Get crafty this winter holidays

UNLOCK your creative side this school holidays with a range of hands-on activities organised by the City of Ballarat.

There will be a variety of programs held at libraries and community hubs which are suitable for all ages.

Materials are provided, and the aim is to give children a chance to use their imagination to play and learn.

“The Ballarat Libraries school holiday program provides opportunities for children and their carers to learn through play and special activities,” said mayor Cr Des Hudson.

“It is important to engage children with the library so that parents and carers are supported as their child’s first educators, and so that they are aware of the broad range of activities, collections, workshops that encourage early literacy development and an ongoing love of learning, books and reading.

“The Ballarat Libraries school holiday program is free and available for all young people across our city.”

Program highlights include crafternoons held at Djila-tjarriu Community Hub and 3D Animal Portaits with Red Tree Community Arts at Lucas Community Hub.

Slice Masters at Sebastopol Community Hub will give children a chance to make pizzas using ingredients from the garden.

Cr Hudson also encouraged families to visit the newly refurbished central library.

“As well as the school holiday program happening at some of our Library Outreach locations, we are also hoping young people will visit the newly refurbished Central Ballarat Library, which has a dedicated children’s library featuring adjacent parent’s facilities, a mini-computer lab for children to safely experience online games and learning opportunities, and a collection of 17,000 items to take home,” he said.

“The library is a safe, flexible space to spend time in during the Winter school holidays, with planned activities and free resources to entertain the whole family.”

Bookings to the sessions are essential and can be done by calling 5338 6850 or looking on the Ballarat Libraries Facebook page.

The full program with 14 sessions can be found on the Central Highlands Libraries website.