From workshops to performances, art to story time, the NGV is helping to keep the kids busy and creative this summer with a packed program of free events at NGV and venues across the state.
As school holidays commence, the NGV has announced the return of the NGV Kids on Tour and NGV Kids Summer Festival, with programs inspired by NGV’s vibrant summer exhibitions: Cats & Dogs and Yayoi Kusama.
This January, NGV Kids on Tour will hit the road with its largest ever program – bringing free art activities to more than 150 venues across Melbourne and regional Victoria with partner venues including galleries, libraries, hospitals, migrant resource centres, community hubs and more.
Budding artists ages 3 and up will be able to get creative with activities including making their own accessories, illustrating and creating fashion designs, while babies and toddlers can explore Yayoi Kusama’s famous artwork through story time sessions with the Lots of Dots by Yayoi Kusama children’s book, published by the NGV.
NGV Kids on Tour will also feature drop-by art workshops for teenagers to learn new creative skills and build their own art portfolios.
At NGV’s headquarters in Melbourne, NGV International and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Fed Square will host the NGV Kids Summer Festival from 11–17 January 2025. The free program will feature a selection of all-ages events, workshops and activities led by Victorian artists and creatives.
The popular week-long festival will kick off in Fed Square on 11 January and include live dog shows, face-painting and free entry to the Cats & Dogs exhibition for kids. More than 14,000 children got involved in the festival last summer.
Throughout the week, NGV Australia will host pet portrait drawing sessions led by local artists, as well as dedicated story times for children under five featuring books by Australian and First Nations authors.
At NGV International, kids can create their own dotted pumpkin designs inspired by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s iconic artworks, and participate in a drawing workshop to craft their own car designs
The free NGV Kids on Tour program takes place throughout January 2025 at venues across regional and metropolitan Victoria. The free NGV Kids Summer Festival runs from 11–17 January 2025 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia and NGV International. For more information, visit ngv.vic.gov.au.