23 January 2019

UQ Art Museum will say goodbye to its popular Play On: The art of sport exhibition with a ‘closing ceremony’ – a community event featuring some of the state’s elite athletes.

The family-friendly afternoon on Saturday 9 February kicks off at 2pm and will feature a coaching clinic from Queensland NRL players, the chance to pass the ball with the Queensland Reds, as well as a number of other activities.

UQ Art Museum Associate Director Dr Holly Arden said the idea was to celebrate sport and creativity.

“We’ll have Tara Hinchliffe and Jemma Mi Mi from the Queensland Firebirds on site, along with Football Queensland and the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association Queensland – so something for all aspiring young athletes,” Dr Arden said.

Participants can also take a final look at the Art Museum’s Play on: The art of sport exhibition, a fresh and sometimes challenging perspective on a national obsession.

It includes paintings, sculpture, video, drawings and mixed media installations, which ask questions about the intersection of sport with culture, politics and human rights.

Organisers are keen to see art lovers, sports lovers and families across Brisbane take part, especially the neighbouring communities of St Lucia, Toowong, Taringa, Dutton Park, Highgate Hill and Annerley.

“We would love to see as many families as possible taking advantage of the green space on our beautiful campus, sharing their passion with sporting stars and visiting the Art Museum,” Dr Arden said.

Other activities include a free bouncy castle, face painting, fairy floss, and games, as well as a scavenger hunt and a ribbon making workshop with exhibiting artist Lauren Brincat.

Parking will be free and all of the day’s events will be focused on University Drive and around the Art Museum.

There will be food trucks for the hungry and a misting tent to keep everyone cool on campus from 2pm to 6pm.

UQ Art Museum opening hours are here.

Play On: The art of sport
10 years of the Basil Sellers Art Prize

A NETS Victoria and Ian Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne touring exhibition.

Media: Sonia Uranishi, sonia@soniauranishicommunication.com, +61 409 387 623; UQ Communications, communications@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 1120.