Vol 5 No 2 Dec 2008-Mar 2009 - Bundaberg Regional Libraries

Art for theRicebubbleswere strewn on theground, gleaming sugarcrystals adorned the walls and thesmell of fresh coffee filled the air. Notperhaps the scene you would expect tosee in an art gallery, but this was oneof many art experiences provided forchildren at the Bundaberg Regional ArtGallery’s newest children’s space, theKidz Corner.The current building that is theBundaberg Regional Art Gallery has alsobeen home to Customs House (1902),the Commonwealth Bank (1921) and theLibrary (1978). Operating out of a nonpurpose built art gallery on the one handpresents a challenge to find suitableuses of spaces, while on the other handthe spaces that do exist tend to havehistory and character.The challenge was to find a permanentchildren’s space, somewhere wherechildren would feel safe and where theycould build on the gallery experience bylearning through free play. So what wasonce an unsightly storage space underthe stairway that leads from Gallery Oneto Gallery Two has now become the KidzCorner, a small but dedicated space forchildren.Every six weeks, or thereabouts,the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallerychanges its exhibitions in all three galleryspaces and installs new exhibits. In aneffort to further connect children withthe concepts and techniques in theexhibitions the Kidz Corner activitiesare themed to one of the exhibitions.In this way children can experience theexhibition and then become involvedin activities that explore or furtherexplain the ideas, viewpoints and worksexpressed in the exhibition. Activitiesoffered are all practical based, freeand self-guided. Where possible theopportunity for children to take hometheir artworks is presented.Through meeting artists andrunning art activities for children Ihave discovered that art is very muchabout problem solving. Very often theresult you want to achieve and whatactually physically happens can be verydifferent, requiring you to problem solve,discuss issues with others or do further10 ART