Event Type: Free

Exhibition Dates :
Thursday 6 – Sunday 16 February 2025
Sunday – Friday 10:00am – 5:00pm 
Saturdays 9:00am – 5:00pm
*Early Closure on FINAL DAY : Sunday 16 February 2024 10:00am – 4:00pm

This exhibition across all mediums is inspired by water.

Tasmanian artists present their interpretation of water in all its forms. Living on an island surrounded by water gives ample opportunities to capture its moods and beauty. 

Art is for everyone. Both artists and viewers connect with an artwork in a personal way. Reflecting this bond the major prizes are awarded by People’s Choice vote by visitors.

Full Program for the Australian Wooden Boat Festival 2025 online HERE

Anne and Jay Sykes

Exhibition Dates :
Thursday 6 February, 2025 – Monday 3 March, 2025
**Installation viewable 24/7

‘A Collaboration’ features works and ideas from Anthony and Bridget Sutton, brought to life in an eccentric mix of media by their child and grandchild, Anne and Jay Sykes.

A doll house and a set of animals for an ark. Two unfinished projects from a man who made so, so many things for his grandchildren, rediscovered after he left us. We intend to honour his memory by finishing and sharing what he started.

A compulsive doodling habit, the same patterns present without ever being taught. A desire to indulge the imagination, forever and a day. A love of board and card games bordering on the obsessive. These were the things she wanted her grandchildren to keep with them. We will weave them around the carpentry of her husband.

We feel their absence deeply every day. Waves of grief hit, break and return to the ocean.

‘A Collaboration’ addresses family, childhood and grief. The wooden pieces at the centre of the installation were started by Anthony Sutton and the influence of Bridget Sutton is also present throughout.

‘The weeks spent staying with my grandparents on their rural property in Maydena were some of the most formative experiences of my childhood. Hiking in Mt Field, barbecues at Lake Peddar and just romping around, I felt the shadows of what I would later find out was mental illness melting away. My troubles socialising, my anxiety and my dark moods all had a much harder time reaching me up there. The space my grandparents’ made was a haven of fun and wonder that I am forever grateful for. I hope, with this piece, to share some semblance of that place.’ – Jay Sykes

‘While clearing my parents house after my dad had passed I found art projects started and carefully stored away in tins and boxes, toys for my kids lovingly crafted by their grandad, and design ideas by their Granny B. My parents started me on my artistic journey very early in life, always encouraging and facilitating. It will be a wonderful way to honour their memory, to work with Jay using their creations as a starting point and incorporating our own ideas to bring it to fruition. They would be so excited and proud.’ – Anne Sykes

Launch Gathering :
Friday 14 March 2025, 5:15pm – 7:15pm

Exhibition Dates :
Thursday 13 – Sunday 16 March 2025
10:00am – 6:00pm daily

A walk through half a century of Hobartian Monte John Latham‘s abstract expressionism and ‘worldscape’ paintings.

Monte John Latham’s Walk in the Worldscape exhibition features a selection of striking and vibrant works of oil and acrylic on canvas that explore the interplays between humanity, nature, the metaphysical, mind, journey, and locale. Dreamlike landscapes flow out of and into intricate abstractions expressing serene harmony, dynamism and love through ethereal and evocative colours. 

Largely unknown, Latham is an elusive local underground artist whose prolific journey spans decades of steady and passionate creation, each piece serving as a testament to his unwavering passion for capturing the essence of life and the world around us. Born in the middle of the twentieth century, Latham began painting as a boy. His work blossomed with surrealism, defiance and inquiry during the counterculture currents of the sixties and seventies. 

This exhibition showcases Latham’s most striking works, thoughtfully selected to illustrate the breadth of his artistic journey. It is a rare opportunity to experience the creative evolution of an artist whose vision remains timeless and deeply resonant.

Originals and numbered replica prints will be available for purchase.

Opening Event :
Friday 21 February 2025, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Exhibition Dates :
Wednesday 19 February – Sunday 2 March 2025
Monday – Friday 9:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday & Sunday 8:00am – 5:00pm 

A photographic study of the Tasmanian wilderness, by Tim Faircloth.

Viewers will be taken on a black and white journey celebrating and exploring some of the State’s favourite places. 

Tim Faircloth is a classically trained film photographer using a large format wooden field camera, vintage lenses and black and white film, processed in a home darkroom. 

Driven by a deep passion for photography as an art form, images are presented as a single edition artwork, emphasising the rarity and the significant time and effort invested in capturing it.

Thursday 23 January 2025
Doors Open 5:30pm | Performance from 6:00pm – 11:00pm

Duration : 5 Hours (15 minute sets for each performer) 

All Ages Event

This is a FREE EVENT, but booking is essential

The SESSIONS Project: LIVE! is the beating heart of the program and the foundation of the 2025 relaunch at the iconic Peacock Theatre. This free core event not only celebrates Tasmanian talent through our signature 15-minute open rotating concept but also plays a central role in supporting the vibrant performances, workshops, and events surrounding it.

Showcasing music, performance, and creativity, this all-ages event embodies the spirit of connection and community that The SESSIONS Project is all about. With a dynamic and inclusive atmosphere, it sets the tone for an unforgettable celebration of local artistry.

Performers will be announced in the lead-up, promising a diverse lineup of musicians, artists, and creatives. Tickets are free but essential and can be booked now through our new website. Don’t miss this celebration of talent, creativity, and the Tasmanian arts community.

Opening Event :
Friday 21 February 2025, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Exhibition Dates :
Friday 21 February – Tuesday 4 March 2025
Monday – Friday 10:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday 10:00am – 3:00pm
Sunday CLOSED

After The Rain by Sam Wilkinson, presents an intimate response to a seven day expedition through the remote regions of Tasmania’s South West. 

After The Rain is a body of work inspired by a seven day expedition through the remote regions of Tasmania’s South West. Shaped by a first day of heavy rainfall, the work explores the raw beauty of this majestic, yet unforgiving landscape and the untamed weather conditions that followed. 

These paintings are not exact representations, but rather seek to capture the emotional essence of what the artist experienced – shifting skies, blankets of mist and the stillness of rain soaked air. They delve into the powerful impact this precious and ancient landscape can hold both physically and emotionally, how it enters the body, stirs the mind, and lingers long after the journey has ended.

Opening Event :
Friday 7 February 2025, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Exhibition Dates :
Friday 7 – Wednesday 26 February 2025
Monday – Friday 10:00am – 5:00pm

This exhibition of new work by emerging artist Suemi Chiba explores the possibilities of clay within two different residency places, combining a variety of techniques and materials that the artist experimented with to develop skills and to explore a personal narrative.

“I would like to present an exhibition of ceramic works that combine the rough qualities of dark clays with the refined qualities of white clays. In ceramics different types of clays are generally used for different purposes; they match certain glazes and display different qualities that highlight specific processes and firing types. White clays are often used in refined and decorative work such as with porcelain figures or bone china tableware and ornaments. Often these works are decorated with painting and metallic lusters. Rougher darker clays are often used for more sculptural work and can be used in atmospheric firings where the firing itself plays a large role in the look of the work where effects are created from the fire or chemical reactions of soda and ash. Many ceramic artists will lean towards one of these two very different directions. 

I come from two different cultures that have a long history of ceramic traditions. I am half-Japanese, half-British, grew up in Alberta, Canada, and live in Tasmania, Australia. My ceramic style is influenced by all these cultures and I am still forming my own narrative in my work. I love Japanese techniques, atmospheric firings and the Japanese aesthetic and I also love highly decorative work that might have been seen in my British grandmother’s house.

I am currently completing a six month internship at Gaya Ceramic Arts and will have also completed a residency at the Medalta Historic Clay District in Alberta, Canada. During this time I have the opportunity to complete work with atmospheric firings such as soda, raku and wood firing as well as experimenting with different types of clay. I am working on combining elements of highly decorative work in porcelain with heavier clays used in atmospheric firing.”
– Suemi Chiba

Opening Event :
Friday 24 January 2025, 5:00pm – 7:00pm 

Exhibition Dates :
Friday 24 January – Sunday 2 February 2025
9:00am – 5:00pm daily

A duo exhibition by Greg Ferry and Vanessa Stockard inspired by worship, icons from the Abbey of the good boy, and Gold frames.

Icons have a long history dating as far back as the 3rd century in Christianity, displaying portrait images or narrative scenes depicting scenes of worship or religious events. Often painted in small scale, on wood, egg tempera and gold. Often depicting the lives of saints or pilgrimage. 

Greg Ferry and Vanessa Stockard visit this method of pictorial construction with their own interpretations of iconography. Greg Ferry’s homage to the enormous Huntaway dog Harvey and his Abbey of the good boy and Vanessa Stockard’s Kevin the Kitten enter the ancient and mysterious world of worship.

Opening Event :
Thursday 9 January 2025, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Exhibition Dates :
Friday 10 – Monday 20 January 2025
10:00am – 5:00pm daily

An exhibition of Tasmanian Bird paintings and limited edition prints by Belinda Kurczok.
Beautifully accurate paintings of Tasmanian birds and flora. 

Wednesday 22 & Thursday 23 January 2025
Full Performance & Workshop Schedule available via The SESSIONS Project website

The SESSIONS Project is more than an arts event – it’s a celebration of local Tasmanian talent, creativity, and community. After a 12-month hiatus, The SESSIONS Project is relaunching at the Peacock Theatre in January 2025 with a 2-day series of specialised events. Discover unforgettable performances that inspire connection and celebrate Tasmania’s thriving arts scene.

This milestone event marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for The SESSIONS Project. From unforgettable live performances to inspiring collaborations, we thrive on creating spaces where our creativity can shine and audiences feel connected to the heartbeat of Tasmania.

Whether you’re a longtime supporter or new to The SESSIONS Project, this is your chance to experience the magic of Tasmanian talent like never before. Explore the full lineup on the website and join us in celebrating the incredible depth of artistry our island has to offer.