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Artists on the Harbour

with the National Art School

Learn about iconic Sydney artists who were captivated by the harbour on this interactive drawing and walking tour.

Welcome Centre | Sydney Opera House Presents | Walking and drawing tour

Pre-sale and on-sale information

Pre-sale timings:
  • Insider Member Priority – Tuesday 18 October, 9am
  • What's on Priority sale – Wednesday 19 October, 9am

General public on sale Friday 21 October, 9am

Saturday 25 February 2023

Saturday 25 February, 10am - 12pm and 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Standard tickets from $29 | $8.50 Booking Fee applies per transaction

Ticket Description & price
  All tickets
Standard  $29

The only authorised ticket agency for this event is  Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the FAQ below. Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times. 

The duration of this event is 2 hours

Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.

Over 15 years recommended

This walking and drawing tour is recommended for artists, students and professionals looking to draw and spend time with other likeminded creatives and practitioners.

What you need to know

Please bring a sketchbook and a pencil.

Please dress for the weather as we will be working outdoors. Participants must provide their own sketchbooks and materials from a suggested list by our art teacher (this will be emailed to you upon registration). The tour will meet at the Welcome Centre located on the Lower Concourse. Our Welcome Team will be around to help direct you. We highly recommend bringing sunscreen, a water bottle and wearing a hat.

This walking tour will visit various spaces throughout the Sydney Opera House, including around 300 stairs. Please wear flat, comfortable shoes - your feet will thank you! If you have any concerns about the intensity of the tour please contact our Tourism Reservations team on 02 9250 7250 or tourismbookings@sydneyoperahouse.com.

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Inspiring and social creative workshop

Led by artists and lecturers from Sydney's National Art School, learn about iconic Sydney modernist artists who were captivated by the harbour on this interactive drawing and walking tour.

Experience the works of Brett Whiteley, John Olsen and Margaret Preston as you are guided around the internal and external spaces of the Sydney Opera House to ground your learning and understanding of this unique place and how artists have continued to interpret the Harbour in unique ways.

Presented by Sydney Opera House

Meet the Artist

Anthony Cahill

Anthony Cahill has been exhibiting in commercial and public galleries in Australia and abroad since 1982. His work explores notions of Landscape and human presence within a contemporary representation of landscape painting. Images are derived initially through direct observation; his subjects are varied usually involving a figure in landscape, working without concern for formal boundaries of figuration and abstraction. Cahill enjoys exploring notions of the absurd and his working method is intuitive and improvisational. Cahill is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Drawing department at the National Art School.

Nadine Cameron headshot

Venue Information

The Centre for Creativity will adhere to a maximum capacity of 1 person per two square metres, in line with the current NSW Public Health Order. 

Our foyers will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars. Please remember to maintain physical distancing whilst consuming drinks in our foyers.

All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer consistent with COVID-safe rules.

Transport options

  • We encourage you to use private transport options to minimise crowding on public transport (in line with NSW Government advice). 
  • The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see their website for details.
  • Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel and COVID-19 safety measures. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a 6 min walk to the Opera House. 

Frequently Asked Questions - Workshops

What should I wear on the day?

Please wear an outfit you are comfortable to move in.

What should I bring on the day?

Please bring a sketchbook, a pencil and a water bottle.

Where does the group meet?

The tour will meet at the Welcome Centre. Our Welcome Team will be around to help direct you.

What time do I need to arrive before my tour?

It’s a great idea to arrive early, grab a drink and soak up the view. Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour to allow sufficient time to cloak all your bags and personal belongings.

This should allow enough time for the mandatory visual inspections and/or cloaking of all bags and personal belongings by Opera House staff before starting your tour.

Where possible, please leave bags at home. Please note we are unable to cloak bags larger than A4 size.

Frequently Asked Questions - Performance & Venue

What time do I need to arrive before the event?

We advise that you arrive 15 minutes prior to the event. Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts.

I have access needs. How can the Opera House support me?

Please advise us upon booking if you have any particular learning or mobility needs for us to support

Who are the authorised ticket sellers for this event? 

The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.

Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. RESALE RESTRICTION APPLIES. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.

Where does this event/workshop/installation happen?

The workshop happens in our new Centre for Creativity at the end of the Western foyers, near the entrance to the Drama Theatre

What if I can't come to the event?

Please contact Box Office on 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend. If you can no longer attend because you are unwell, or have been in contact with someone displaying COVID-19 symptoms, the Opera House has introduced flexible ticketing options to help you, find out more information here.

Will there be food and beverages available to be purchased in the venue?

Food and beverages will not be allowed in the Centre for Creativity unless specified in the event. Opera Bar, Opera Kitchen and Portside are also available to purchase food before your event. Please bring a credit or debit card for any on-site purchases to enable contactless payment.

Will there be bag checks, and is cloaking available?

All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to the foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer or as directed by Sydney Opera House staff, adhering to COVID-safe rules.

Can I smoke at the Opera House?

  • The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House will become a smoke-free site from Saturday 1 January 2022.
  • By becoming a smoke-free site, the Opera House seeks to reduce exposure to harmful second-hand smoke, as well as minimise the impact of smoking on the environment, including litter and pollution of the surrounding marine environment. 

Frequently Asked Questions - COVID-19 Safety Measures

What safety measures have you implemented?

Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of everyone on site, and we are closely following NSW Health guidelines and advice. The Sydney Opera House is registered as a COVID Safe business with the NSW Government. For detailed information about our COVID-19 safety measures and what’s required of you when visiting, please see our plan your visit page.

What am I required to do as an audience member?

Bring and wear a mask. Face masks continue to be required for patrons aged 12 years and over while inside our foyers and theatres, including during the performance (unless medically exempt). We highly recommend children aged 11 years and younger wear a mask at all times. Please bring your own mask.

As you move around the Opera House, practise physical distancing (1.5 metres whenever possible) and follow the guidance provided by our staff and signage. 

Within venues, always take your allocated seat.

For detailed information about our COVID-19 safety measures and what’s required of you, please see our plan your visit page.

Do I need to be vaccinated to attend the Opera House? 

Yes. Patrons and visitors aged 16 years and over entering the Opera House building are required to show that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless medically exempt (under 16s not fully vaccinated must be accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult). This includes visitors and patrons attending a performance or event, taking a tour, or visiting the box office, retail store, bar or restaurant operated within the building (Bennelong and Portside). These requirements do not apply to visitors attending outdoor events or venues on the Lower Concourse, including Opera Bar, Opera Kitchen and the Welcome Centre. Check-in processes will be in place for verifying proof of vaccination upon entry. 

Am I required to wear a mask?

Yes, please bring and wear a mask. Face masks continue to be required for patrons aged 12 years and over while inside our foyers and theatres, including during the performance (unless medically exempt). We highly recommend children aged 11 years and younger wear a mask at all times. Please bring your own mask.

Some members of the community may have issues wearing masks due to health conditions. We ask that you be respectful to others as reasons for not wearing a mask are not always obvious.

How are you managing contact tracing? 

Contact information is required when making a booking with us and upon arrival at the Opera House, as set out in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events and our Customer Privacy Statement.

As the ticket purchaser, you are responsible for recording the contact details of your guests. Contact information will only be used for the purposes of contact tracing, if required, and will be deleted at least 28 days after your event.

Will my temperature be taken? 

In line with current NSW Health advice, we will not be carrying out temperature checks.

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