Page 46-47 - Annual Review 2009

Relive
46
Relive
47
Exhibitions and programs
for children and families are
central to the business of the
Gallery, a core element of what
we do, and of the kind of art
museum we aspire to be.
Andrew Clark, Deputy Director,
Programming and Corporate Services
Children’s Art Centre
The Gallery’s programming for kids in 2009
began with the annual Summer Festival. Over
11 days in January, more than 50 000 visitors
came to artist workshops, performances, films
and special events related to the ‘Contemporary
Australia: Optimism’ exhibition.
Going behind the scenes of children’s
programming, a two-day conference titled
Art is for Everyone: Programming for Children
and Families in the Art Museum was held at
the Gallery during the festival. The conference
was attended by local, regional, interstate and
international delegates.
The Children’s Art Centre offered two activities
in conjunction with ‘The China Project’
exhibitions — Song Dong’s popular Writing
with water , first developed for APT 2002; and
William Yang’s Australia now, which invited
children to draw a self-portrait and tell a story
about themselves. From April to October,
children could explore a large-scale installation,
Release the bats, created by Queensland artist
Anne Wallace. A little bit spooky and always
intriguing, Wallace’s murals, films and activities
for kids focused on the darker side of our
‘sunshine state’. The Met for Kids included an audio
guide tour highlighting key works in the
exhibition, an art activity trail and children’s
labels. Interactive spaces highlighted
the exhibition’s themes of leisure and
entertainment, and featured graphics of
New York’s Coney Island amusement park.
The Children’s Art Centre is sponsored by Santos.
Anne Wallace’s Release the Bats installation / Photograph: Katie Bennett
Children enjoying The Met for Kids activities / Photograph: Katie Bennett
Top and right: In the Easton Pearson workroom, children could make a wardrobe
of outfits for paper dolls using patterns, shapes and outfit designs inspired by
pieces from the designers’ collections / Photographs: Katie Bennett