Gerwyn Davies
BOAA Connect
BOAA Connect is our education/ community engagement program. It will offer a series of immersive activities, tours, artists’ talks, forums and teacher PD opportunities and will be available for all age groups and abilities.
BOAA Connect is more than offering schools deeper learning it is about connecting with a variety of age groups across all abilities. It is about connecting more people to art and helping building a more creative intuitive society. We are fortunate that BOAA crosses over several holidays and events that will compliment our BOAA Connect program such as Grand Final Public Holiday, Victorian School holidays, Melbourne Cup weekend, Seniors week, Children’s week, Ballarat Writer’s festival & Royal South Street which will bring a diverse range of audiences to Ballarat. Our schools program will engage local and Victorian based school groups in integrated whole day programs. BOAA Connect will also be reaching out to age care homes, probus groups & gallery associations across Victoria offering engagement programs tailored to their needs.
Art Camp (artists in residency) will be the core of our BOAA Connect program.
2 artists each week (7 days) will be onsite within the Mining Exchange. These artists will create a large-scale projects that could either be a drawing, painting or a sculptural installation. The visitors will be encouraged to contribute and participate in the project and each artist will be provided with materials and assistance to make this possible. As the weeks go by the completed projects remain on site and build a story of engagement throughout BOAA.
12 completed large scale project will be showcased over the Melbourne Cup weekend with all who have contributed encouraged to return to celebrate. Art therapy principals will be the core of our Art Camp projects. With a focus on the creative art making process itself, as therapy, mediation and as a personal journey. Creative engagement allows participants to meet new people, talk freely and feel comfortable within the creative space. Our Art Camp Coordinators and volunteers will assist the participants to engage maximizing the benefits.
Lakeside Sculpture Walk
A tour aimed at Children and the disabled will be developed around approx 1/3 of the sculptures around Lake Wendouree which will be accessible for touch and engagement. Not all sculpture can be physically engaged with but we will identify the pieces which can handle the interaction and therefore encourage it.
Artist Talks and Forums.
This program will run across the six weeks and cater for the general public, school groups, kids and families and artists. This series will also incorporate the Ballarat writers Festival who will focus on Art writers and and critical thinking.