National Galleria Victoria Presents START UP: TOP ARTS 2014, Now thru 7/20

Forty-nine of Victoria's freshest emerging young artists will showcase their highly-commended work in the National Gallery of Victoria's annual exhibition, StArt Up: Top Arts 2014, opening today, 11 April.

Now in its twentieth year and one of the most popular, diverse and engaging exhibitions on the NGV calendar, StArt Up: Top Arts 2014 supports arts education and the future of contemporary art in Victoria.

Minister for the Arts, Heidi Victoria officially opened StArt Up: Top Arts 2014 on behalf of Minister for Education Martin Dixon.

"StArt Up: Top Arts 2014 allows us to share in the artistic journeys of creativity and learning undertaken by our talented VCE class of 2013," Ms Victoria said.

"The works on display are outstanding examples of student achievement, supportive teaching and the power of the arts in education. I wish to congratulate our young ambassadors for arts education in Victoria."

To celebrate its twentieth anniversary at the NGV, Top Arts has been given a fresh title, StArtUp: Top Arts 2014, which pays tribute to the role the exhibition has played in starting the career of many of Victoria's emerging and established artists and creative practitioners.

Tony Ellwood, Director, NGV, said, "The twentieth anniversary of Top Arts provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the students

who have been selected for the current program and also those who have been a part of this landmark exhibition since 1994."

"The NGV is very proud to be involved in the development and profile of these young artists and every year we look forward to supporting the next generation of contemporary artists and innovative thinkers. This year's selection of works is inspirational; I congratulate all of the students on their achievements."

A special twentieth anniversary, magazine-style catalogue has been published to coincide with StArt Up: Top Arts 2014, featuring profiles on all 49 exhibiting artists. The publication will also revisit eight former students whose work has been showcased in Top Arts over the last twenty years, including those who have gone on to pursue careers in the arts.

"The critical thinking and the creative approach to problem solving that these students experience in their learning provides valuable and transferable skills across many stages in life. Over two decades, we have seen hundreds of former exhibitors embark on interesting pathways in a wide variety of careers, not just in the arts," Mr. Ellwood said.

Following on from 2013, the exhibition will again be held in NGV Studio, the Gallery's popular and dynamic contemporary art space at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, which provides the opportunity for direct engagement with artists and artistic practices. A selection of workbooks and preparatory material will be available for viewing, giving current VCE Art and Studio Arts students an invaluable insight into the creative and developmental processes that go into producing a finished work.

From over 3,000 submissions, and a thorough short listing and selection process, students studying VCE Art and Studio Arts from government, independent and Catholic schools across Victoria are represented in the exhibition. This year's students have worked across a diversity of media including multimedia, painting, printmaking, photography, drawing, installation, 3D imaging and a digitally produced graphic novel.

A range of informative and interactive public programs will run throughout StArt Up: Top Arts 2014, including talks from exhibiting students and folio viewings as well as behind-the- scenes education programs developed especially for student groups and teachers. See ngv.vic.gov.au/learn for further details.

StArt Up: Top Arts 2014 will be on display at the NGV Studio, Flinders Street, Federation Square from 11 April - 20 July 2014. StArt Up: Top Arts 2014 is open daily 10am-5 pm. Admission is free.