APT 2002 Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Brisbane, Australia : Report

KIDS’ APT ‘SUMMER SPECTACULAR’ FESTIVAL Logo for Kids’ APT ‘Summer Spectacular’ OVERVIEW The buzz and excitement of mascot Bug Master and his ‘Summer Spectacular’ was a fifteen-day event (11 – 25 January 2003) that ran in conjunction with Kids’ APT. ‘Summer Spectacular’ consisted of facilitated and self-directed activities for children (3-12yrs) that took immediate inspiration and influence from the artwork in APT 2002. ‘Summer Spectacular’ chose to play with children’s senses and their associative powers, with storytelling linking all activities, the event created a magical language that communicated the exciting ideas formulated by APT artists in their work. APT 2002 artists Song Dong, Heri Dono and Siaosi Mulipola (aka Sha-ne’ne’ of the Pasifika Divas) were asked to develop interactive projects that would engage children with the content of their artworks and performances. We welcomed Dono and Mulipola back for the festival with their respective projects – Dono’s ‘Bangelan Orchestra’, ‘Flying Angels’ and his finale performance with shadow theatre and Mulipola’s collaborative project ‘Perlie Shellz’. The act of making, singing, dancing, listening, eating, watching and performing were all employed in innovative and creative ways to introduce, engage and promote the experience of contemporary Asian and Pacific art to a young audience. ‘Summer Spectacular’ was a collaborative venture, drawing on the expertise of different public programs, curatorial staff as well as external academics from the Queensland University of Technology, School of Early Childhood, Education department. This collaboration over a three month period produced the realisation of each activity (see below) whilst also developing the integral relationship between each artist’s practice, the artwork and the means by which it is expressed to a young audience through education, promotion and display. Through the assistance of 27 supervisors, a rotating roster of 44 volunteers, an internal project team of 16, and the generous time of other gallery staff, ‘Summer Spectacular’ was able to provide a network of people who were in direct contact with the visitors at all times. This level of involvement with the community was a rewarding experience for all staff, and was shared by the eager supervisors, the majority of whom were young, local practicing artists and Education university students. 58