Join practising artists and experts for themed workshops developed in response to the National Museum's exhibitions and collection.
Upcoming workshops
A little creative
Monday 27 May, 10.30am to 11.30amJoin us for hands-on art and craft activities inspired by the Museum’s collections and exhibitions. Suitable for preschool-aged children and their carers.
Cost: $12, $6 Friends
Limited numbers
Bookings essential by email bookings@nma.gov.au or phone (02) 6208 5021 (business hours)
The Hall
Check out the online calendar for the full range of fun activities for families and children.
Past workshops
16-frames per second
11 May 2013
Aspiring young filmmakers and actors put together this black and white silent film, 'Follow Your Dreams'.
This workshop was inspired by the National Museum's Glorious Days: Australia 1913 exhibition.
'Follow Your Dreams' includes 1913 film footage from the National Film and Sound Archive, and objects and props from the Glorious Days exhibition.
Night at the Museum
Puppeteers Marianne and Jonathon Metes and some of our young visitors made puppets inspired by the Big objects on show in the Hall, and watched them come to life in a spontaneous performance. January 2013.
The characters within
Cartoonist Andrew Hore showed children how to draw the Big objects on show in the Hall in cartoon style, and posed for photographs featuring their works of art in blue backdrops. January 2013.
A little creative: animal sculptures
Preschool-aged children visited the inspiring animal sculptures in the Menagerie exhibition, then made a model of their own favourite animal with air-dry clay and other cool materials in the craft area. August 2012.
A little creative: musical instruments
Preschoolers and their families enjoyed a hands on experience of the musical instruments in the Travelling the Silk Road exhibition and then created their own Silk Road style drum using lots of exciting materials. July 2012.
From the ground up
Indigenous artist Helen Tiernan helped children create artworks inspired by the colourful natural world, patterns in the landscape and Indigenous themes in the Museum. Children used ochres, paint, collage and stamps to create some awesome artworks. July 2012.
Nicolette Benjamin Black.
Paper-making workshop: journey journal
Artist Nicolette Benjamin Black showed children how to use recycled denim and plant fibres to make paper, similar to that traded along the Silk Road. Children incorporated their handmade paper into their own travel journal to take on their next journey. April 2012.
Silk Road glass tile-making
Artists from the Canberra Glassworks helped children create their own glass tiles, inspired by the colours and patterns used by glass artisans of the Silk Road. 2012.
Movie making workshops: Yesterday’s museum videos
Children became journalists of the future and reported on the National Museum’s 30th birthday in 2031. Using iMacs, a green screen and Museum objects, children worked in small teams with a facilitator from the Academy of Interactive Entertainment to create a digital broadcast of the future.
Upcycling art workshop: videotape art
What can we do with out-dated technology like video and cassette tapes, rather than put it into landfill? Upcycling sculpture artist
