After more than 400 exhibitions that have supported some 800 artists, MOP Projects will soon cease operating in its current incarnation as an artist-run initiative in December 2016. We sat down with MOP Projects director and co-founder George Adams and asked about the history of MOP and his thoughts on the future of artist run initiatives.

MOP’s commercial cousin of recent years, Galerie pompom will soon absorb the space occupied by MOP from 2017, signalling a new era for this highly-regarded fixture in the Sydney art world.

MOP Projects opened in May 2003 at a modest space housed within an industrial building in Sydney’s now gentrified area of Redfern. Co-founded by George Adams, Ron Adams and Billy Gruner, MOP was established as a committee-led artist-run-initiative charged with fostering experimentation for emerging and mid-career visual artists. MOP moved to its current Chippendale premises in June 2007, enabling greater support and visibility for Australian artists in the form of solo, curated and satellite exhibitions, publications and education programs. 

Many of Australia’s now leading visual artists cut their teeth in the earlier days of their careers with shows at MOP and satellite exhibitions with partnering galleries and institutions including UTS Gallery, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre, Western Plains Cultural Centre, Firstdraft and Grace Cossington Smith Gallery.