Introduction to Lismore Regional Gallery

This publication was supported by the NSW Government through Arts NSW.

ISBN: 978-0-9579312-8-2

From the Director

When I first started in this role, it quickly became evident there was a strong hunger for children’s programming at the Gallery. In 2011 we instigated the monthly Art Station program, which later morphed into Peggy Popart’s Chartered Tours.

The benefits of these programs are many and varied. Essentially, of course, they are about providing children and their carers with a fun and educational experience, and an opportunity to understand, harness and express creativity. And we all know the many benefits that brings.

But it also means kids feel like they ‘belong’ and are welcome here, and for the adults that are present (whether they are attending the program or not) it shows the Gallery off as an enlivened space and not a hushed, austere environment. For us who work in and frequent galleries, it can be easy to forget that for many others a visit to an art gallery can sometimes be a challenging experience. Through creating a space that is welcoming to young people, with interpretive material, events and programs that speak to them, we are creating an environment where everyone can feel that little bit more welcome.

Brett Adlington Director, Lismore Regional Gallery

Acknowledgements

Written by Claudie Frock for Lismore Regional Gallery. Design by rangestudio.com

Big thanks to all the children, families, educators, artists, community members, volunteers and staff for their participation and assistance in creating this book.

Lismore Regional Gallery acknowledges the people of the Bundjalung nation, traditional custodians of the land on which we work.

Our Lismore Regional Gallery Team

Brett Adlington Gallery Director Kezia Geddes Curator Amy Miller Public Programs & Administration Manager Claudie Frock Learning Officer & Tour Guide Peggy Popart Brett Adlington has been Director at Lismore Regional Gallery since early 2010. He has worked in the regional gallery sector for the past 15 years in positions in Townsville, Gold Coast and Lake Macquarie. He is currently President of Regional and Public Galleries Association of NSW. His role at Lismore is to oversee the strategic direction of the Gallery including programming, partnerships and funding. He also has 3 young kids so understands that parents are always seeking out

opportunities to further their kids understanding of the world they inhabit. Kezia Geddes has been Curator at Lismore Regional Gallery since May 2006. Prior to this she completed a Bachelor of Visual Art (Honours) at the Australian National University and a Master of Art Curatorship at the University of Melbourne. Curator means “a keeper or custodian” and in her role Kezia manages the Gallery’s ever-changing exhibition program. She puts exhibitions together so they can be appreciated by visitors to the Gallery and so the ideas behind the artworks and their context can be more easily understood. She also looks after the works in the exhibitions and

in Lismore Regional Gallery’s permanent collection so they can exist well into the future. Amy Miller oversees the day-to-day running of the Gallery whilst assisting the Director and Curator. She manages openings events and public programs. Amy works with the Gallery’s volunteers to provide customer service to visitors. She develops promotional and marketing material and manages the gallery website and e-news. Amy is also an artist, she studied a Bachelor of Visual

Arts at Southern Cross University with a major in painting and minor in graphic design. Claudie Frock began work as Learning Officer at Lismore Regional Gallery at the beginning of 2013. Her role is to develop creative educational programs for the Gallery that extend the experience for schools and community organisations who are seeking to connect further with the Gallery. Also an artist and performer Claudie created the tour guide character Peggy Popart for the Gallery in 2012. Peggy Popart takes children on interactive tours of the Gallery. Claudie is passionate about nurturing and inspiring children’s creativity and appreciation of art and is always open to enquiries from educators and members of the community about ways to engage with and extend creativity.

Peggy Popart for Schools Tour Program at Lismore Regional Gallery

In 2013 Lismore Regional Gallery was awarded a Young People grant from Arts NSW to provide guided tours for schools in our region. Lismore Regional Gallery played host to 30 tours and had over 800 school children and their educators visit us. This publication in part grew out of some of the wonderful exhibitions, activities and interactions from Peggy Popart for Schools Tour Program.

This book has been designed for Educators and families to get ideas about how they can explore art with children. The team at Lismore Regional Gallery hope this book inspires you and your students/children to make, see and do more with art.

Claudie Frock Learning Officer, Lismore Regional Gallery

Lismore Regional Gallery 131 Molesworth St, Lismore NSW 2480 | 02. 6622 2209 Go to lismoregallery.org for details and program updates or join our Facebook group Auslan Interpreted | Magnifier available Galleries 1, 2 & 3 and toilet are wheelchair accessible Miss Peggy Popart is the ultimate art tour guide. She is an encyclopaedia of knowledge, has a sharp wit and a banana phone to cross check her facts with artists and arts aficionados, living and not so living.

Miss P’s themed exhibition tours and art activities for children take place monthly.

2ND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH 10.30AM - 11.30AM Entry is free. Donations appreciated.

The gallery also offers Peggy Popart for Schools Program Please contact Learning Officer claudie.frock@lismore.nsw.gov.au