KIDS’ APT TO LAUNCH GALLERY’S NEW ART CENTRE FOR CHILDREN

The largest-ever Kids’ Asia-Pacific Triennial will launch the new Children’s Art Centre at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) when it opens to the public tomorrow (2 December).

Arts Minister, Rod Welford, said children would be a major audience for the new Gallery and Kids’ APT was an example of the types of exhibitions catering for them.

“With the opening of GoMA, the Children’s Art Centre now has a permanent base, with an exhibition gallery, resources and facilities to operate free programs across both GoMA and the Queensland Art Gallery,” Mr Welford said.

“Thirteen artists from Asia, Australia and the Pacific have created interactive art works for children as part of Kids’ APT, which will be on display from tomorrow to 27 May.

“Children will be able to participate in activities such as manuscript drawing, tattooing, collaborative story telling, and creating electronic music as part of the exhibition.

“To help young visitors explore the exhibition, Kids’ APT will also feature a free activity book and guided tours for children aged four to 10 and their family or carers.”

The Children’s Art Centre will specialise in artist-run, activity-based programs which foster children’s creative and learning potential by working directly with contemporary artists.

“The Centre had its beginnings in 1998 when the Gallery had its first contemporary art exhibitions specially designed for children,” Mr Welford said.

“The Gallery broke new ground for Australian and international art museums, by acknowledging children as a key audience for major contemporary art exhibitions.

“Since then its children’s exhibitions and programs have attracted more than one million visitors and received national and international accolades and interest.

“After APT5, an ongoing program of specially commissioned exhibitions for children by Australian and international artists, will be presented in the Children’s Art Centre gallery.”

The Kids’ APT Summer Spectacular will be staged from 13 to 28 January, with 16 days of performances, artist-run workshops and activities, animations and the Kids’ APT Quiz Show.

From February 2007, kids’ tours of the APT5 exhibition will be offered on Sundays at 11.30am in GoMA and at 1pm in the Queensland Art Gallery.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985