Schools & Educators
– Secondary Programs (7-12)

The Exchange Series: Artist and Curator Talks for Schools

Term Two
Brown Council
Thursday 6 June, 11.00am–12 noon

From perpetual laughter to marathon cake-baking, Sydney-based artists’ collective Brown Council create performance and video works that explore ideas of endurance and spectacle. Brown Council speak about their practice, which straddles both gallery and theatre contexts, and the processes of working collaboratively. Brown Council’s work The One Hour Laugh, is currently on display in Volume One: MCA Collection.

Term Three
Glenn Barkley on string theory: Focus on contemporary Australian Art
Tuesday 20 August, 11.00am–12 noon

Join MCA Curator Glenn Barkley on a journey across Australia as he reflects on the process of curating string theory, an exhibition by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists who work with expanded notions of textile and craft-based traditions. From the fibre pieces of the Ramingining community, to the lively creations of the Tjanpi Desert Weavers, discover the practice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island artists exploring innovative approaches to fibre in a contemporary context.

Extend your experience with an Educator-led, Exhibition in Focus program.

Booking information
Talk only: $10 per student, accompanying teachers free
Talk + Exhibition in Focus program: $270 per 15 students,
accompanying teachers free.

Syllabus links
VISUAL ARTS: Critical and Historical Studies – artists’ practice, critical and historical practice, interpretation, conceptual framework, frames, significant art histories and critical narratives.

Image:
Brown Council
The One Hour Laugh (still) 2009
single-channel HD video, sound
Museum of Contemporary Art, purchased with the
assistance of Dr Edward and Cynthia Jackson, 2011
Image courtesy and © the artists

Digital Excursion: Inside 2013 Venice Biennale (Cancelled)

Thursday 30 May, 5.00-6.00pm, FREE

Step inside the 55th Venice Biennale – one of the world’s oldest and most important international contemporary art exhibitions.

Go live to Venice via video conference and meet the 2013 Australian exhibition curator Catherine de Zegher and Commissioner Simon Mordant AM as they discuss the challenges, surprises and rewards of pulling together such a prestigious exhibition by selected artist Simryn Gill. Come with your questions ready!

This FREE event is made possible through the support of the Australia Council for the Arts.

RSVP essential, limited places: melinda.garcia@mca.com.au or 9245 2454

This event has been cancelled

Creative Guide to Contemporary Art (Secondary)

Unleash aspiring artists’ creative potential through this engaging and dynamic introduction to contemporary art. Investigate wall paintings, videos and installations to develop art appreciation skills and experiment with a range of media and techniques in hands-on activities.

Book in for a Studio Extension in the National Centre for Creative Learning, and create a collaborative wall drawing in response to ideas explored in the gallery.

Duration:
60 minutes – Gallery Exploration
90 minutes – Gallery Exploration + Studio Extension
Suitable for Stages 4–5

MCA Exposed

Go behind-the-scenes at the MCA to explore the Conceptual Framework in this unique program. Follow an artwork’s journey from the artist’s studio to exhibition. Investigate various museum roles, from curatorial to art installation and discover the processes involved in presenting MCA exhibitions.

Duration: 90 minutes
Suitable for Stages 4-6
Visual Arts: Stage 4-5 Critical and Historical Studies Outcomes 4.7–4.10 and 5.7–5.10; Stage 6 Art Criticism and History Outcomes P.7–P.10, and H.7–H.10
Photographic and Digital Media: Stage 5

Winanga-li (To hear, to know)

Understanding Contemporary Aboriginal Art
Discover the diversity of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art practice through artworks that range from bark painting to video and photography. Investigate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives on the natural and spiritual world, colonisation, and their representation in historical and contemporary imagery.

Duration: 90 minutes
Suitable for Stages 4-6
Visual Arts: Stages 4-6

New Media Art Workshop

Explore the variety of video artworks in MCA exhibitions, including single-channel works, projected images and video installations. Learn and apply the specific terminology of new media art, analysing how artists use this medium to challenge visual conventions of time, narrative and space. Shoot footage and record sounds onsite in the MCA, then hit the Digital Studio to create a new media work, combining footage with a sound track of music and sound effects.*

Duration: 2 hours
Cost: $15 per student (min. $240)
*Our digital studio is a PC environment. This program uses Adobe Premiere Elements.
Suitable for Stages 4-6
Visual Arts: Stages 4-6
Photographic and Digital Media: Stage 5

MCA Learning: Tailor Made

Got an idea for a learning program at the MCA? Our Artist Educators can develop a gallery exploration or studio workshop session especially tailored to the needs of your class. Please contact the MCA Learning team to discuss your idea and we will work with you to create your tailor-made experience.

Booking information: At least 6 weeks’ notice is required for a ‘Tailor-Made’ program. Please contact MCA Learning for further information: learning@mca.com.au or 02 9245 2484

Image:
Lee Mingwei
The Mending Project 2009 (installation view)
interactive installation, one 3 metre table, 2 wooden chairs, 400 cones of thread
dimensions variable
Courtesy the artist and Lombard-Freid Projects, New York
Photograph: Anita Kan

Bella program for students with specific needs

Look, touch, listen and create in the Bella Room, where artist Emily Floyd has created The Garden, an interactive tactile environment for people with specific needs.

Explore exhibitions, develop new skills and have fun in this FREE art-making workshop for young people with specific needs, including physical, intellectual, emotional or behavioural disabilities. Now available for adult groups with Bella Plus!

The Bella Program is offered every Monday during school term. Bookings are essential.

Also explore the Bella Room, the MCA’s space for students with specific learning needs.

Booking and Costs

Bookings are essential for all school groups visiting the MCA.
For information on how to book a school visit to the MCA, see our Booking for Schools page.