Sector: Society and Culture

Country location: Australia, Japan

Grantee: Sydney Opera House

Project description

The walls of Sydney Opera House and the Art Museum and Library in Ota City, Japan will be transformed into a 21st century canvas for children in both countries to interact and create art together.

In a real-time event, the two venues will become one art space, where children will 'Join the Dots' with two world-class artists, Japan's Nobumasa Takahashi at the Opera House and Australia's Jacqui Stockdale at the Art Museum and Library in Ota City. Each mark made in one venue will be seen simultaneously in the other. Children in both venues will interact with a blended Japanese-Australian aesthetic in a three way play where artists, performers and children make art together in this free interactive installation.

The project will show how Japanese and Australian cultures can intersect to build cultural connections and engage technological expertise in both countries. Participating children will develop cultural understanding, collaboration and creativity skills by working together with their Australian/Japanese counterparts despite being in different physical locations and having different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Australia now is a celebration of Australian innovation, creativity and lifestyle in Japan throughout 2018.

Key dates:

• Photo assets taken for publicity in the lead up to activity, Ota City, Japan, 28 November 2017 to 03 December 2017
• VIP Event - Pre launch of Australia now Festival, Sydney Opera House, Western Foyers and Art Museum and Library, Ota City, Japan, 16 January 2018
• Join the Dots event, Sydney Opera House, Western Foyers and Art Museum and Library, Ota City, Japan, 16 to 21 January 2018

Social media: Facebook: Kids at the House, www.sydneyoperahouse.com, video: Join the Dots

Australia-Japan Foundation grant offer: $33,000.00 (GST inclusive)

Total project value: $115,760.00