Alternative summer holiday activities for children across the UK
As August rolls around, we’re bringing you a special edition of our Cultural Diary. With school out, children to entertain and another four weeks before term begins again, making sure the kids are entertained can be a full-time job in itself. Fear not, though, as we have you covered with these alternative summer holiday activities for children across the UK, which should see you through until the end of the month.
Art Pods, Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Running every Saturday, Monday and Friday during school holidays, 11am – 4pm, is The Hepworth Wakefield’s ‘Art Pods’, which invites families to channel inspiration from artworks in the galleries into their own creative projects, drawing and making works together. Little ones also have free reign over a selection of sensory books and Hepworth-inspired wooden blocks to play with.
The 8-14’s Studio: Sculpture, Animation and Sound, Tate Modern, London
Taking place on Saturday 17th August is this free animation workshop led by artist Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, who will be overseeing families as they sketch, sculpt and animate alter-egos. Expect to make a mini avatar, which will be brought to life using technology and sound effects.
Family Saturday: Sculpt, Hauser & Wirth, Bruton, Somerset
Family Saturdays at Hauser & Wirth Somerset are a chance for families to connect with art, design and nature on the first Saturday of every month. This summer the gallery is dedicating three workshops to their current exhibition, ‘Unconscious Landscape. Works from the Ursula Hauser Collection’, with chances to stitch, sculpt and show. This instalment will uncover how artists in the exhibition deploy materials and techniques to make sculptural works. Don’t forget to make a reservation at the Roth Bar & Grill for lunch.
Create & Make: Badge-making, Design Museum, London
This one does what it says on the tin. Drop into the Design Museum, where children over five years olds can make a badge for free – simple.
Design Day: Grimshaw Architects Summer School, RIBA, London
Got a budding young architect? Get them thinking about how design can solve the problems that arise from climate change at this five-day summer school, led by Grimshaw Architects. Children aged 11 to 15 are invited to spend two days investigating the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, before decamping to RIBA’s Westminster outpost, where drawing, model-making and presenting techniques will be taught as groups come up with new architectural ideas that respond to water.
Squish Space, Barbican Centre, London
Artist India Harvey and designer Lisa Marie Bengtsson bring you Squish Space, a sensory play experience for children under five at the Barbican Centre. “In this new season of Squish Space, Lisa & India invite you to explore the possibility that play has no beginning or end, instead we are constantly engaged in the flow of interaction and exchange with children at play,” reads the description – who knew playtime could be so cerebral?
Dot Kids Workshops: Design a Matisse Inspired T-shirt, Old Spitalfields Market, London
The holy grail of children’s summer activities is surely one that allows you to drop-off and go, no? Do just that at this workshop at Old Spitalfields Market, where children aged 5 to 16 will discover Matisse’s work and then make a t-shirt based on his cut-outs.
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