By Jorja O’Brien

In recent years, Canberra’s art scene has been in freefall. Beloved galleries have shuttered, young artists are fleeing to Sydney or Melbourne and what was once a vibrant community is starting to feel invisible.

Riley and Claudia at ML3. Photograph by Zach Fergusson.

But ANU students Riley Curtain and Claudia Hunt refuse to let that story end here. Through their bold social event Moonlighting, the pair are part of a reinvention of Canberra’s creative culture which gives emerging artists the stage they deserve.

Riley, who studies a Bachelor of Economics/Arts and Claudia, studying a Bachelor of Law/Arts, bonded, during a short course in China, over their appreciation of art and Chinese cultural expression. Though a quick friendship was sparked, Riley and Claudia also began a partnership that would ignite this incredible event.

“Part of the impetus was to give artists [in Canberra] a platform between the arts school and the National Gallery,” Claudia said, pointing to the closure of Beaver Galleries as a significant motivator. Riley echoed her sentiment by explaining that they had “...watched commercial galleries shut down over a year. Beaver was the death knell of the commercial scene.”

Inspired by other art events in Canberra and determined to bridge this widening gap between student artists and professional galleries, they decided to create their own art show. Drawing from their experience, which ranges from summer schools in London to stints at major galleries, Riley and Claudia expertly set out to create not just an exhibition, but an experience.

And so, Moonlighting was born.

Unlike traditional gallery events, Moonlighting is a BYO gathering that fuses visual art with live music, creating an atmosphere that’s equal parts exhibition and party. Over three shows so far, they’ve featured works from artists like Tess Carlton, Victoria Liang and Chris Whitfield, alongside local bands such as Dislodged, Spit the Dummy (pictured) and Bronze Age Collapse.

Victoria Liang with Marina Biome, 2024. Photograph by Zach Fergusson.

The curators explained that individuality is why the show is successful. Each artist is hand-recruited by Riley and Claudia so the attendees are getting an exclusive experience. This ever-changing, highly individualised lineup reflects the diversity of Canberra’s emerging creative voices while showcasing the high standard to which ACT’s student artists work.

Not only this, but the art is actually immersive. Through their creative idea Confessional, Riley and Claudia gave attendees the chance to “write a confession to a friend, lover, family member or other…” (Confessional, 2025) that a photo prompted and put it on the wall. Confessional also made it international, with Claudia displaying QR codes to the online portal in Paris which was met with significant French engagement. These unique ideas are the ones that keep attendees coming back and fuel the success of Moonlighting.

Spit the Dummy at ML3. Photograph by Zach Fergusson.

For Riley and Claudia, the show goes beyond curation. “We wanted to get young people into art when they might not have had an interest before,” Claudia explained. By weaving in live bands and turning the gallery into an immersive social event, they’ve made art accessible and irresistible to an audience that might otherwise never walk into a white-walled space. Furthermore, they have found and contributed to the growing community of gallerists in Canberra that are passionate about accentuating student art.

Held in a disused commercial space in Civic, the events are truly electric. “Finding a venue is always the hardest part,” the pair admit. “It has to be accessible, big enough for a crowd, and still able to showcase the art properly.” But when the space comes alive, packed with music, paintings, and energy, the effort feels worth it.

The prime location also helps attract passers-by who purchase tickets at the door.One attendee summed it up perfectly: “Moonlighting [is] expertly crafted to draw together an eclectic range of Canberra’s finest emerging artists. The environment… is phenomenal, I look forward to each event.”

Still, this is just the beginning. Riley and Claudia have bigger dreams, including one day opening a gallery of their own and potentially taking Moonlighting interstate. “I hope Moonlighting becomes part of our portfolio of creative pursuits,” Riley said. While they could not yet expand much on their plans for 2026, they assured me it is going to be big.

And while they’re quick to admit that “not every part of it is incredibly glamorous,” the joy outweighs the hardship. “Meeting artists, building a community, seeing young people get the recognition they deserve… it makes it all worth it,” Claudia finalised. Even the name carries their story. “It felt like we were moonlighting as gallerists,” Riley laughed. “We have this passion project by night, something our own.”

The fourth Moonlighting show kicks off on September 14th, featuring artists like Josh Hughes and Liv Kidston alongside two live bands. They will be hosting another “large-scale interactive installation” and selling prints from the artists. If you want to experience Canberra’s underground art scene and help fund emerging artists (in all art’s forms), buy a ticket today and experience this one of a kind event!

Get tickets here or by visiting to ArtatMoonlighting on Instagram.

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