Out of the box experience for kids

Gallery offering engaging school holiday programs

This month, Hamilton Gallery invites families to be part of a series of ‘out-of-the-box’ kids’ school holiday experiences that fuse art and theatre, professionally facilitated by industry-leading performers and artists.

On Tuesday, September 19, and Wednesday, September 20, the gallery will play host to four thoughtfully tailored workshops for two distinct age groups – ages 2-4 and ages 5-12.

‘HG Holidays: Friends, Passion & Commitment’ workshops are presented in collaboration with Barking Spider Creative, a remarkable multi-art form company that creatively and theatrically interprets sites, stories, objects and collections.

Artistic director Penelope Bartlau said that Barking Spider’s mission was to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. “We’re inviting young minds

into this captivating gallery space, creating stories about characters in the gallery’s current exhibition and encouraging children to explore their creativity, build confidence, and experience the joy of interactive performance,” Ms Bartlau said.

This one-off collaboration is inspired by the characters and stories inherent in the gallery’s current exhibition; ‘Friends: Passion & Commitment’, which celebrates 50 years of the Friends of Hamilton Gallery.

Gallery director Joshua White, said at Hamilton Gallery, they believed in fostering creativity and curiosity in young minds.

“These workshops are an extraordinary opportunity for kids to engage with art in a way we’ve never offered before,” Mr White said. “It’s about the joy of discovery, of playing detective, of imaginative character-play and theatrical improvisation. We’re excited to invite local children to experience the gallery in an entirely new way.”

During the workshops, children will be introduced to a captivating array of objects directly related to the current ‘Friends: Passion & Commitment’ exhibition. Guided by Barking Spider Creative’s innovative approach, children will form small groups to engage in an interactive exploration of the objects, akin to an archaeological adventure. They will uncover the stories behind the objects and step into the shoes of characters inspired by these artifacts, participating in theatre improvisations that will help children relate positively to each other, grow confidence, and build self-esteem.

The one-hour workshops will be held across four sessions over the two days in the upcoming school holidays. The schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, September 19:
o Ages 5-12: 1-2pm
o Ages 2-4: 3-4pm

Wednesday, September 20:
o Ages 2-4: 11am-12noon
o Ages 5-12: 1-2pm

Parents and guardians of ages 2-4 are invited to share the experience by participating in the workshops.

For children aged 5-12, parents can relax with a complimentary tea or coffee and explore current exhibitions, staying to enjoy the performance at the end of the older kids’ session.

Tickets are $35 per child and can be booked online via www. hamiltongallery.org, by visiting the gallery or contacting (03)5573 0460.