Family fun lifts off at TMAG
The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) today welcomed children and their families to the fifth edition of its popular Festival for Children and Young People.
After a sad cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Festival is back bigger than ever in 2021 with a range of free or low-cost events and activities for children of all ages.
It also has a new name – Lift Off! – and a new look, chosen from suggestions made by the museum’s young visitors, which will take the Festival into the future.
“We know that TMAG’s Children’s Festival has become a much-anticipated and loved event for Tasmanian kids and families during the Easter school holidays,” Program and Community Engagement Manager Michael McLaughlin said.
“With the festival coming into its fifth event, we decided to make it even bigger, with events taking place beyond the museum’s walls and programming that will engage even more young Tasmanians.”
A highlight of the Festival will be Sydney-based theatre company Erth Visual & Physical Inc.’s artist in residence performance Retreat, which involves professional performers and local young people.
Lift Off! will incorporate plenty of COVID-safe hands-on activities as well as a special after-hours museum experience for kids aged 10-16.
Throughout the week, young visitors can explore a pop up native garden in the Dunn Place carpark, discover how to build rockets with leading Australian youth science organisation Questacon and also enjoy daily performances from local young musicians.
The TMAG Up Late evening on Thursday 15 April is a curated experience by and for young people, inviting them to explore the TMAG collection and galleries after dark in surprising and innovative ways – from torch light tours to silent discos.
Schools and education groups from around the state have helped create a street gallery surrounding the TMAG precinct, featuring brightly coloured banner artworks that will be on show throughout the Festival.
Visitors to the Festival will also be able to get a sneak peek at some of the ideas and features of TMAG’s new children’s gallery mapiya lumi | around here, which opens at the museum from later this month.
Lift Off! is supported by the City of Hobart, with funding from Festivals Australia. It runs from 13-16 April 2021 at TMAG and entry is free. More information and the full program is available at www.tmag.tas.gov.au/childrensfestival
Image details: TMAG Children’s Reference Panel members Qataiba, Rhiannon and Jonti talk to TMAG Director Janet Carding as they host the Lift Off! opening event in the TMAG Courtyard.