Hands-on portraiture at Sydney Town Hall (16+ years)

Join the City of Sydney’s assistant curator Rebecca Anderson to learn about the mayoral portraits on show at Sydney Town Hall. Rebecca will discuss the history of the works and the artists who created them in a 30-minute tour.

Then get hands on in a beginner’s portrait drawing workshop held in the historic Treasury Room led by professional artists from Pine Street Creative Art Centre. 

Over 50 historic portraits are held in the City of Sydney’s civic collection of Lord Mayors, aldermen and dignitaries with a number on permanent display in Sydney Town Hall. The portraits are in a wide variety of sizes and mediums including oil paint, acrylic paint and photography.

In the 1.5-hour drawing workshop you will learn about basic facial anatomy and introductory portrait drawing techniques using a variety of materials such as charcoal and graphite.

This is a rare opportunity to visit Sydney Town Hall, learn about the history of the mayoral portrait collection and gain introductory portraiture drawing skills in a unique setting.

• Intimate class size: maximum 15 students

• Level: designed for beginner level students

• Bring: yourself – all materials provided

Access

Those with access needs in relation to stairs please contact history@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au before workshop to make arrangements.

Gallery images

Alderman Sir Lawrence Emmett McDermott KBE, Lord Mayor of Sydney 1969-1972, portrait by Graeme Inson 1973 © estate of the artist (City of Sydney Civic Collection, Accession No: 1988.340)

Alderman William Percy McElhone MBE, Lord Mayor of Sydney 1922, portrait by William Beckwith McInnes, 1938 (City of Sydney Civic Collection, Accession No: 1988.367)