ISLAND Arts Centre launches its 2015 Children’s Arts Festival
June 23, 2015
Celebrate the International Year of Light 2015 at ISLAND Arts Centre’s Children’s Arts Festival 2015 which runs from 20 July to 15 August. Throughout the summer months the arts centre is transformed BY children FOR children. Its theatre, studios, galleries and outdoor spaces all become a hotspot of immersive arts experiences putting young people aged 18 months – 16 years and their families firmly in the spotlight.
Festival highlights include five day Arts Weeks led by energetic professional artists and performers who specialise in working with children and young people. A FREE interactive Children’s Exhibition, designed for families to explore, create and play together. Family Festival Light Bite workshops, community outreach and much more.
Let’s Shine Arts Activity Weeks
Entertaining your kids over the summer months can be a tricky business. ISLAND Arts Centre’s week long Arts Camps are perfect for parents. They run from 10am - 4pm, Monday – Friday with optional extended hours. Young people aged 4 – 16 years will join like-minded creative sparks to create, design and turn their ideas into action through group and solo projects. The choice of three creative weeks will include visual arts, drama, dance and music. Ranging from teaching technical skills, open-ended experimentation to capturing light bulb moments. No experience is necessary just lots of enthusiasm. Parents have peace of mind too, knowing that Arts Weeks bring together a range of energetic professional artists and performers who specialise in working with children and young people. Classes are grouped into small appropriate age bands and are individually tailored so that no two days are the same.
FREE ‘Light Fantastic’ Children’s Interactive Exhibition
Enter a dazzling neon sensory spectacle that is the ‘Light Fantastic’ Children’s Interactive Exhibition. Touch, feel and explore the whimsical floating canopies of Perspex mobiles, light projections and mesmerising mirrors that seem to multiply and stretch forever and ever. Take control of the vintage projectors and create a myriad of refracting art installations. Become a star in the Retrovision life size TV set and create your very own shadow puppet show. Experience glow-tastic ultra violet adventure in the UV Zone. Finally pay a visit to the optical fun House of Mirrors where all is definitely not as it seems. There is no need to book for this creative bonanza but children do need to be accompanied by an adult.
Festival Light Bites
Unable to commit to full weeks? No problem. Gigglers and wrigglers aged 18 months to 5 years and their grown-ups will adore Lullaby Lights. This upbeat music and movement extravaganza is crafted by specialised Early Years practitioners. It includes music, dancing, exciting props, sensory games, projection screens and lots of bubbles.
Let your family’s creative talents shine through the Twinkle, Twinkle Tea Lights Pottery Workshops. A galaxy of fun and led by an expert ceramicist the ISLAND will ensure every night is a starry night in your home.
ISLAND Community Arts brings Children’s Arts Festival to you
Of course Festival likes to pack its bag too over the summer months and go travelling. Community and voluntary groups working with children in the Lisburn and Castlereagh area can add a little Light Fantastic! to their group’s summer activities and avail of FREE Children’s Arts Festival workshops.
To Book and Further Information
To get your free copy of the Children’s Arts Festival 2015 events brochure visit ISLANDartscentre.com.
Bookings for the Festival go live for ISLAND Kids’ Members at 9.30am on Tues 30 Jun before public release at 9.30am on Thur 2 Jul 2015. Book online at ISLANDArtsCentre.com or telephone 028 92 509509.
We Look Forward to Welcoming You to the ISLAND.