A free event your kids will be loving these holidays

Before the school holidays wrap up, ACCA is offering two free art making programs for the whole family to get creatively involved in.

Inspired by the latest exhibition to be showcased at the gallery, Data Relations, and New York artist Mimi Ọnụọha’s installation, the family art days will consist of participants collaborating on a hands-on large-scale weaving work.

In addition to this, participants will also respond to the work of Hong Kong-born artist and researcher Winnie Soon through individual mixed media collages.

While a chance for families to get involved in exploring contemporary art practices, the workshops on Saturday, January 21 and Tuesday, January 24, are also a chance for participants to gain a wider understanding of data and an artist's relationship with technology.

“Artists included in Data Relations reflect on the effects of the contemporary data economy and techno-mediated relationships in ways that are profound, humorous, poetic and confronting,” exhibition curator Miriam Kelly said.

“The impacts of what has been described as the ‘data revolution’ – that began with the internet and accelerated with the opportunities to commercialise data and store vast amounts of ‘big data’ – cannot be understated within our economic, political, environmental, social and cultural contexts.”

Adding that “data now permeates contemporary life”, Ms Kelly believes that some of the most interesting and vital art being made today is being used with, and about, data.

Featuring major new commissions and site-specific installations from six Australian and international artists and collectives across ACCA’s four galleries, the exhibition has been intriguing visitors since December and will continue to draw people in until March 19.

Branching off the exhibition, and to be launched this month, is a dedicated digital publication known as ACCA’s new Digital Wing, and an additional Data Relations Summer School over one week in February.

But until further details are confirmed, ACCA is strongly encouraging families to explore the rapidly expanding data economy, data-obsessed society, and learn about the extremes of artificial intelligence through the workshops and confronting exhibition.

The free workshops are for children between the ages of three and ten, and all children should be accompanied by an adult or carer.

Registration is not compulsory but recommended, and the workshop will take place both days from 10am through to 2pm.

For more information: acca.melbourne/program/family-art-day-21-january

Photo: Opening event, Data Relations 2022, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne. Courtesy the artist. Photograph: Lucy Foster.