Jenny Simpson is the CEO and Artistic Director of AWESOME Arts, a not-for-profit organisation that puts on arts events and programs for children across WA, and has been since the very first AWESOME International Arts Festival for Bright Young Things in 1996. Magazine 6000 had the chance to ask Jenny some questions before the 28th AWESOME Festival opens this week.
What does ‘awesome’ mean to you?
To me it means extraordinary, unique and memorable and the AWESOME Festival is unlike any other event in WA.
There are (lowercase) awesome events happening all over Australia, what makes WA special?
There may be awesome events, but there is only one AWESOME Festival. The AWESOME Festival is a curated event. This means that we program professional artists because we believe that children deserve the best! Our program is also multi artform: music, dance, theatre, visual arts, film and aims to engage ALL of the family. (yes, the grown-ups love it too)
Furthermore, our brilliant partners enable us to subsidise costs so that much of the AWESOME Festival is delivered free to Western Australian families and the few ticketed offerings are about 25% of the price that other events charge. In this respect Western Australia is pretty special, as there is no other event like the AWESOME Festival anywhere in Australia
Lost Little Llama.
What do you hope ‘Bright Young Things’ will get out of this year’s festival?
Something that they’ll remember forever.
Your role at AWESOME is CEO and Artistic Director, what does a typical day of work look like for you?
For me, a typical day at the AWESOME Festival starts with an early morning brew from Little Willy’s, then a quick lap around the festival site to check in with artists.Then the families start rolling in and it’s all go! I’m out and about, checking that our systems are working, dropping into shows and activities and asking kids what they thought of a particular show or event. Then it’s time to SHOP! The AWESOME Festival Kids Markets are EPIC and where I source a lot of my jewellery, plants and cards. Then I’ll grab a quick bite to eat, followed by a ChiCho Gelato in the sunshine. I can’t wait for this year’s AWESOME Festival gelato, it is a Llamapop and it is CUTE! The day closes with a team debrief and a hot cuppa.
What is the best part of your job?
Being present when artist and audience connect. It’s just magic.
Gina Williams & Guy Ghouse
How do you decide which events to have at the festival?
I attend a LOT of shows and I watch the audience response as much as I watch the show. Sometimes it is really hard to decide because there are so many brilliant artists vying for a spot in the program. Ultimately, I am looking for a range of different and exciting experiences across several artforms and age groups that will engage, enchant and delight children and grown-ups alike.
The festival during the school holidays is not the only program run by AWESOME Arts, tell us a bit about the Creative Challenge Program.
Creative Challenge is one of our exciting and much-loved creative learning programs where we send two professional artists to take up residence in a community for up to two weeks. During this time they work with young people/students to create, deliver, celebrate and evaluate a project. I have to say that the projects that are created during this process NEVER cease to amaze me, the parents, teachers and community. Creative Challenge is delivered throughout Western Australia and into some of our most remote communities.
Lollipop Ladies.
These projects are described as ‘process-driven’, what does this mean and why is it important in children’s learning?
Process-driven practice is absolutely key to learning because it empowers young people to have agency and supports decision-making. When incorporated into a model that also teaches the fundamentals of project management, process-driven learning supports and equips children into their future workplace/community.
Have you tried to incorporate this practice into the festival program?
Yes, of course. Process-driven learning is incorporated into the AWESOME Festival program through our Artist-led Creative Hubs. These Hubs are free and provide an opportunity for children to work with a professional artist on their own creations. This year we have the Crafty Nanna’s Textile Hub, an Animation Hub, a Storytelling Hub, A Circus Skills Hub and the Let’s Talk About Perth Hub with Art Jam where young people can work collaboratively on a mural artwork.
What do you hope the future of creative learning in schools looks like?
I would love to see some of the creative learning methodologies applied more broadly in classrooms across the curriculum. This is an approach that we have been working on in a more focused way in our STEAMED Up program and the participating teachers have found it incredibly useful. The impacts on learning and engagement within the classroom have also been both impactful and informative.
Slapdash Galaxy.
Which event are you most looking forward to at this year’s AWESOME Festival?
Tough question! By artform:
Music: Aliwah Bardinar! By Gina Williams, Guy Ghouse and the Breaksea Artsists
Exhibition: High VisiBiliity by Mandy White, Natalie Scholtz and the students at Sir David Brand School
Theatre: Slapdash Galaxy
Ballet: The Lost Little Llama
Activity: Making Zines with Festival Artist-in-residence, Vanesha Chandran
Crazy-off the-planet-experiences: It’s a dead heat between the Lollipop Ladies and the Bubble Canteen!
Under 5s: The Boy and the Ball and The Thing that Matters
The AWESOME Festival is on in the Perth Cultural Centre and Yagan Square from September 24 – 28 before going to Bunbury and Wiluna in October.