Late nights and live music return to the NGV for The Picasso Century

To celebrate the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition, The Picasso Century, NGV Friday Nights will return from 10 June with a line- up of live performances, DJ sets, bars, and Spanish-inspired dining.

Headlining the first two weeks of the program, Papua New Guinea-born, Australian-based future soul singer-songwriter NGAIIRE appears on 10 June and acclaimed Indigenous vocalist Emma Donovan accompanied by Melbourne rhythm combo The Putbacks perform on 17 June.

Taking its cues from Picasso’s Paris, a vibrant, creative community that Picasso embraced when he moved to the city in 1904, The Picasso Century Friday Nights series is inspired by the nightlife that Paris made famous. Performances throughout the season present the best of Melbourne’s musical talent, spanning soulful vocals, DJ sets, instrumental jazz-funk and ambient groove, offering a unique backdrop to the exhibition and an opportunity to dance.

For a strictly limited time Matt McConnell and Jo Gamvros’s Bar Lourinhã will take over the NGV’s Garden Restaurant for a celebration of Spanish culture and dining. The restaurant will open exclusively on Friday evenings from 6pm until late, and daily for lunch service throughout the exhibition’s run.

Bar Lourinhã at NGV will offer diners a bespoke menu designed by Melbourne culinary stalwart and executive chef Matt McConnell that celebrates Victorian produce and Spanish flavours. The offering includes a set menu featuring contemporary versions of Spanish classics composed of seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients, such as Jamon croqetas, manzanilla-braised beef cheek and blood orange crème caramel.

Tony Ellwood AM, NGV Director, said: ‘NGV Friday Nights compliments The Picasso Century exhibition and offers an enriched after-hours experience that immerses visitors in the artworks and places from the exhibition, along with music performances and DJ sets by some of Melbourne’s best musical talent and Spanish style cuisine. A wide range of visitors can enjoy NGV Friday Nights with its unique food, dining and music offering, all discovering the masterworks on loan from Paris.’

Every Friday evening the Yering Station Wine Bar in the Great Hall offers a menu of fine wines from the Yarra Valley along with a unique wine tasting experience. At the Pommery Champagne Bar in Gallery Kitchen guests can indulge in Pommery Pops at the Pommery Cart. Celebrating the winter night skies Melbourne-style, the Garden Terrace bar during NGV Friday Nights at The Picasso Century features mulled and dessert wine, blankets and heaters for a unique opportunity to relax and enjoy the evening.

Inspired by Mediterranean flavours, the Yering Station Wine Bar and Pommery Champagne Bar in Gallery Kitchen will serve a menu of share plates and meals including Jamon and manchego croquetas, spiced beef albondigas (Spanish meatballs), empanadas, churros and Basque-style burnt cheesecake.

Opening on 10 June, The Picasso Century, is a world premiere presentation charting the extraordinary career of Pablo Picasso in dialogue with the artists, poets and intellectuals he interacted with throughout the 20th century. The exhibition is exclusively developed for Melbourne by the Centre Pompidou and the Musée national Picasso-Paris, and will present over 70 works by Picasso alongside over 100 works by more than 60 of his contemporaries.

NGV Friday Nights will run from 10 June – 7 October at NGV International, St Kilda Rd, Melbourne. Further information and tickets are available via the NGV website