It’s a bird! It’s a plane! UFOs to touch down at Canberra Centre for Enlighten
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Canberra Centre has become quite the participant in the annual Enlighten Festival, playing host to multiple interactive activations every year—and 2023 will be no different.
Today it was announced that giant alien-like space characters are set to touch down at Canberra Centre as part of Enlighten Festival celebrations.
Across 3–19 March, Canberra Centre will play host to a galaxy-first, space-themed activation called ‘It’s Not Rocket Science,’ in line with Enlighten Festival that will see 11 giant inflatable characters across the centre.
These playful, colourful characters are artistic takes on intergalactic subjects like rockets, UFOs, space observatories, satellite dishes and moon rocks and will thrill the young and young at heart.
It’s Not Rocket Science is the work of art and technology studio ENESS, renowned for its transformational, interactive public art experiences across the globe
“The inspiration for QIC’s It’s Not Rocket Science is that through fun, playful and accessible installations, we inspire all generations to learn about science, space and our greater universe,” says ENESS Artist and Founder Nimrod Weis.
“Our driving purpose at ENESS is to invest public spaces with creativity, stimulating curiosity and a spirit of exploration about specific themes and the world at large. We are excited to introduce our work to QIC and for each centre to enrich the theme further for the delight, enrichment and education of all visitors.”
Running alongside the characters’ visit to earth is a Space Station pop-up which will play host to a range of intergalactic workshops and interactive pods, including a mix of educational games for kids.
From March 10 – 19, visitors and their children can enter the space station between 11 am and 2 pm daily. Special space staff will be on hand to assist in their exploration of the interactive pods, space suit dress-ups and photo moments in front of interstellar backdrops.
Little explorers are sure to have a blast at the exciting workshops taking place across each Friday, Saturday and Sunday (10 – 12 March & 17 – 19 March). Workshops include jet packs, alien headbands and alien slime-making.
Bookings are essential and can be made at canberracentre.qicre.com.
“Canberra is extremely lucky to be the very first to experience this ground-breaking activation, which is set to tour the country throughout the year,” says Canberra Centre General Manager, Gary Stewart.
“Each of the characters are incredibly interactive in a way we’ve never seen, nor experienced before in the centre.”
“Motion sensor eyes will follow you as you walk past, and space and rocket sounds will blast out. There will also be a range of QR codes linked to interesting space science facts which children can discover with each new character they meet,” he adds.
To help visitors discover the characters, Canberra Centre will have a digital trail map available. Everyone who wants to undertake the trail will first receive a briefing from real-life Australian astronaut and physicist Dr Chris Boshuizen.
Everyone who completes the mission will also receive a play astronaut helmet to continue their space odysseys at home. One lucky explorer will also win a special space pack worth $500.
But wait—there’s more!
Canberra Centre is a major partner of Canberra’s Enlighten Festival and will form part of the City Illuminations experience. A free shuttle bus to the illuminations at Lake Burley Griffin will also depart from Petrie Street regularly so you can travel to and from the Parliamentary Triangle with ease.
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