Kate Davies on curating ArtRage: The 2025 selection

Each year, ArtRage brings together some of the most exciting emerging artists from across Tasmania – but behind the exhibition is a process that’s as thoughtful as it is complex.

For QVMAG Assistant Curator Visual Art Kate Davies, who has also curated the last three iterations of ArtRage, that process begins on the road.

Visiting 28 schools and reviewing close to 1,000 student bodies of work, Kate has a firsthand look at the creativity unfolding in classrooms across the state.

“It’s always a wonderful surprise,” she says. “You don’t know what the students have been working on all year, so when you see the work, it’s incredibly exciting.”

 

Selecting works is no easy task. It’s not just simply about quality, though – as Kate notes, “the students make it really difficult because they’re very good!” It’s also about how each piece will live within the exhibition space, and beyond. ArtRage is designed to tour, so considerations like scale, durability, and installation all play a role.

“Some works we would love to include,” she explains, “but they might be too delicate, or not suited to being on display for six months. We have to make sure they can be returned to students in the same condition.”

And while Kate leads the curatorial vision, ArtRage is a truly collaborative effort. From exhibition technicians and registrars to graphic designers, marketers, and front-of-house staff, the exhibition is brought to life by teams across QVMAG.

“It’s one of those exhibitions that involves the whole museum,” she says. “Everyone plays a part.”

This year’s exhibition carries a distinct energy that Kate describes as “bright, fresh, and hopeful.” It’s a reflection not only of the works themselves, but of the artists behind them.

For many students, ArtRage is their first experience exhibiting in a professional gallery setting. It’s a moment of recognition – and a chance to be seen.

“We want them to feel proud,” Kate says. “Whether they continue with art or not, this is about acknowledging the work they’ve put in. We want to share their ideas with the wider community – and for them to feel that we’ve really seen them.”

ArtRage: The 2025 Selection is on display at the Museum at Inveresk until 3 May 2026.

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