ACCA Family Art Day returns

By Helena Morgan

Following the success of its previous Family Art Day event, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) is gearing up for another day of art-making as inspired by its current exhibition Data Relations.

On Saturday, March 18 from 11am to 2pm, families are invited to attend a day of free family art in the gallery. The program is targeted at children aged three to 10 who are accompanied by an adult. Registrations are not mandatory but are encouraged.

Participants will be involved in an interactive large-scale weaving project, which is a salute to Mimi Onuoha’s new installation, and individual mixed media collages as inspired by the work of Hong Kong-born artist Winnie Soon, who is particularly fascinated with metadata.

Participants will also work with tactile materials, mainly through collaborative weaving, to learn how artists are using technology to forge new relationships and artworks.

The exhibition influencing the family art day, Data Relations, explores some of the primary issues and obstacles within our data-driven society. Both local and international artists created site-specific installations that represent the way data economy and related technological developments are revealed in interpersonal and larger social relationships.

In line with the motivations behind Data Relations, the family art day also aims to incite discussions across all ages surrounding data and the collective human relationship to technology.

In reflecting on the previous family art day, ACCA’s education manager Edwina Hill said families were very receptive towards a day of organic and creative expression for the whole family.

“Parents appreciated how the program was engaging and accessible for young toddlers as well as older primary school-aged children,” Edwina said.

Participants also praised the efficient organisation of the event, alongside the “exceptional” staff and the chance for a fun and interactive activity to add variety to the weekend and school holidays.

Edwina also said the event welcomed many first-time visitors to ACCA, who were excited to realise the child-friendly nature of the centre. Parents also reportedly embraced the activities just as much as their children.

“There was a buzzing atmosphere and a space for creativity and thoughtful reflections for all ages,” Edwina said.

Ms Hill also relished seeing the sense of teamwork and togetherness the collaborative weaving activity produced. Children wove in messages for their future selves to create an expansive installation in the gallery foyer inspired by Mimi Onouha’s works These networks in our skin and The cloth in the cable.

“It provided a great space for us to chat about the artworks and ideas in the exhibition with real-world examples,” Edwina said.

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