A Guide to Art Central for Kids

Bring your kids out to Art Central this Easter Weekend and get them involved with Hong Kong’s newest contemporary art fair.

From 23 – 26 March, the Central Harbourfront is being transformed into a hub for all things arty. Encourage your little ones’ inner artiste to blossom and have them experience several hands-on kid friendly activities. The many activities offered encourage art education and engagement for the whole family. From mural painting to a treasure hunt and Easter dining, here’s what’s in store for your kiddos:

Sovereign Workshops

The Sovereign Art Foundation and internationally recognised Thai artist Navin Rawanchaikul, will be offering fun art activities to kids of all ages. Creative kiddios will love the chance to contribute to the painting of a mural and seeing live art come to life. In an Easter hunt of an artistic kind, families can join a curated ‘Art Treasure Hunt’, learning about the art as they uncover what they seek. And in a project that may deliver lasting pen pals for some, kids will be invited to design their own postcard, to be sent to a child in Thailand.

Activities available during fair opening hours.

KIDS x ART LOOP

Children’s Education Partner of Art Central, Art Loop, will be leading interactive an entertaining introduction to art and art history for children of all ages through the KIDS x ART LOOP Program. On guided tours of the fair children will be encouraged to listen, look and use their imagination to create the stories behind different artworks by leading international artists. Tours are 30 minutes long and are suitable for 5 – 8 and 9 – 13 years old (without adults). Kids who join the program will receive an Art Loop t-shirt and gallery guide to take home.

Tours are split by age group. The schedule is available here. Spaces are limited and bookings are essential. To book call 5238 8186 or email [email protected]. A booking fee of $100 will be charged.

TOURS X SCAD

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) will be conducting free educational tours providing insight into contemporary art and collecting, for those whose minds are eager to learn more. Tours are approximately one hour long, and cover highlights of the works on view at the fair.

Tours are twice daily (12pm and 3pm) – RSVP is essential via [email protected].

TALKS X ASIA SOCIETY

The Asia Society Hong Kong Centre will be staging a program of thought provoking discussions in the auditorium daily.  Check out talk “The Flexibility of the Not for Profit Art Organisation” moderated by Mikala Tai of 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art with an interesting panel at 12pm on Friday, 25 March. or “Inside Hong Kong: Art and Identity” moderated by Cassius Taylor-Smith who is Curator of Event Horizon on Saturday, 26 March with a lineup of local artists participating. These are just two of the talks on offer over the Easter break.

The Asia Society Hong Kong Centre Talks Program is available here.

ROUNDTABLE X 4A

Join the 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art for a series of discussions, interviews, presentations and performances that examine the curatorial and artistic practices of Asia Pacific. Guests are welcome to participate in the interactive and inclusive sessions, or just sit back and listen. Learning about what it takes to commission new artworks, hear experiences of artists participating in residencies abroad, or watch new performance artworks by some of Australia’s leading practitioners will be just a few of the highlights. 

ART YOGA X PURE YOGA WITH GURU JIMMY

Stretch to the vibrations of GURU JIMMY’S soundtrack with a yoga session right on the Central Harbourfront. Surrounded by the artist’s techni-coloured dream state, participants will be guided by one of PURE YOGA’s qualified instructors in what will be a yoga class unlike any other experienced before! Yogi’s will then be treated to a complimentary ticket to the fair. GURU JIMMY’s latest work “Guru Jimmy’s Absolut Ashram of Spirituality” is part of the much anticipated Absolut Art Bar which lands at Art Central for the very first time from 22-26 March.

The session is on Saturday, 26 March at 9am – 10am in the Art Central Street Food Area. Capacity is limited to the first 80 people to RSVP here.

Street Food

Appreciating art can be hungry work, and families will love the relaxed vibe in the street food area where local favourites Beef & Liberty, Brickhouse, TRi, XTC Gelato and Bread & Beast will be serving up everything from burgers to Balinese fare. Or book a table at the pop-up edition of Belon, Black Sheep Restaurant’s newest edition, which is a Neo-Parisian Bistro headed by the renowned chef James Henry.

For the adults, the Mumm Champagne Bar will add some sparkle to the weekend – and if there’s no time to stop for a glass of champers, Mumm is offering an on demand service via Spothelp. All you have to do is send a whatsapp with your booth location and the glass (or bottle!) will be delivered to you after your payment has been processed online.

For those in search of some zen, the Absolut Art Bar in the Street Food area is an exciting new addition; the collaboration with UK artist James Ostrer and his alter ego and spiritual guide, GURU JIMMY, will offer an immersive experience involving everything from cocktails, décor, entertainment and ambience reminiscent of a techni-coloured spiritual ashram. Enjoy rainbow-coloured mixed cocktails whilst sitting on banana shaped beanbags in what will be one of Hong Kong Art Week’s hottest locations!

J.Crew Gets Interactive

J.Crew has taken over and transformed a space within Art Central with some of the brand’s favourite pieces, with classic stripes being brought to life by New York based artist, Tracy Morgan in a live art display that will evolve over the duration of the fair.  Fair-goers can take inspiration from her colourfully painted clothing to inspire their own creative designs at an interactive painting station.  Select J.Crew items such as tees, totes, denim and chino pants, as well as select accessories will be available for purchase within the space so fair-goers can customise and paint their purchase, or any article of clothing, in the J.Crew Studio.