NGV Kids on Tour returns to Central Goldfields Art Gallery from today, continuing throughout January. Kids and their carers can drop in anytime between 10am and 4pm and take a free artistic adventure, thanks to the NGV Kids on Tour's largest ever program.
The free school holiday art activities for kids include artistic adventures making playful cat and dog ear headbands, illustrating a Kusama-inspired pumpkin, and creating fashion designs for paper dolls. There is no charge to join in the fun.
This year's program celebrates the work of local and international artists and designers, as they draw inspiration from the colour and vibrancy of nature and the world around them.
NGV Kids on Tour 2025 program at Central Goldfields Art Gallery includes:
• Furry Friend Headband: a celebration of the NGV's Cats & Dogs exhibition, children can design a Furry Friend Headband - a set of cat or dog ears inspired by their own beloved pets or furry animals in their lives to take home and wear.
• Lots of Dots from Yayoi Kusama: explore the work of iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama in the Lots of dots with Yayoi Kusama activity and children's book. Pumpkins have appeared in Kusama's artworks since a young age growing up on a seed and plant farm, and this drawing activity invites children to add their favourite colours and designs to dots on a pumpkin and write a short poem about the humble fruit. While young ones will be able to spot big dogs, little dots and shiny dots in Lots of dots story time sessions.
• Fashion, Culture & Creativity by Collective Closets: Melbourne-based fashion designers and sisters Fatuma and Laurinda Ndenzako from slow fashion label Collective Closets celebrate the beauty and history of the African continent through their designs. The designers have developed the Fashion, Culture & Creativity activity where kids and families create paper dolls and then design their own vibrant clothing for the dolls to wear.
• Bogong Moths by Deanne Gilson: learn about bogong moths in this drawing activity developed by Dr Deanne Gilson, a proud Wadawurrung woman living on her ancestral Country of Ballarat. Kids also discover fascinating facts about this special Australian insect including how it avoids predators and its important place in our ecosystem.
NGV Kids on Tour also invites teenagers to learn about the creative practices of emerging artists and build skills for their own art portfolios through an activity developed with Gamilaroi Yinarr weaver and textile artist Sophie Honess.
• NGV Teens: Make a Pompom by Sophie Honess: especially for teens, the Make a Pompom activity invites participants to create a bush flower-inspired pompom using yarn, embroidery thread and colourful felts to use as accessories on bags or key chains.
Colin Brooks, Minister for Creative Industries, said: 'Australia's most popular gallery delivers again with the return of these incredible, free kids programs, ensuring kids of all ages can continue to learn, create and have a whole lot of fun over the school holidays. No matter where you live, the free NGV Kids on Tour and NGV Kids Summer Festival programs are just two ways we are providing more Victorians with access to quality, free creative experiences this summer.'
Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV, said: 'In 2024 the NGV Kids on Tour program reached over 10,000 children across Victoria. This summer the Tour once again extends free art-making activities to kids and families throughout the region through partnerships with over 150 participating venues. 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.'
The NGV Kids on Tour program aims to share the joys of art and creativity with children and families over the summer holiday period. The program is taking place at over 150 Victorian metropolitan and regional venues. For individual program dates at other venues visit: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/kids-on-tour
NGV extends sincerest thanks to event partner Officeworks, for their generous support of NGV Kids on Tour 2025.
