ArtCart Art Workshops for Children
Newcastle Region Art Gallery Art Activities for Children
Jun 29, 2008
Located behind Civic Park and next to the Newcastle Region Library in Newcastle, New South Wales, the Newcastle Region Art Gallery hosts one of Australia’s most substantial public art collections outside of a capital city. In addition to the interesting and diverse standard collection, the gallery frequently hosts visiting exhibitions including Art Express, a showcase of a selection of the best HSC major artworks each year.
ArtCart Children’s WorkshopsSupported by the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation, the Gallery is currently hosting a continuation of the 2005 artNRG program. In addition to other art activities and events catering to children aged from three to 18 years, ArtCart workshops specifically target pre-school, infants and early primary school-aged children.
Children attending the free two hour workshops are led through an interactive, age-appropriate discussion of one of the Gallery artworks. Following this they are encouraged to explore their own creativity using some of the concepts and techniques they have discussed. Energetic and approachable Gallery staff wander amongst the groups of children, offering encouragement and advice and challenging the older children to further develop their ideas.
Encouraging Children to be CreativeThe centrepiece of the ArtCart experience for the children is the ArtCart itself, a treasure-trove of artistic materials to which they have free access during the workshops. A range of pencils, crayons, coloured markers and oil pastels are available in addition to paper in a variety of textures and patterns, aluminium foil, wool, craft sticks, match sticks and, of course, a good supply of scissors and glue sticks.
The artNRG Gallery staff are available to further discuss the children’s artwork and techniques and do an admirable job of keeping their comments and encouragement appropriate to both age and ability. Children are free to explore the theme in their own way and to use the available materials in whatever way they feel best expresses their ideas.
Art Activities Suitable for Children of all Ages
While the art activities are generally aimed at children within the three to eight year age range, they are suitable for children from pre-school to high school. With workshops held in the Gallery itself with groups of up to 40 children, parents need to remain with their children to ensure that materials are shared and used correctly and the pieces in the Gallery collection are treated with care.
ArtCart workshops are held every Saturday and Sunday between 10.30am – 12.30pm. Visitors are welcome to arrive at any time during the activity, although arriving on time ensures that children have sufficient time to complete their artwork, which they are then able to take home with them.
Newcastle Region Art Gallery Details
1 Laman St, Newcastle NSW 2300.Phone: 02 4974 5100. artgallery@ncc.nsw.gov.au
The Newcastle Region Art Gallery is open from Tuesday – Sunday from 10am – 5pm (except Good Friday and Christmas Day) and admission is free. The Gallery is an enjoyable place to spend some time for both visitors to Newcastle and locals, with a variety of exhibitions and other programs throughout the year.
Related Articles:
 |
