Art for Everyone — A Day at the MCA Sydney
One of the things I love most about art is that it has the power to stop you in your tracks.
It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from or whether you've ever stepped inside a gallery before. A great artwork has the ability to spark curiosity, challenge assumptions or simply make you feel something. That's why access to art matters.
On a recent trip to Sydney, I took advantage of Your Free Day at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, an initiative supported by Telstra that provides free public entry to the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia on selected days.
It's a simple idea, but an incredibly powerful one.
Removing the financial barrier encourages more people to experience contemporary art including students, families, tourists, aspiring artists and anyone who might not otherwise visit a gallery. Art shouldn't feel exclusive. It should be something that belongs to everyone.
Standing on the edge of Sydney Harbour, surrounded by one of the world's most recognisable cityscapes, before walking into a gallery filled with contemporary Australian and international art, was a reminder of just how fortunate we are to have institutions like the MCA.
The museum continues to champion artists who challenge convention, experiment with new ideas and expand the conversation around contemporary culture. As an artist myself, spending time in spaces like this is invaluable. It's an opportunity to slow down, observe and absorb not only the work itself, but the countless ways artists communicate through materials, scale and storytelling.
One work that particularly resonated with me was "Major Arcana, death watching over Jade, 2024" by emerging Australian artist Justin Williams. Standing in front of the painting, I was struck by its emotional intensity and visual confidence. Williams has developed a distinctive practice that blends personal narrative with symbolism, creating works that feel both intimate and monumental.
As someone continually exploring portraiture, cultural references and layered narratives within my own paintings, I found his work deeply engaging. It was one of those moments where you don't simply look at a painting—you spend time with it. Naturally, I couldn't resist capturing a photograph standing alongside the work as a reminder of the experience.
Days like this reinforce something I believe strongly: art changes lives when people have the opportunity to experience it.
Initiatives like Telstra's partnership with the MCA demonstrate how businesses can make a genuine contribution to Australia's cultural landscape. By investing in accessibility rather than exclusivity, they're helping introduce new audiences to contemporary art and supporting the broader creative ecosystem.
I'd love to see more organisations, businesses and governments explore similar programs. Whether through free admission days, regional touring exhibitions, artist residencies, public art projects or educational initiatives, increasing access to art benefits everyone. It nurtures creativity, encourages critical thinking and strengthens the cultural identity of our communities.
I left the MCA feeling inspired, grateful and eager to get back into the studio.
Sometimes all it takes is a free afternoon, a walk around Sydney Harbour and a painting that refuses to leave your mind.
And that's exactly why art should be for everyone.
