Kids Gallery Launches as Permanant Space for Families
A new artwork by artist Mikala Dwyer will be the first installation to launch the Murray Art Museum Albury’s new permanent Kids Gallery. Chromakinda is a new commission by Dwyer, a highly regarded Australian artist known for her often colourful, playful installations that have delighted audiences for over 20 years.
The Kids Gallery is a new initiative of the Museum aimed at creating a permanent place for families and children in the Museum. The Gallery is located in what was previously the entry of the Old Town Hall and enjoys a full view of Dean Street through a new arched window.
'We really wanted to highlight the beautiful architecture of the Old Town Hall entrance. After the redevelopment, the space behind the doors became a storage cupboard. We wanted to open it up and let the light in, let children walk past this great big window and see a space for themselves inside.'
The Museum has always welcomed kids and families and had activities in different locations around the Museum. The new Gallery further expands the ways in which families can interact with art and participate in creative play.
“We felt it was important to create a special place where families can sit down and relax and know that the Gallery has been designed with kids in mind. The Space is sturdy enough to handle the curiosity of our youngest visitors.” Continues Pickering. “We’re also really thrilled that an artist of Mikala Dwyer’s status agreed to work with us on this project. Mikala is a master at making intelligent artworks that are playful and fun.”
The Gallery includes new locally-made custom furniture in a variety of sizes that will be able to grow and move with each incoming exhibition, and enable a range of engagement activities to take place in the space.
'We’re thrilled that our vision for the Kids Gallery captured the imagination of Destination NSW and was financially supported by their Experience Enhancement Fund. We’re also so grateful to the Australian Government for supporting the commissioning of new artwork for this space through the RISE fund.'
The Museum is holding an Opening Celebration of the Kids Gallery featuring interactive family tours across both Saturday 24 September and Sunday 25 September from 11.00am.
Kids and their families will enjoy a private tour of the new gallery, theatre games, a first look at the five new Wonder Cupboards, and a family friendly tour of the rest of the Museum. Registrations are encouraged to secure a preferred timeslot.