Mike Hewson - The Key's Under the Mat
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Thu 08 Jan '26 – Tue 30 Jun '26 (DAILY event)
Overview
Australia's most dramatic exhibition space is completely transformed, as artist Mike Hewson brings his unique and boundary-testing brand of social sculpture to the Nelson Packer Tank.
Renowned for award-winning public projects that are at once artworks, play areas, and places to be, Hewson has reimagined the Tank as a combined park, playground, construction site, and commons – an anarchic and generous sculptural neighbourhood where visitors can…
Australia's most dramatic exhibition space is completely transformed, as artist Mike Hewson brings his unique and boundary-testing brand of social sculpture to the Nelson Packer Tank.
Renowned for award-winning public projects that are at once artworks, play areas, and places to be, Hewson has reimagined the Tank as a combined park, playground, construction site, and commons – an anarchic and generous sculptural neighbourhood where visitors can meet, dwell, play, make, perform, explore and more.
Free to all and made for all ages, this one-of-a-kind project was developed in the artist's dynamic Sydney workshop and constructed from thousands of salvaged objects and materials. Hewson's project is an experiment in participation, a spirited act of reclamation and regeneration, a radical rework of the legacies of modern sculpture, and a provocation about what a truly welcoming art museum might look like.
For Hewson, whose sculptural practice was catalysed by the experience of the Christchurch earthquakes, the artist is a host who welcomes guests to use the artwork as their own – 'the key's under the mat, make yourself at home'.
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Accessibility
Allows a person's carer free entry into participating venues and events
Actively welcomes people with access needs.
Caters for people who use a wheelchair.
Caters for people with sufficient mobility to climb a few steps but who would benefit from fixtures to aid balance. (This includes people using walking frames and mobility aids)
Employ people with disability
Have a step free main entrance to the building and/or reception area (includes ramps or slopes with a maximum gradient of 1:14, otherwise are too steep for wheelchairs)
Have accessibility information and photos, including of a bathroom, room and/or floor plan on your website (can be emailed on request)
Have an accessible public toilet which is unlocked
Have at least one wheelchair accessible parking space with wheelchair accessible signage clearly displayed (International standards are 3200mm wide x 2500 mm high)
Have grab rails in the bathroom
Have lifts with enough space for people using a mobility aid to enter and turn around to use the lift buttons. Buttons are at accessible height.
Have step free access to restaurant, lounge and bar
Have step free access to the conference or function room
Have step free outdoor pathways (includes picnic areas, barbecues and shelters)
Have wheelchair accessible transport options available in the general vicinity (provide information on name of the operator, phone and website link to individual providers for private vehicles, community transport train, mini vans, hire cars, buses, taxis, ferry, tram, light rail etc in your access statement)
Offer a range of contact methods for receiving complaints
Offer multiple options for booking - web, email, phone
Provide seating in common areas including reception area
Train your staff in communicating with people with learning or behavioural challenges
Train your staff in disability awareness
Use floors/coverings which are slip resistant, firm and smooth
Use non-slip tiles in the bathroom or slip resistant matting
Use Plain English / easy read signage and information (includes menus and emergency information)
Welcomes and assists people who have challenges with learning, communication, understanding and behaviour. (includes people with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (ABI), dyslexia and dementia)