Portraits inside the mind of the artist as a young man

THE artworks in this year's VCE Top Arts exhibition at the NGV's Ian Potter Centre, showcasing the best contemporary art of 2010's VCE students, offer a sometime startling glimpse into the lives of teenagers.

Is that an arts policy I see before me?

Probably not. Less than a week from the election, the arts do not figure on the political radar, writes Kelly Burke.

NOTEBOOK

THE best art by last year's VCE students will go on show at the Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square, from March 31. The annual Top Arts exhibition, now in its 17th year, will feature 55 works by 53 young artists. This year 110 students were shortlisted from more than 1800 applicants. More than 90,000 people visited the exhibition last year. Information: ngv.vic.gov.au.