Secondary

The Dax Centre offers an exclusive opportunity for students to go behind the scenes in an operational gallery, inviting students to consider different pathways in the arts. Students will view our current exhibition discussing the curatorial and design decisions as well as gaining access to curatorial working spaces and storage facilities housing the Cunningham Dax Collection. Students gain insight into the methods, roles and considerations involved in the preparation, presentation, conservation and maintenance of artworks for an exhibition and in the Collection.

The Behind the Scenes program includes:

• A guided tour of our current exhibition with an overview of the history of The Dax Centre (1 hour)
• Access to the curatorial working spaces and storage facilities housing the Cunningham Dax Collection (45 min)
• A guided conservation activity which explores the agents of deterioration and condition reporting (15 min)

We pose questions like: 

• What is the purpose and value of the collection within the contemporary arts landscape and the community? 
• What curatorial considerations do we need to make when working with artists with lived experience of mental illness? 
• How do we decide whether an artwork is in good enough condition to exhibit to the public? 

Attending the Dax with a large group? Explore The Dax Centre at your own pace. View a range of artworks within our current exhibitions to gain a broader understanding of mental health. The Dax Centre provides an opportunity to hear real life stories, raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health issues. Please refer to the Current Exhibitions page for more information regarding the current artworks on display. Bookings are required for all self-guided groups