The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) last Wednesday announced Brown Council as its new commissioned artists for the 2014 Jackson Bella Room.
The Bella Room, situated in the National Centre for Creative Learning (NCCL) is a dedicated, interactive space for students with specific learning needs. Each year, an artist is commissioned to make an environment suitable for young people with specific needs. Launched in 2012, this will be the third artist commission for the Bella Room.
The provision of this dedicated space allows the MCA to run workshops throughout the year increasing the accessibility of contemporary art to those with specific needs, enabling the Bella program to reach thousands of people each year.
MCA Director Liz Ann Macgregor said: ‘It is an absolute joy to see our Bella students explore contemporary art works commissioned by the MCA. It demonstrates the power of art to inspire people with specific needs.
Brown Council is a collaboration between Sydney-based artists Frances Barrett, Kate Blackmore, Kelly Doley and Diana Smith. Spanning gallery and stage, and blurring distinctions between high and popular culture, the collective’s practice draws on the legacies of visual and performance art, street theatre, amateur magic, vaudeville, stand-up comedy and the sideshow. Their work is built on the processes of discussion and exchange, the artists meet regularly to explore ideas and formulate provocations designed to inspire new work.
Image: Brown Council, The One Hour Laugh (still), 2009, Museum of Contemporary Art, purchased with the assistance of Dr Edward Jackson AM and Mrs Cynthia Jackson AM, 2011. Courtesy and © the artist
