APT9 Exhibition Report

MEDIA The Media Campaign for APT9 targeted key international, national, regional and local media across print, broadcast and online outlets. It resulted in a high volume of positive coverage with more than 400 media items achieved, and the overall media value of the campaign exceeded $7.3 million. Following the March 2018 announcement of APT9’s first cohort of confirmed artists, the campaign included the targeted distribution of media materials (locally and nationally), media briefings and outreach, bespoke familiarisations and tours and a media preview event. Within the overall campaign, special focus was given to APT9 Kids, APT9 Cinema, the all-ages Summer Festival and APT9 Kids on Tour. APT9’s 500 000 visitor milestone was marked with an announcement by the Honourable Leeanne Enoch MP, Minister for the Arts, in March 2019. PR support from Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ), Brisbane Marketing and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) was ongoing and critical to the success of the campaign, and TEQ’s support enabled 15 media outlets from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore to attend a dedicated tour of APT9 over the opening weekend. The APT9 Media Preview was attended by up to 100 guests, including international, national, statewide and local media, as well as sponsors, stakeholders and exhibiting artists. Media attending the event had the opportunity to experience a compelling performance by artists Brian Fuata and Latai Taumoepeau, titled Odyssey ‘o Fehuluni 2018. Fuata, with his entire head painted demon-red, rolled and pushed a loud 24-gallon drum through the ground floor of GOMA as Taumoepeau walked behind him, dressed in an imposing shark-mouth headdress and feathered gown. Following the official proceedings with the Minister, guests were invited to join a tour of APT9 across both Gallery sites. The exhibition achieved a prominent position in international media outlets, including: The London Evening Standard , Irish Times , The Daily Mail , Frieze , The Art Newspaper and The Asian Art Newspaper (UK); Wall Street International Magazine (EU); Artforum (US); Art Asia Pacific , Radio Television Hong Kong and cobo.social.com (Hong Kong); Nikkei Asian Review (Japan); The Hindu (India); Tehran Times (Iran); The Sun Daily and The Star (Malaysia); The Jakarta Post , Indonesian Times , Kumparan News and Detik (Indonesia); Art News New Zealand , New Zealand Herald , Art News NZ and Radio New Zealand ; and artdaily.com , ocula.com , travelandleisure.com and marketwatch.com . National and local coverage was comprehensive, with news stories, features and reviews appearing across outlets including: The Australian , The Weekend Australian , Sydney Morning Herald , The Adelaide Advertiser , The Guardian , Voyeur , The Saturday Paper , The Monthly , Artlink , artshub.com , Art Monthly , Art Collector , Limelight , Mekong Review , ABC Online , ABC The Mix , ABC National Radio (Arts and Music) , Radio National (The Hub on Art and Breakfast) , NIRS (National Indigenous Radio Service) , SBS TV News , SBS News Radio , NITV (National Indigenous Television) , Channel 7 News , Channel 9 , The Courier-Mail , 612 ABC Radio , Brisbane Times and Queensland Times . ‘ It’s part of the APT’s mission to increase our awareness and understanding of the diverse cultures of our region, using art as a tool to overcome the barriers of language, ethnicity, religion and custom, let alone the glaring discrepancies of wealth. ’ John McDonald, SMH , 15 December 2018 54 MEDIA