Art students to shine at sunset markets

Darwin’s iconic Mindil Beach Sunset Market will transform into a classroom for visual arts students to test their sales skills for the first time.

The Charles Darwin University Certificate IV Visual Arts students will set up a stall and peddle their artistic creations to market goers as part of an art business assessment.

Visual arts lecturer Sarah Pirrie said the “Top End Art Stampede” stall would showcase a variety of affordable art made by the students, including fashion hats, stationary, screen-printed clothing, prints and paintings.

Ms Pirrie said the assessment aimed to help students understand how to become successful working artists through financial management, marketing, web design and other business skills.

“The students have worked very hard to create a stand-out stall where they will showcase their wide range of high quality and affordable products,” she said.

“We invite the community to come along and support the students.”

Ms Pirrie said students would price their works based on guidelines by the National Association for the Visual Arts.

“Pricing comes down to factors including taste, art supply costs, the artist’s level of experience, and whether the artist wishes to sell the work,” she said.

“You take all those factors into account and then reassess the price.” 

Ms Pirrie will assist the students at the stall and provide information to visitors about visual arts courses at CDU.

The stall will be held again next year and has been supported by the Mindil Beach Sunset Market.

The “Top End Art Stampede” stall will be held near the soundshell at the Darwin High School end of the Mindil Beach Sunset Market on Thursday, 8 October from 5pm until 10pm.