Artists Are Taking Over This Sydney Hotel with Secret Password Parties and Karaoke

Not your regular one-location art fair, Sydney Contemporary is adding a little more juice to this year's program. Running from September 7-10, the festival-like fair takes over Carriageworks with some of the best contemporary art on the market, plus, there's a series of thoughtful and introspective events across the city for art lovers of all ages.

Highlights include Objects of Desire (an talk between Andrew Frost and fashion designer Akira Isogawa), Post Porn-Art, Feminism and Sex in the Age of the Internet (a debate between Leah Emery and Charles Waterstreet), and a screen of the Brett Whiteley doco Whiteley, followed by an 'in conversation' with Wendy Whiteley and Alec George.

However, we're particularly excited by the Old Clare Hotel takeover. Artists from Birmingham Street Studios will be filling the place up with ceramics, paintings, installation and video works — think Abdul Abdullah, Clara Adolphs, Tarik Ahlip, Liam Ambrose, Seth Birchall, Georgia Boe, Bonita Bub, Sarah Contos, Lucas Davidson, Charles Dennington, Eric Davidson Gluyas, Adrian Hobbs, Alan Jones, Lara Merrett, John Nicholson, Jonny Niesche, Adam Norton, Jason Phu, Gemma Smith, Jack Stahel, Alexandra Standen and Grant Stevens.

The Old Clare will also host Night Cap, a free series of late night events with prominent artists. On September 6, provocative ceramicist and installation artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran is throwing a big karaoke bash, featuring birthday cake. The VVVVVVVVVIP Party for Everyone on September 8 also sounds like crazy fun. The description is a little vague but features Hahan on the decks, gold glitter aplenty, cocktails and a secret password to get in (register for some VIP treatment here).

Sydney Contemporary 2017 runs from September 7–10 at Carriageworks.

Image: Rosie Deacon, Sydney Contemporary 2015.