Many of you will have noticed the new “goody bags” given to children visiting the AGO. William Craddock, Foundations & Partnerships associate, explains a bit about this exciting new endeavour supported by the Volunteer Endowment Trust:
“Each year, AGO Volunteers direct funds from an endowment trust to support an important initiative of the Gallery. In 2013, the Volunteers elected to support the AGO’s new Kids’ Activity Bags. The Bags, which were launched on the first Family Sunday in October, provide young visitors to the Gallery with new tools to help kids experience the AGO in new and exciting ways: navigating the Gallery through Art Hunt cards, exploring artwork with guided viewing materials, and igniting their own creativity with art-making tools.” The Bags are available to all kids, for free, upon entering the Gallery.
- Front side with colour-in Gehry staircase and various goodies
According to Phyllis Couzin, Volunteer President, the Bags were a perfect choice. “We strongly believe that introducing young children to the AGO, making the Gallery a fun and interesting place to visit and a popular family destination, will ultimately produce more art lovers. Choosing to support the Bags was easy and obvious.”
back side, with an open-ended colouring picture and art appreciation activity card
Reaction has been positive, with dozens of bags already given out. Make sure the young people in your life and those you spot in the gallery get theirs!
(On a personal note, during a recent visit to the Bowie exhibition with my 10-year-old niece, the little packet of sculpting clay was very useful in keeping her distracted during the line-up to get in!)