhibition followed by a Degas viewing and a cocktail reception.
  $55 members and their guests | bookings essential | Exhibition Galleries and Gallery foyer
  
• Curator’s perspective
  Saturday 13 December 2.00 pm
  Jane Kinsman, exhibition curator, provides an introduction to the exhibition.
  Free | James O Fairfax Theatre
  
• Members’ opening dinner
  Members
  Saturday 13 December 6.00 pm
  Jane Kinsman, exhibition curator, presents an introductory talk, followed by an exhibition viewing and a three-course dinner.
  $130 members and their guests | bookings essential | Exhibition Galleries and nga café
  
• Degas in black and white
  Tuesday 16 December 12.45 pm
  Jane Kinsman, Senior Curator, International Art, and exhibition curator, discusses Degas’ monotypes and photographic work.
  Free | James O Fairfax Theatre
  

• Members’ salon de thé
  Members
  Sunday 11 January and 8 February 4.00 pm
  Join us for a tour of the exhibition followed by a French-style afternoon tea party in the sculpturegarden restaurant.
  $45 members and their guests | bookings essential | Exhibition Galleries and sculpturegarden restaurant
  
• Impressionism: the Japanese influence
  Saturday 17 January 2.00 pm
  Gary Hickey, lecturer in art history, University of Queensland, presents a talk on how Japanese art captured the imagination of the French Impressionists.
  Free | James O Fairfax Theatre
  
• Members’ early morning viewings
  Members
  Sunday 18 January, 15 February and 15 March 8.30 am
  Join us for an exclusive tour of the exhibition, followed by breakfast.
  $40 members and their guests | bookings essential | Exhibition Galleries and Members Lounge
  
• A date with Degas
  Members
  Saturday 14 February 6.00 pm
  On Valentine’s Day, spend a romantic evening with a master of French art. Enjoy a viewing of the exhibition, followed by light refreshments and music.
  $40 members and their guests | bookings essential | Exhibition Galleries and Members Lounge

Before the ballet 1890-92 National Gallery of Art, Washington DC / Weidener Collection Image courtesy of the Board of Trustees, National Gallery of Art, Washington.

• Archives dancing
  Tuesday 17 February 12.45 pm
  Jennifer Coombes, Special Collections Archivist, talks about the Research Library’s collection relating to ballet and dancing, including the archives and ephemera of Helene Kirsova, Elaine Haxton and Loudon Sainthill.
  Free | Small Theatre
  
• Director’s view: Degas and spontaneity
  Thursday 19 February 12.45 pm
  Ron Radford, AM, Director, National Gallery of Australia, discusses the world and work of Edgar Degas.
  Free | James O Fairfax Theatre
  
• Young members’ evening
  Members
  Thursday 19 February 5.30 pm
  Simeran Maxwell, Exhibition Assistant, gives a youthful perspective on the exhibition, followed by a glass of wine.
  $35; $25 members | bookings essential | Exhibition Galleries and Members’ Lounge
  
• Degas’ techniques
  Tuesday 24 February 12.45 pm
  Anthea Callen, independent scholar and Emeritus Professor of Visual Culture, University of Nottingham, UK, discusses Degas’ painting materials and techniques.\
  Free | James O Fairfax Theatre
  
• Degas’ portraits
  Tuesday 10 March 12.45 pm
  Dr Elisabeth Findlay, Lecturer, Art History, Australian National University, discusses Degas’ enigmatic and compelling portraits.
  Free | James O Fairfax Theatre
  
• Degas and drawing
  Thursday 12 March 12.45 pm
  Terence Maloon, Senior Curator of Special Exhibitions, Art Gallery NSW, discusses Impressionism as a crisis of drawing.
  Free | James O Fairfax Theatre

The racecourse. Amateur jockeys close to a carriage (Le champ de courses. Jockeys amateurs près d’une voiture) 1876–87 oil on canvas Musée d'Orsay, Paris Legacy of Count Isaac de Camondo, 1911 © RMN / Hervé Lewandowski

• Degas at the races
  Tuesday 17 March 12.45 pm
  CANCELLED
  Simeran Maxwell, Exhibition Assistant, discusses Degas’ fascination with the sport of horseracing.
  Free | James O Fairfax Theatre
• Degas and photography
  Thursday 19 March 12.45 pm
  Robert Deane, Senior Researcher, examines Eadweard Muybridge’s 19th-century photographic studies of human and animal locomotion and discusses how it informed the style of contemporary painters, especially that of Edgar Degas.
  Free | Small Theatre
  

Self portrait with Bartholomé’s ‘Weeping girl’ (Autoportrait à la statue de Bartholomé) c 1895 gelatin silver photograph Musée d'Orsay, Paris Gift of the Society of Friends of the Musée d’Orsay, 1992 © RMN / Hervé Lewandowski

performances and screenings

• Movie night: Moulin Rouge!
  Members
  Tuesday 20 January 5.00–7.30 pm
  35 mm, 2001, M, 127 mins
  In the spirit of Degas: master of French art, enjoy a screening of Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! Evening commences with
  light refreshments.
  $10; $5 members | bookings essential | James O Fairfax Theatre

The dance class c 1873 The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC William A Clark Collection, 1926

• Cabaret evening
  Members
  Friday 6 February 5.00 pm
  Enjoy a special program of music inspired by Degas. This night of entertainment commences with an exclusive viewing of the exhibition from 5.00 to 6.00 pm, with a complimentary glass of champagne before the show.
  $45; $35 members | bookings essential | Exhibition Galleries and sculpturegarden restaurant
  
• Movie night: The red shoes
  Members
  Tuesday 17 February 5.00–7.30 pm
  35 mm, 1948, M, 134 mins
  In the tradition of Degas’ ballerinas, enjoy a screening of
  The red shoes, starring prima ballerina Moira Shearer.
  Evening commences with light refreshments.
  $10; $5 members | bookings essential | James O Fairfax Theatre
  

children

Degas Family Activity Room, within the exhibition, activities for children ages 3–10 years. Exhibition children’s trail also available. See nga.gov.au/Degas

• Monotype workshops
  Tuesday 13 January 10.00 am –12.30 pm (ages 9–12)
  2.00–4.30 pm (ages 13–15)
  Join artist Antonia Aitken and explore the exciting possibilities of printmaking in these workshops. Draw and develop images inspired by Degas to create monotype prints.
  $55; 50 members (includes materials) | bookings essential  Megalo Print Studio and Gallery
  
• Frozen motion sculpture workshops
  Tuesday 20 January 10.00 – 12 noon
  repeated 2.00–4.00 pm (ages 8–12)
  Join artist Teffany Thiedeman and make sculptures in warm wax, inspired by the dancers, horses and bathers in the exhibition.
  $20; $15 members (includes materials) | bookings essential | meet in Gallery foyer
  
• In the frame with Degas, painting and pastel workshop
  Thursday 22 January 10.00 am – 12 noon
  repeated 2.00–4.00 pm (ages 8–12)
  Join artist Elisa Crossing and be inspired by Degas to capture a moment using gouache and the beautiful colours of chalk pastels.
  $20; $15 members (includes materials) | bookings essential | meet in Gallery foyer
  

workshops: adults

A cotton office in New Orleans 1873 Musée des Beaux-Arts, Pau.

• Life drawing and etching
  Thursday 15 January 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
  Join John Pratt, ANU Printmedia lecturer and master printer, and develop monoprints and drypoints from a life model in a manner similar to Degas.
  $120; $110 members | bookings essential | Megalo Print Studio and Gallery
  
• The drawing of everyday life
  Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February 9.30 am – 4.45 pm
  Enjoy a relaxed and informal weekend of drawing people with artist and educator Leanne Crisp. The workshop will begin with an early morning viewing of Degas and includes lunch in the Sculpture Garden.
  $260; $250 members/concession (includes materials) | bookings essential | Small Theatre (meet in Gallery foyer)
  
• Figuring out Degas
  Wednesday 18 February 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
  Join artist Elisa Crossing for a tour of the exhibition, followed by a workshop. Be inspired by the work of Degas to sketch in oil paint the poses of a life model.
  $140; $135 members/concession (includes exhibition entry, lunch and materials) | bookings essential | meet in Gallery foyer
  
• A day in the life of Degas drawing class
  Friday 27 February 10.00 am – 1.00 pm
  Study the art of Degas with Penny Low, artist and Gallery Educator. Be inspired by Degas' composition and brilliant colour and draw in coloured pencil, pastel and ink.
  $60; $50 members/concession (includes materials and exhibition entry) | bookings essential | meet in Gallery foyer
  
• Dance with Degas
  Thursday 5 March 10.00 am – 2.00 pm
  Join Penny Low, artist and Gallery Educator, and develop your drawing and observational skills, exploring composition, colour and movement with a life model in costume.
  $65; $60 members/concession (includes morning tea and materials) | bookings essential | Small Theatre (meet in Gallery foyer)
  
• Life drawing and etching
  Sunday 22 March 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
  Join John Pratt, ANU Printmedia lecturer and master printer, and develop monoprints and drypoints from a life model in a manner similar to Degas.
  $120; $110 members | bookings essential | Megalo Print Studio and Gallery

assisted tours

• Private viewing for carers
  Tuesday 16 December 10.00 am
  Tour and viewing for people with disabilities and their carers, led by voluntary guides in collaboration with Carers ACT.
  Free | bookings essential (02) 6296 9900 | meet in Gallery foyer
  
• Special assisted tour
  Thursday 12 February 10.00 am
  Tour and viewing for people with disabilities, led by voluntary guides.
  Free | bookings essential (02) 6240 6519 | meet in Gallery foyer
  
• Sign-interpreted tour
  Saturday 21 February 5.30 pm
  Auslan sign-interpreted tour introducing the exhibition.
  Free | bookings essential (02) 6240 6519 | meet in Gallery foyer

For bookings Email: eventbookings@nga.gov.au
Tel: (02) 6240 6504 / (02) 6240 6537 (business hours, weekdays only) or in person at the Gallery.