Firstdraft

A Four-Decade Hub for Experimental Contemporary Art in Woolloomooloo

Firstdraft is Sydney's leading platform for emerging and early-career artists, established in 1986 as an artist-run initiative and now operating as a progressive not-for-profit contemporary arts organisation. Located at 13–17 Riley Street in Woolloomooloo, the gallery champions experimentation, risk and inclusion across all its programming. Built on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, Firstdraft has spent nearly four decades fostering creative practices that push boundaries and amplify diverse voices in the contemporary art landscape. The organisation's longevity reflects a deep commitment to positioning artists and arts workers at the centre of decision-making, ensuring that creative practitioners have agency in shaping the gallery's direction and vision.

Today, Firstdraft operates as more than a gallery space—it's an ecosystem where innovation thrives. The organisation is a member of Contemporary Art Organisations Australia (CAOA), a national network of fifteen independent, non-collecting contemporary visual arts organisations, and co-convenes All Conference, a collaborative network of fifteen artist-led, experimental and cross-disciplinary arts bodies across the country. With support from the NSW Government through Create NSW, the Australian Government through Creative Australia, and the City of Sydney's Creative Spaces Program, Firstdraft demonstrates the institutional backing and community investment in its mission to champion the next generation of Australian contemporary artists.

Diverse Contemporary Practices: From Abstract to Wildlife

Firstdraft's exhibition program celebrates a broad spectrum of contemporary art practices, showcasing everything from abstract and minimalist work to figurative, landscape, photography, wildlife and animal-focused pieces. This curatorial openness reflects the gallery's core belief that experimental contemporary art takes many forms and speaks to different audiences and sensibilities. Rather than adhering to a single aesthetic or movement, Firstdraft creates space for artists working across diverse mediums and conceptual approaches, united by a commitment to innovative thinking and authentic creative expression.

Recent programming illustrates this range in action. Edward Barns' solo exhibition captures the wildlife surrounding his home on the Mid North Coast through painting and immersive soundscape, whilst other current shows explore digital isolation, the handmade image as resistance to screen culture, and the economics of labour in art practice. By platforming work that grapples with contemporary questions—loneliness, connection, memory, sustainability—Firstdraft positions itself as a space where art engages with lived experience and cultural urgency, not merely aesthetic novelty.

A Mission Rooted in Care, Curiosity and Creative Risk

The gallery's mission prioritises curiosity, collaboration, openness and empathy, values that permeate every program it delivers. Firstdraft believes that meaningful contemporary art practice emerges when artists feel supported to take risks, experiment without constraint, and develop their vision in conversation with audiences and peers. This philosophy extends beyond exhibitions: the organisation runs a writers program, public programs, and actively solicits proposals from artists, curators and writers for its annual program callout, democratising access to the gallery as a development platform.

By design, Firstdraft cultivates a welcoming and inclusive environment that represents diverse communities and content. The gallery operates with principles of care and ethical governance, recognising that supporting the next generation of contemporary artists means more than hanging work on walls—it requires fostering belonging, amplifying underrepresented voices, and creating conditions where bold ideas and emerging creatives can flourish. This commitment to accessibility and inclusion distinguishes Firstdraft within Sydney's contemporary art ecosystem.

Experimentation and Conversation: What to Expect When You Visit

A visit to Firstdraft in Woolloomooloo offers an encounter with some of Australia's most compelling emerging and experimental contemporary art. The gallery welcomes visitors Wednesday 11am–8pm and Thursday–Saturday 11am–5pm, providing ample opportunity to experience current exhibitions and engage with public programming. Whether you're encountering abstract works, figurative paintings, photography, minimalist installations or mixed-media pieces, you're entering a space designed to provoke thought, invite conversation and challenge conventions about what contemporary art can be and do.

Beyond the exhibitions themselves, Firstdraft offers pathways into deeper engagement with contemporary practice. The writers program provides critical perspectives on the work on view, public programs create moments for dialogue between artists and audiences, and the gallery's archive documents four decades of exhibitions and conversations. For those drawn to the cutting edge of Australian contemporary art, or simply curious about what emerging artists are thinking and making today, Firstdraft represents an essential and welcoming destination in inner Sydney. Contact info@firstdraft.org.au or (02) 8970 2999 for more information, or follow @firstdraft_ on social media for updates on current and upcoming exhibitions.