‘Express Yourself! NGV Summer Children’s Festival’ is ten-days of workshops and activities focusing on fashion and contemporary art for National Gallery of Victoria’s younger visitors.
This summer celebrates the creativity of the fashion world explored in exhibitions ‘ ‘The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier’ and ‘Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids’. Children and their families can express themselves through activities created by Romance Was Born and artists who collaborate with them including Linda Jackson, Kate Rohde and Benja Harney.
A large-scale decorated billabong in the Great Hall inspired by opals and the stained glass ceiling designed by Leonard French; the first ever after-hours art party for teens; fashion design workshops run by jewellery artist Kate Rohde; performance by chanteuse Sophia Brous and the appearance of live Australian native animals on Australia Day are just some of the highlights of the festival.
On Australia Day at NGV International live Australian native animals will make an appeareance in the gallery and children can draw outfits for their favourite Australian animals. Chanteuse Sophia Brous will also give a free performance, singing lullabies,two of fashion designers Romance Was Born’s favourite kids movies will also be shown: Labyrinth from 12.30-2.10pm, followed by The NeverEnding Story at 2.30-4.10pm.
For those aged 13-17 there is the first ever Art Party on Thursday 22 January at NGV International, a night of music, food, fashion and art-making. Curated by the NGV in collaboration with young designers SIGNAL (themselves 13 – 25) activities include a Silent Disco, workshops with contemporary artists and designers including a jewellery design workshop with Kate Rohde and after-hours access to the exhibition The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier.
At NGV Australia, on various days during the festival, children can print a unique design onto fabric with Space Craft Studio, create their own zines and handmade art books with Sticky Institute or explore stamping, stencil making, collagraphy and rubbings with Negative Press.
Join artist Emily Floyd on Australia Day to play, compose and build words with letter blocks large-scale installation Word Farm at NGV Australia, created by Emily and designer Mary Featherston. Children can also mix up audio and visual scenes with fun, visually engaging and interactive iPad apps at Scream Kids, an installation by the Australian/European based new media collective Chicks on Speed.
NGV International & The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia
Until 26 January, 2015
Melbourne
