THE PARTING PROGRAM

Post 12

With mother’s day approaching we needed something special for the art studio activities…my last big creative splash…still with no budget…hmmmmm…back to research.

I found a picture frame that with a few modifications I transformed into a three fold double sided mothers day card and picture frame in one. This card/frame could be decorated, and you could add your own photo. I made up a template that was photocopied on to A3 cartridge weight paper, that we were given from the council print shop. I also made up an instruction sheet for this activity. This activity was impressive!

Then, there was the paper flower on a stem, the stem being a promotional pencil that had been printed as a giveaway for a previous exhibition. My original prototype was made with a pin board pin. This was quickly abandoned as it was unsafe for kids, until I found some child safe wire in the art studio. I made a petal and leaf template and cut out many different coloured petals and leaves for the kids to construct bunches of flowers for their mum. Can you see the samples on the education managers desk among all her other bingie bits?

So sad to have to say goodbye, but it has been a wonderful experience. I started this internship without any understanding of education and public programs, and now see not just the relevance but I am left wondering if curators and educators should work closer together for both professionals to maximise the potential in delivery of the cultural experience - that is in the presentation, interpretation and education of fine art.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE CURATORS GONE?

Post 11

When I started at this centre there were two full time curators, as well as guest curators that would be employed on a contract basis for specific projects.

Within one month, both of the full time curators had left, leaving the centre with one contract curator who had been at the centre for approx 6 weeks. I don’t know what the long term plan is with employing curators, but contract curators does seem like a good work plan in that you can employ a specialist for each project that can provide their focused contacts and resources.

I was asked to write a student internship position description for education and public programs - well, I guess I know what is needed after 200 odd hours. Other letters I constructed were introductory letters to the head of the art department at local high school, introducing the next semester programs, and invitation to participate in special collaborations with local multi media educators. So education was not just about writing relevant programs, but also about audience development, and keeping in touch with the local school and other community groups to be able to meet their interests.