Spence Club x ACSA: Art After Dark 2026

Spence Club is delighted to present a very special evening at Adelaide Central School of Art, one of South Australia's most respected art schools.

This is an exclusive opportunity to see My Head as a House, Anna Platten's long-awaited new exhibition, and hear a talk by Gallery Director Andrew Purvis about the works.

This is the first solo exhibition of new work by the highly esteemed and much-loved artist in fourteen years. Platten’s paintings are famed for their combination of carefully observed tonal realism and surreal juxtapositions; she invites the viewer into a world of entrancing detail and hallucinatory strangeness. These paintings and drawings have been distilled from a period of turbulent personal change, and as such they are powerfully cathartic and deeply intimate works, dealing with illness, bereavement, and, ultimately, hope.

Guests will also enjoy an exclusive after-hours tour of Adelaide Central School of Art, a rare chance to go behind the scenes of the studios and spaces where South Australia's next generation of artists are trained, in the heart of the Glenside Cultural Precinct, as well as hear more about the School and its program of courses and exhibitions from CEO, Penny Griggs.

Your ticket includes delicious food and drinks throughout the evening, along with plenty of time to connect with fellow Spence Club members and friends among some truly extraordinary artworks and architecture.

🥂 Celebrating Our Board
We'll also raise a glass to our new 2027 Board, announced at our recent AGM following the 2026 Board Elections. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet and welcome our incoming Board Members and Volunteers, and to thank and farewell our outgoing Board Members for their generous service and all they've given to Spence Club.

🎤  Our Speakers

We're delighted we'll hear from:

• Penny Griggs - Adelaide Central School of Art CEO

• Andrew Purvis - Adelaide Central Gallery Director and My Head As A House Curator

• TBA - Catherine House representative

🎟️ Ticket Info 

• Early Bird (Members Only): $45 (plus booking fee (+BF), only available until 11pm, Sunday 18 October 2026)

• Members: $55 +BF

• Non-members: $80 +BF

• Concession: $30 (please contact Spence Club to obtain the Concession code) 

🤍 Charity Partners

As with all of our events, profits from this evening will be sent directly to South Australian charity Catherine House to support important outreach initiatives for South Australian women facing homelessness. 

💡 Event Sponsors & Supporters 

A huge thank you to our presenting partner Adelaide Central School of Art, and our event supporters Duda Balestrin Photography, Tony & Marks, Karrawatta Wines, The Lane Vineyard and Jim Barry Wines.

By purchasing a ticket, you agree to receive event-related communications from Spence Club. You may also opt in to receive updates about future events, news and offers. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Your attendance at this event implies your consent to the use, reproduction, editing and/or broadcast by Spence Club Incorporated of any and all photographs, video recordings and audio recordings of you taken by or on behalf of Spence Club Incorporated without compensation to you. All prints (digital or otherwise), video recordings and audio recordings shall remain the property of Spence Club Incorporated.

We may not be able to accommodate for dietary requirements on any tickets purchased within 7 days of the event. We'll do our very best.

*Spence Club does not offer concession tickets for students.