Don❜t Miss A Weekend Of Arty Fun at Art Gallery of New South Wales❜ Hive Festival

Have you heard the buzz? The best place to take your budding little creatives (or just have a fun family day out to break up the holidays) is the fabulous and free Hive Festival at one of our favourite places - the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Don't Miss A Weekend Of Arty Fun at the Art Gallery of New South Wales' Hive Festival 

Happening over two huge days on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 January, there’s something for all ages at this not-to-be-missed festival, including fun hands-on workshops, music lessons, movement celebration and imaginative storytelling.

Inspired by the beauty of flight, whimsical daydreams and the sheer joy of kites, it’s the ideal place to let your family’s creative spirit float free! 

Create and Explore at Hive Festival

Let your kids’ imaginations soar with Flights of Fancy, this year’s festival centrepiece from Sydney-based artists Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro – a giant kite crafted from collaboration and creativity. No bookings are necessary for this drop-in workshop where materials are provided for your little ones (and you!) to reflect on your hopes and dreams and add designs to the kite sails. Kids can also take part in a special drop-in-workshop developed with Claire and Sean to create a streamer-style kite (inspired by Japanese koinobori) to highlight the native birds that live in Sydney.

Who doesn’t love a birthday? Hikoko Ito is on a quest to make sure everyone feels special on their big day, so drop into her Birthday Card Wishes workshop and decorate a card designed by the Hong Kong-based Japanese artist. Curated as part of her Happy Birthday 2U2 installation, the project will open on 15 March and see 366 mailboxes – one for every birthday of the year – with visitors invited to find their mailbox and take home a card made by someone born on that day.

Those feeling nostalgic for old-fashioned entertainment should make a beeline for the Shadow House workshop with Bria McCarthy. The Wiradyuri artist will help your kids let loose with her shadow puppet and performance workshop to create whimsical and fantastical creatures that they can recreate at home.

Movement, Music and Movies

Whether your child is a beginner or a seasoned strummer, the kids’ drop-in workshop to learn how to play the ukulele with Toy Choir is set to unleash sounds of pure joy. All levels are welcome at this free workshop for kids aged 8 to 14 years, with a fun performance at the end of each session.

Aimed at the littlest visitors and their parents, the Dancing in the Sky movement workshops will see your tot up and about as they explore the idea of taking flight with their bodies. Focusing on play and discovery, this special session is sure to delight (and hopefully wear them out!).

For screen time with a difference, there’s also beloved kids’ classics, The Red Balloon and Fly Away Home, playing on the big screen for some much-needed time out. There’s also abstract cinema for young viewers, who will especially love the half-hour program of chaotic circles and squiggles that will play during two morning sessions. [

Sensory-friendly Space

If your kids would prefer a calmer and quieter festival experience, head to the Art Gallery of New South Wales at 9 am on Sunday 19 January for a special sensory-friendly early-entry session. There will be no public announcements and quieter activities during the first hour of the day in both the Naala Badu and Naala Nura buildings.

There will also be sensory-friendly workshops – including Flights of Fancy and Birthday Card Wishes – along with sensory story-telling and art making at 9.30 am in the children’s art library.

Hive Festival is on at the Art Gallery of New South Wales - Art Gallery Rd, Sydney on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 January 2025. Admission is FREE

Blacktown Arts Hive Festival

Blacktown Arts, in partnership with the Art Gallery of New South Wales, will hold its own Hive Festival at The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre. Head down on 16 and 17 January to add your own personalised kite piece to the large-scale installation by Claire Healhy and Sean Cordeiro. There will also be storytelling through movement thanks to the Jannawi Dance Clan, while artist Bibi Goul Mossavi shares the beauty of the Afghan kite-flying tradition. Kids will love the interactive and imaginative hands-on creative workshops on offer, including drawing, painting, weaving demonstrations, video screenings and even face painting. 

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