Party as Practice
I throw art parties that double as critical spaces. I believe events are curatorial works in themselves—temporary worlds built from sweat, timing, intuition, and risk.
Parties are where theory hits the dancefloor. Where public programming can be hot, weird, and full of feeling.
I’m interested in the party as a serious site of care, resistance, community, and creativity. Not just an outcome—but a method. Not just spectacle—but a strategy.
Grinchmas
in July
"No Green Face No Entry" was the only rule of this partty, where over 15 Grinches got together to sing carols (while shushing each other), eating chocolates that tasted like dog poop, snatching presents from a giant baby, eating cake made of play dough, eating cakes made of play dough and other pranks and tricks. This is silliness in its highest form. A tremendous night of laughter and joy.
Wanna party (or for me to throw you a party so you can stay home)?
My work gels with curators, programmers, producers, festivals, councils, and artists who know that a well-timed fog machine or a giant baby can sometimes do more than a keynote speaker ever could.
Get in touch with me at arierainglorie@gmail.com
I respectfully acknowledge the people of the Kulin Nation as traditional custodians, on whose unceded lands we live and work. I respectfully acknowledge their elders past and present.
These aren’t just parties. They’re part of my ongoing exploration of events as art, public gatherings as critique, and experience as medium.
Show Time
Night Market
'Showtime' was a different take on a night market, created in collaboration with the Rose Street Markets and produced by Testing Grounds. Visitors could shop from local artisans and bespoke businesses while also learning new skills e.g. how to play the drums, pick a lock, turn a TV into an oscilloscope, make a foam machine, vacuum suck plastic casting, make 2-bit video games and learn how to make insect chico rolls. There were two unique events with different line up of participatory experiences. Each event attracted over 1000 people.
Friday Night
Socials
Between 2022-2025 I was Creative Producer at Science Gallery Melbourne where I curated 15 art party events called 'Friday Night Socials' that were free and attracted audience averages of 500 people. These events involved curating live interventions into the gallery spaces—choirs, dance, live music, cooking, demonstrations, marching bands, trivia, cabaret, installations, video games, comedy, speeches, performance art, theatre, sound art, puppetry, magic shows, educational talks, film screenings, projection art, classical music, workshops, live drawings sessions... I gave everything a go!
Orgs I've partied with:
Testing Grounds, Science Gallery Melbourne, Buxton Contemporary,
ACMI, The Substation, Abbotsford Convent.
Program Director of Testing Grounds for 6 years + Creative Producer, Public Programs at Science Gallery Melbourne for 3 years.
The Jaffle Symposiums
Not technically a party, but tying into my interest in making everything a fun event.
'The Jaffle Symposium' was a series of unique public talks during the winter, where interesting people talk about interesting things, while cooking and eating their favourite jaffle recipe on a fire. The series of events ran for 2 years and were intimate discussions that covered topics such as public art, sea weed, urban development, Colombian street festivals and renewable energies.
Love/City
'Love/City' was a program of three different events over three years, providing a platform for emerging artists to showcase their work for one-night-only. The events were held in non-traditional spaces and included live music, installation art, film screenings, performance art, pop up bars and food trucks. Over 60 contemporary artists participated in these events which attracted over 1200 people.