Art activities bring the NGV to regional Vic

THE National Gallery of Victoria’s free school holiday art-making program, Kids on Tour, is taking place at various venues around the region this month.

Ballarat East Neighbourhood House’s session is scheduled for 23 January, while the Creswick Hub and is hosting sessions throughout the month as drop-by activities.

Coinciding with the NGV’s summer exhibitions Yayoi Kusama and Cats & Dogs, the tour celebrates the work of local and international artists and designers.

Activities include designing and making a furry friend headband; a set of cat or dog ears inspired by children’s own pets, while the work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama will be in focus in the Lots of Dots with Yayoi Kusama activity and children’s book session.

The Kusama drawing session involves children adding their favourite colours and designs to dots on a pumpkin and writing a short poem about the fruit.

Melbourne fashion designers and sisters Fatuma and Laurinda Ndenzako have developed the Fashion, Culture and Creativity with Collective Closets activity where children and their families create paper dolls and design their own clothing for the dolls to wear.

The sisters run the fashion label Collective Closets, which celebrates the beauty and history of Africa.

Children can also learn about bogong moths in a drawing activity developed by Dr Deanne Gilson, and discover interesting facts about the insect including how it avoids predators, and its place in the ecosystem.

Designed for teenagers, the Make a Pompom with Sophie Honess activity invites participants to create a bush flower-inspired pompom using yarn, embroidery thread and colourful felts to use as an accessory on bags or key chains.

NGV director Tony Ellwood said the 2024 tour reached more than 10,000 children throughout the state.

“This summer the tour once again extends free art-making activities to kids and families…through partnerships with over 150 participating venues,” he said.

“The NGV is committed to ensuring all young Victorians have access to enriching creative experiences whether that be at the gallery or through the Kids on Tour program visiting their local community.”

According to the NGV, this year’s program is the biggest ever, with more than 150 venues participating across metropolitan and outer metropolitan Melbourne, and regional Victoria.

More details about sessions are available on host centres’ websites. Information about Kids on Tour is available on the NGV website.