Creating art for kids
Queensland children will have their own purpose-built Children's Art Centre in early December when the new Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) opens at South Bank.
It will operate free, seven days a week with exhibition space, teacher resources and workshop facilities. While located at GoMA, the new Children's Art Centre will present programs at both the new gallery and the existing Queensland Art Gallery, as well as in regional Queensland.
Queensland Art Gallery Director Doug Hall says the new Children's Art Centre will engage professional artists to assist young visitors in experiencing art and exploring a range of creative ideas.
"The centre will encourage the creative potential of children with a vibrant program of exhibitions, interactive art works, artist-run workshops, publications, festivals and performances," Mr Hall says.
"The children's programs will continue to highlight major works from the gallery's collection and will be evidence of how Queensland's art collection can enlighten and enrich children's lives.
"The centre will also continue to develop programs that enable children and families to work with some of Australia's top artists."
Children's art programs started at the Queensland Art Gallery in 1998 and include a Kid's Asia —Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, summer festivals and hundreds of creative workshops.
The new Children's Art Centre will launch new touring programs, exhibitions and interactive art works for families and children in regional Queensland.
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Library has The Edge
The redeveloped State Library of Queensland will also include spaces and programs especially for children when it is unveiled in late November.
State Librarian Lea Giles-Peters says a new children's program, The Edge, heralds the dedication of spaces, resources, services, collections and programs specifically for, by, with and about children and young people.
"The Edge, utilising a child-centred approach to development, opens up the services and collections of the State Library to our youngest citizens. These services and collections, as well as exciting programs and events, support multi-literacy, creativity and critical thinking skills development in children — all vitally important life skills required for children in the 21st century.
"Up close and personal access to collections where children wearing white gloves can handle our most precious items, participation in workshops led by leading professional artists and engagement in exhibitions, will ensure there is something to appeal to all children, young people, families, carers and educators at the new State Library."
The State Library's new space for children aged eight years and under will be called The Corner.
Ms Giles-Peters says: "If families drop in between 10.30 am and 12.30 pm daily, they can participate in creative activities with professional artists from Backbone Youth Arts, involving children in anything from the creation of puppets, exploring storytelling through dance or creating characters inspired by contemporary and beloved children's books."
Importance of arts
The importance of arts in the lives of young people is well documented.
Research has shown arts education enhances the academic achievement of children and assists them in the development of creative thinking, fluency, originality and open-ended approaches to problem-solving.
It has also been found to assist disadvantaged students by contributing to increased self-esteem and communications skills.
See the back cover of schools + parents for details of arts activities for children.
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