Art Book Fair at NGV International
The Melbourne Art Book Fair’s stallholders will return to the NGV Great Hall as a special feature of the Friday Nights program for 18 March only. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase publications from a diverse range of art publishers, artists and designers. Publishers include the NGV design store x Printed Matter, a specialist collaboration with the world’s leading non-profit organisation dedicated to the dissemination, understanding and appreciation of artists’ books and publications. NGV design store will also present from some of Australia’s most exciting and radical poetic voices from the ‘Performing Poetics’ highlight program. Also featuring is the Showcase Stand, a rotating space for emerging imprints, artists and small run publishers to showcase and sell their wares during the evening.

The Annotated Reader: Ryan Gander and Jonathan P. Watts
For the first time in Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria presents ‘The Annotated Reader’, a publication-as-exhibition and exhibition-as-publication featuring 281 personal responses to a chosen piece of writing. Celebrated British contemporary artist Ryan Gander and Jonathan P. Watts invited a range of creatives to imagine they’ve missed the last train and asked the question “Is there one piece of writing that you would want with you for company in the small hours?”. Contributors including Marina Abramović, Art & Language, Paul Clinton, Tom Godfrey, Ragnar Kjartansson, Sarah Lucas, Alistair Hudson and Hans Ulrich Obrist, submitted a text with personal annotations and notes made directly onto it. The exhibition features each contribution and invites viewers to read, critique and collate their own annotated reader. The full collection of contributions is available as a digital keepsake for purchase.

Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto
In an Australian exclusive, the NGV presents a major exhibition of more than 100 garments from renowned French couturière Gabrielle Chanel. With designs drawn from the rich holdings of the Palais Galliera and the Patrimoine de CHANEL in Paris, complemented by important loans from major public museums and private collections, Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto showcases the impressive breadth of Gabrielle Chanel’s output and her design codes. The Melbourne presentation also features several designs from the NGV Collection.

Bark Ladies
Bark Ladies: Eleven Artists from Yirrkala celebrates the NGV’s extraordinary collection of work by Yolŋu women artists from the Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre (Buku), in North-East Arnhem Land. Explore the masterpieces and stories from these Yolŋu women from Yirrkala, who are known for channelling their unique worldview into daring and innovative works of art that demonstrate their mastery over the unique medium of bark.

The Gecko and the Mermaid: Djerrkŋu Yunupiŋu and Her Sister
Geckos, turtles, lizards and mermaids! Explore art and hands-on activities created by award-winning artists Djerrkŋu Yunupiŋu and her sister Ms Yunupiŋu from North-East Arnhem Land.

Bars, Dining & Experience
French-inspired food and a variety of beverages by Yering Station, Four Pillars Gin and Pommery Champagne will be available until 9.45pm. Also be sure to look out for the opening of the David Jones vault, delivering a myriad of surprises all summer long. Browse menus here.

6am at the Garage
Pommery Champagne Bar | Gallery Kitchen
6.00 – 8.00pm
6am at the Garage is a Melbourne-based music collective run by Liam and Benny. As DJs, their selections traverse genres and time, but their ethos stays put… PLAY FOR THE PARTY.

Cliftonia
Pommery Champagne Bar | Gallery Kitchen
8.00 – 10.00pm
Listen to Cliftonia’s stylised sound in an array of flawless melodies and meters where a magnetic bassline remains the fundamental foundation to his sets.