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passion for contemporary design with
Australian designers Dinosaur Design for
many years, and this relationship was
celebrated with the commission of eight
larger platters.
We continue to engage diverse audiences
and are committed to developing innovative
programs to enrich visitor experience.
Programming initiatives such as New Wave
Teens and New Wave Emerging, My Gen
50+, GOMA Talks, Up Late and Gallery
Members programs have all been extremely
popular this year. While the Gallery’s
Australian Cinematheque curated a number
of film programs, including more than 500
shorts, feature films and videos.
Since GOMA opened, over 270 000 visitors
from have seen our travelling exhibitions or
attended our programs in regional centres.
‘Contemporary Miniatures’ and ‘In bed by
Ron Mueck’ commenced tours this year,
while ‘Namatjira to Now’ completed a
10-venue tour that began in 2009. In 2011
the Children’s Art Centre’s 21st Century
Kids Festival and Surrealism for Kids ‘On
Tour’ programs also travelled to more
regional venues than ever before.
Over 40 000 school students visited the
Gallery this year and used exhibition and
Collection resources to enhance their
knowledge and experience of the works on
display. Our volunteer guides play a vital
role in extending visitors’ experiences and
in 2011 commemorated 30 years of guiding
for the Gallery. We thank them for their
time and expertise.
Encouraging young people to appreciate
and become involved in the visual arts is
especially gratifying. This year, the calibre
and range of children’s programs have again
exceeded expectations. Perth-based artist
duo Pip & Pop’s ‘we miss you magic land!’
was the third in a series of installations
by contemporary Australian artists
commissioned for the Children’s Art Centre.
The opening of this project was also a
birthday party for GOMA, complete with a
cake inspired by Pip & Pop’s magical worlds,
and the announcement of The Premier
of Queensland’s Sculpture Commission.
Michael Parekowhai’s sculpture
The World
Turns
was chosen as the work to mark
the fifth anniversary of the opening of the
Gallery of Modern Art and 20 years of the
Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art
in 2012, at which the completed sculpture
will feature.
The Gallery also produced two children’s
publications this year, building on the
success of
21st Century Art for Kids
,
published in 2010.
Surrealism for Kids
and
Drawing Life for Kids: My Art Journal
both encourage children to learn about art
through activities.
Other research and scholarship highlights
have included the exhibition catalogues
Art, Love and Life: Ethel Carrick and E
Philips Fox
, which was the first publication
to consider the artistic partnership of this
husband and wife;
Surrealism: The Poetry
of Dreams
, the first English-language
publication on the Centre Pompidou’s
surrealist collection;
Matisse: Drawing Life
,
which brought together the most extensive
collection of Henri Matisse’s graphic works;
and the Cultural Centre’s collaborative
publication
The Torres Strait Islands
.
In December, we became the first art
gallery in Australia to take over the
management of our food and beverage
