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Big Ideas in Contemporary Art Online For Secondary



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Free

Online

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9am–5pm, daily

What is contemporary art? What are some of the big ideas that can help us understand it? This free online series invites secondary school students to explore what today’s artists are making, why they are making it, how they are making it and why it matters. Each term, join an NGV educator for an interactive and engaging online discussion that explores some of the complexities of contemporary art, one big idea at a time.

These programs will be delivered online via WebEx. Register to join the live discussions each term and also receive access to a recording of the program valid for the remainder of that term.

Wed 25 Feb, 2–2.45pm
Term 1 | Can Anything be Art?

In Term 1, begin your exploration of big ideas in contemporary art with some big questions: can anything be art these days and who decides? To help us think about these questions, we’ll look at artworks from the NGV Collection that challenge us to think in different ways about what art can be, how it is made, and what it can be made from. We will also consider what might influence how we define, experience, and value contemporary art, including the role of galleries and museums.

Learning Objectives ​

  • Develop strategies for defining and describing examples of contemporary art
  • Discuss the factors that influence how contemporary art is defined, experienced and valued
  • Reflect on and express ideas and opinions about what art can be and how it can be viewed, perceived and interpreted
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Wed 29 Apr, 2–2.45pm
Term 2 | Responding to Our Changing Planet

In Term 2, explore the work of contemporary artists who are tackling environmental challenges facing our planet. Artists have always looked to the natural world for inspiration. Today, many are responding to urgent issues like climate change, social justice, and technological shifts, using innovative approaches to artmaking to reveal hidden truths, spark conversations, and inspire action.

Learning Objectives ​

  • Identify some contemporary issues that artworks in the NGV Collection aim to address
  • Analyse examples of art that respond to climate change and its impact on the natural world
  • Reflect on the ways art can inspire awareness and action around real-time global challenges
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Wed 15 Jul, 2–2.45pm
Term 3 | Old Forms, New Voices

In Term 3, discover how contemporary artists are reviving traditional crafts and long-standing techniques to create fresh, powerful works. These artists draw on materials and methods passed down through generations, but they use them in new ways that reflect today’s culture, identities, and ideas. Through discussion of works from the NGV Collection, we will explore how honoring the past in contemporary art practices can open new creative possibilities, provide new perspectives on history and give voice to diverse stories in the present.

Learning Objectives ​

  • Identify traditional art forms and techniques used by contemporary artists
  • Explain how artists use historical materials and methods to express current ideas, identities, and social issues
  • Reflect on the role of cultural heritage and storytelling in contemporary art practices
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Wed 7 Oct, 2–2.45pm
Term 4 | Art Beyond the Walls

In Term 4, to finish the series, we look at what happens when art is taken out of the gallery and is placed into the world around us. This session explores how artists are creating work in public spaces, collaborating with communities, and inviting participation in new and unexpected ways. These artists can often blur the line between viewer and artwork, and challenge the idea that art belongs only in galleries or museums. From installations to performances and interactive projects at NGV, we’ll think and talk about where art can happen, who it’s for, and how it can connect us in powerful and personal ways.

Learning Objectives ​

  • Describe how contemporary artists use public spaces and participatory methods to create and share their work
  • Consider how public art can challenge traditional ideas about where art belongs and who it’s for
  • Reflect on the role of audience, location, and collaboration in shaping the meaning and impact of an artwork
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