Andy Warhol goes to regional Queensland

Families in regional Queensland will be able to enjoy a selection of GoMA’s Andy Warhol Summer Festival activities this month without travelling to Brisbane.

Arts Minister Rod Welford said the Andy Warhol Summer Festival would be celebrated simultaneously at galleries, libraries and Indigenous communities throughout the state, with a day of free children’s activities on Saturday 19 January.

“These fun activities will occur at up to 30 regional centres, coinciding with the 11-day Festival at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), from 18-28 January,” Mr Welford said.

“The Andy Warhol Summer Festival is an important opportunity for Queensland families to enjoy the Gallery’s acclaimed programs for children.

“The Festival will be presented simultaneously at regional centres including – Cairns,  Bundaberg, Mackay, Miles, Caloundra, Townsville, Rockhampton, Gympie, Logan, Stanthorpe and Warwick, and several Indigenous communities.

“I am very proud of the Queensland Art Gallery’s exhibition activities in regional Queensland, which are some of the most ambitious and comprehensive of any state gallery in the country.”

The regional activities will be drawn from the Andy Warhol Summer Festival program and also from The Silver Factory: Andy Warhol for Kids, which is the Children’s Art Centre component of the Andy Warhol exhibition at GoMA until March 30.

Children 3-12 years will be invited to explore Andy Warhol’s interests, techniques and styles through activities such as Andy Warhol and the Alphabet, My Favourite Toy, the animated Warhol’s World quiz, Time Capsules, and the Warhol Money Making Machine.

There will be a competition and prizes, including the chance to display an entry on the Gallery’s website.

Gallery Director Tony Ellwood said the regional Andy Warhol Summer Festival followed the successful “Kids’ APT Summer Spectacular – Queensland” in 2006.

“This groundbreaking regional festival component was attended by more than 5700 people at 18 regional galleries, libraries and Indigenous communities throughout the state,” Mr Ellwood said.

“The Andy Warhol exhibition is Australia’s first major Warhol retrospective and one of the most comprehensive ever compiled, with more than 300 artworks.”

Media contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000 or 0417 791 336