This story first appeared on former travel site Live 4 on  March 2, 2015.

More than 100 galleries across Sydney will be taking part in the not-for-profit contemporary art festival Art Month Sydney, which runs from 6 to 29 March. Headed up by artistic director Glenn Barkley (formerly senior curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art), this year’s festival “will focus on the relationship between artists, their creative processes and the galleries that support them”.

Talks, tours, exhibitions, open studios, workshops and a host of special events are all part of the 2015 program. Here are four events to see and enjoy for free.

Art at Night

If you find art a little intimidating, then the Art at Night events are just the thing to remedy that. Check out three of Sydney’s art precincts after dark, with local galleries throwing open their doors for DIY tours from 6 to 8pm. These popular events are free and are taking place in East Sydney (12 March), Chippendale/Redfern (19 March) and Paddington (26 March). Afterwards, head to the official festival Art Bar, which will be serving up drinks, music and performances from 8pm till late.

ARTcycle

If you’re a bike rider of the serious or recreational kind, then why not take an ARTcycle tour? There are nine tours to consider, each with a different theme. Some take in the Art at Night events (just by bike), while others go on gallery tours, such as the Contemporary Art Tour with artist Alex Wisser and the Contemporary and Indigenous Art Tour with artist Jason Wing. Events span from 7 to 29 March and are free. Note, the tours follow a ‘no helmet, no ride’ rule.

Buy Art tours

If you’re an aspiring art collector with a penchant for contemporary art, then you’ll find the Collect events highly appealing. Designed to demystify the art-buying process, there are three Buy Art tours taking place: the East Sydney event is on 14 March, Chippendale on 21 March and Paddington on 28 March. The tours are free, guided two-and-a-half-hour sessions and aim to help potential buyers find and choose art suited to their style and budget.

Getting It! Art and Wine at Wagner Gallery

Most of us can recall a time when we have bluffed our way through knowing more about art or wine that we actually do. You’ll never need to do that again after this free talk at the Wagner Art Gallery in Paddington. Art educators Bill Sampson and Christopher Orchard will give a lesson in what contemporary art is, while Todd Slater of Five Way Cellars will talk about the connection between art and wine. Your cultural education is free and complemented by wine from Leeuwin Estate’s art series. The event takes place on 7 March, 4 to 6pm, at Wagner Art Gallery, Paddington.