How to have a fabulous evening at NGV Friday Nights: Pierre Bonnard

After being postponed for three years, the beauty and vivid hues of Pierre Bonnard’s works is finally coming to Melbourne. Step into Bonnard’s kaleidoscopic vision of 20th-century France, dripping with colour and enveloped in complementary design elements from internationally acclaimed designer India Mahdavi. 

Entry to the exhibition is included with your NGV Friday Nights ticket, so head inside to explore the vast collection of paintings, drawings, photographs and early cinema.

This exhibition is presented in partnership with Paris’ Musée d’Orsay and as part of the annual Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series. 

Each Friday night will see an ever-changing line-up of Melbourne’s most exciting bands and DJs take to the stage in the Great Hall. Enjoy the live-music series traversing disco, jazz and soul. There will be appearances from Noongar soul singer Bumpy, Hiatus Kaiyote side-project Swooping, R&B singer-songwriter Ashwarya, soul superstar Thndo and the enigmatic Glass Beams, just to name a few. 

ARIA award-winner Adrian Eagle will kick things off on Friday, June 9 with his melodic fusion of gospel and hip hop. Head to the NGV Friday Nights website to feast your eyes on the full music line-up.

Pay a visit to one of the NGV’s ritzy Friday night pop-up bars to kick off your weekend with a cheeky tipple or a bite from the warming winter menu. If local wines are your thing, the Yering Station Wine Bar will be serving up a wine tasting experience, as well as some delicious Yarra Valley drops. If you’re craving some effervescence in your life, the Pommery Champagne Bar in the Gallery Kitchen is the place to be.  

Both bars will have your appetite covered with a menu inspired by French regional flavours. Think cheese boards, gruyère croquettes, cassoulet and sweet profiteroles for dessert.

Renowned chef Annie Smithers is joining forces with the NGV Garden Restaurant for a strictly limited dining series from June 9 until October. Combine your after-hours gallery visit with a French farmhouse inspired menu from Smithers, inspired by her award-winning Trentham restaurant du Fermier. The bespoke menu will celebrate Victorian produce and French flavours alike through classics like beef bourguignon, confit duck leg, pomme frites and Calvados crème caramel.

Book entry to the party and dinner at the Garden Restaurant to secure your spot. There’s a month-long waiting list to get in at du Fermier, so you’d best make a move on this one sooner rather than later.