Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) is thrilled to announce the return of SAM at Sunset in a new, monthly format in 2023. The popular program, which frequently sold out in its limited run in 2022, has evolved in its offerings to become a full museum experience for children and families alike. 

Visitors can expect extended-hours access to galleries and the museum shop, curatorial and artist-led talks, creative workshops and ticketed access to the Level 4 bar and terrace, which will feature live music performances and refreshments. In February, SAM at Sunset will double as a celebration of the current temporary exhibition 4th National Indigenous Triennial: Ceremony, a touring show from the National Gallery of Australia, ahead of its closure at the end of the month. K/Gamilaroi artist Penny Evans, who work is featured in Ceremony, will be joining SAM to lead special creative workshops and floor talks in galleries, alongside SAM curators and National Gallery Special Projects Curator Kelli Cole (Warumungu/Luritja peoples).  

 The evening will also see the unveiling of the newly hung portraits in the current Children’s Gallery exhibition, All Together. Portraits taken of local GV families and groups in January by artists Meredith Turnbull and Ross Coulter will replace the current works on show to reflect the community engagement of the exhibition. 

 Melinda Martin, SAM CEO, says of the program: 

“SAM at Sunset will become a monthly program that creates a space for our community to come together and explore the museum outside of normal museum hours. It’s perfect as a solo activity, a place to catch up with friends for after-work drinks, or as an after-school treat for families to practice creativity together. We are thrilled to be able to offer SAM at Sunset as a regular experience and offer a space where visitors will be able to enjoy regular live music performances. Late night gallery programs have been hugely successful in many arts institutions across the world, including at the National Gallery of Victoria, and we are thrilled to bring our own version of this programming to the Goulburn Valley.”  

SAM at Sunset will begin in 2023 on Thursday 23 February from 4pm to 8pm and will be held on the last Thursday of the month. Entry to the museum and access to the workshops and talks are free, subject to program capacity limits; tickets to the Level 4 bar and live music will be available for purchase from Thursday 9 February on the SAM website. Visitors can sign up to the SAM at Sunset mailing list for priority access to the evening program and tickets via the link: https://eepurl.com/ii9HSX 

Image: SAM After Sunset, Shepparton Art Museum, 2022. Photo by Cam Matheson