Kids’ APT Summer Spectacular starts this week

Children will have the chance to work with artists in a range of artforms as part of a free 16-day festival that kicks off at the Queensland Art Gallery and new Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) from this Saturday (13 January).

Arts Minister, Rod Welford, said children and families were key audiences for the galleries, which was why events such as the 2007 Kids’ APT Summer Spectacular were scheduled.

“Since GoMA opened and the Queensland Art Gallery re-opened on 1 December, more than 45,000 children have visited the galleries,” Mr Welford said.

“We expect even more children and their families to visit during the Summer Spectacular, which has a massive program of interactive activities, performances, animation films and artist workshops to keep everyone interested and entertained.

“This year, for the first time, the Summer Spectacular will also be celebrated throughout regional Queensland with more than 20 regional galleries and libraries simultaneously offering a special program of activities as part of the festival’s opening this Saturday.”

Regional centres from Thursday Island in the north, south to Stanthorpe and west to Miles will be involved in the 2007 Kids’ APT Summer Spectacular on Saturday.

It will be held at the Queensland Art Gallery and GoMA from this Saturday until Sunday, 28 January. Activities will be held 10.30am to 2.30pm daily.

Performance and cinema are integral to this year’s Asia-Pacific Triennial, so these artforms will also be a part of the Summer Spectacular.

Festival highlights will include performances of Stephen Page’s Kin, which premiered during the recent APT5 and GoMA opening weekend, and a specially designed children’s film program, ‘Japan Fantastic: Before and Beyond Anime’.

Also included in the Summer Spectacular program is the Kids’ APT Quiz Show, a giant Pacific quilt project, and a dance-off finale on Sunday 28 January featuring hip-hop sensations Indigenous Intrudaz.

Summer Spectacular’s daily program changes, so that families can enjoy multiple visits.

For information, visit www.asiapacifictriennial.com/kids

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