Queensland Art Gallery Annual Report 1994-95

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS Embassy, Canberra; and Queensland Minister for the Arts, The Hon. Dean Wells. A major 304-page catalogue was designed and produced by the Gallery to accompany the exhibition and included new research and scholarly contributions from art historians of international standing, ensuring its lasting importance in art scholarship. Scholarly editors for the book were Dr Caroline Turner and Dr Roger Benjamin, who both wrote for the publication. Among other contributors were Dr John Elderfield, The Museum of Modern Art, NewYork; Professor Yve-Alain Bois, Harvard University; Professor Richard Shiff, University of Texas at Austin; Dr John Klein, University of Missouri; Dr Elizabeth Childs, Washington University, St. Louis; Ms Laurie Monahan, Harvard University; Mme Isabelle Monod-Fontaine; M. Xavier Girard, Musee Matisse, Nice; Ms Anne Kirker, Queensland Art Gallery. Professor Yve-Alain Bois, Professor Richard Shiff, Mme Isabelle Monod-Fontaine, Dr John Klein, Dr Elizabeth Childs and Ms Laurie Monahan came to Australia for the exhibition's opening and scholarly conference. Given the academic importance of the exhibition, the educational component of the exhibition support materials was particularly emphasised. The conference, held on the weekend of 1-2 April, was attended by 266 delegates from around Australia and overseas. Many delegates were from Queensland, but over I00 travelled from areas outside the State and included university academics, museum professionals, artists, students and interested members of the public. To assist and encourage more students to participate in scholarly events organised by the Gallery, post– graduate scholarships were offered to allow students to attend the Matisse conference. Australian universities were asked to nominate post-graduate students in art history and the visual arts as recipients, and through generous sponsorship from Ansett Australia, students were brought from as far as Townsville and Melbourne to attend the conference and a special post-graduate seminar. Educational and interpretive services were provided to 20 317 pre-booked group visitors to the exhibition, one of the highest pre-booking totals in the Gallery's history. Of these, 17 447 were school students. A ten-page illustrated education kit was produced as a resource for teachers and students, and two seminars were held for 165 teachers. A ten-minute video introduction to the exhibition was produced in collaboration with major sponsor Network 10. A selection of films and videos exploring aspects of Matisse's work was screened in the Gallery's Lecture Theatre during the exhibition. Antenna (Theatre Services) provided random access CD-ROM audio support to the exhibition with text for the presentation written by Gallery staff. Children's activities organised for the Easter school holidays included daily family tours and a compe– tition which attracted 381 participants. National and international took part in these activities, and regional visitors were a part of the significant Queensland component. A program for the 'Matisse' Family Sunday on 7 May was designed to promote family involvement in the exhibition and included an 'acrobatic drawing' workshop, a family guided tour, screening of children's films and a performance by Rock'n'Roll Circus which attracted an audience of 200 adults and children. The Gallery coordinated the international, national and State-wide publicity and advertising campaign which generated a high profile for the exhibition. Its national media announcement in December coincided with an announcement at the Musee National d 'Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris by M. Germain Viatte, Director of the Musee and Mr Alan Brown, AM, Ambassador of Australia to France. Reflecting the Gallery's extensive promotional campaign in regional Queensland and interstate, half the exhibition visitors came from outside metropolitan Brisbane, with nearly ninety-seven percent of visitors coming to the Gallery specifically to view the exhibition. 'Matisse' was seen by 87 800 visitors in Brisbane before going to the National Gallery of Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria.