Free ticketed event as part of the Cairns Festival at the Esplanade Lagoon
Sunday 31 August 10:00am – 12:00pm (TBC)
Step into the liminal space between leisure and art with Let’s Organise Your Leisure (LOYL), a participatory public artwork by Queensland-based photomedia artist Kathy Mackey.
Presented as part of Cairns Festival 2025, LOYL invites over-50s and their friends to take part in a one-of-a-kind experience that combines gentle exercise, sculptural play, and performance in the waters of the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon.
“I am thrilled to be presenting ‘Let’s Organise Your Leisure’ at the Cairns Festival,” says Mackey. “It’s a great opportunity to present the work in a man-made lagoon so close to the natural shoreline. It really explores the liminal spaces and places of leisure.”
"The project began with a simple yet striking observation: older, fit individuals doing Aqua Zumba with pool noodles… “That moment sparked my interest in the intersection of art and leisure,” Mackey explains. “There are many opportunities for people over 50 to consume contemporary art, but far fewer to become participant makers. Hopefully Let’s Organise Your Leisure can be that opportunity.”
Participants will join the artist’s “Squad” to construct bright, buoyant sculptures using everyday leisure materials like pool noodles and yoga mats. Then, as a group, you'll float, move and perform with these playful creations in a public spectacle during the Float-Off Finale — a visual feast for onlookers from land, water and above.
What to bring:
Your brightest activewear or togs
A sense of fun and creativity
Willingness to float, move and make together
Whether you’re a long-time art lover or new to public art, LOYL offers a chance to reconnect with your body, your community and your creativity — all while making a splash.
Please note: This is a participatory event and may be photographed.