Boundary pushing creative and NIDA alumnus Jim Sharman (Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar) is auctioning 47 works from his highly regarded personal art collection with all proceeds going to seed the creation of the NIDA FUTURE CENTRE.
The NIDA FUTURE CENTRE will be NIDA’s research and innovation lab. It will foster courageous ambitious new ideas for entertainment experiences created through new technologies, new forms, and new relationships with audiences. It will take a global perspective and draw on a diversity of influences from arts, media, interactive entertainment, and generative AI. It will be a space for imagining and inventing the future of entertainment.
The hugely celebrated avant-garde creator and arts mentor has additionally made a significant donation through the Jim Sharman Future Fund towards initial funding of the NIDA FUTURE CENTRE. This includes supporting a triennial Future Award, which will be one of the key activities of the Centre.
The Auction – The Jim Sharman Collection
The public auction will feature 47 artworks from Sharman’s personal collection – paintings, photographs and select stage and film posters – curated by art specialists Adam Sims and Litsa Veldekis of SIMS VELDEKIS for SHAPIRO AUCTIONEERS. The auction will take place on Tuesday June 20 at 6.00 pm both online and in person at the Annex Gallery, 46 Balfour St Chippendale (near White Rabbit Gallery). The works are available to view online now and at the gallery from Thursday 15 June.
The collection includes a masterwork by Tom Polo, major works from important periods of Bill Henson’s career, Archibald-Prize winner Nigel Milsom, Michael Ramsden, Geoffrey Proud, Andrew Purvis, and many others, including for theatre buffs, rare posters signed by Jim for his productions of the musicals Hair and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Martin Sharp’s poster for Jim’s Adelaide Festival and the historic revival of Patrick White’s A Cheery Soul that was the highlight of the inaugural Sydney Theatre Company season.