newy.com.au – Beloved book and television characters are at the centre of City of Newcastle’s winter school holiday program, with libraries, Newcastle Museum and Newcastle Art Gallery hosting a mix of free and ticketed activities for children across July.
The program brings together stories, art, science and technology, giving children the chance to create, build, explore and discover during the school break.
At Newcastle City Library, children can step into the world of Julia Donaldson’s Room on the Broom with a wand-making workshop on 8 July, ahead of the story’s live adaptation at the Civic Theatre later in the month.
Families can also join the Rainbow Sheep Colour Party at Newcastle City Library on Wednesday 8 July, celebrating Mem Fox’s Where is the Green Sheep? Children are encouraged to dress in their favourite colour for storytime, sensory activities and a chance to meet cast members from Monkey Baa Theatre’s upcoming Civic Theatre production.
Newcastle Museum’s free exhibition Mr Squiggle and Friends: The Creative World of Norman Hetherington will extend into a series of school holiday activities inspired by the much-loved television character. Free and low-cost workshops at Newcastle Museum and Newcastle Libraries include paper collage, collaborative drawing, coding and Minecraft sessions, as well as family-friendly activities based on Mr Squiggle’s signature upside-down drawing style.
At Newcastle Art Gallery, hands-on workshops will connect children with the Brian Robinson: Multiverse exhibition. LEGO Printmaking in the Multiverse will run with two sessions daily from 7 to 10 July, inviting children to create prints inspired by Robinson’s blend of pop culture and storytelling. Blooms in the Multiverse, from 14 to 17 July, will encourage participants to design colourful three-dimensional sculptures inspired by the artist’s floral works.
Wallsend Library will host local author Odette Tokin and illustrator Anna Scobie on 15 July for a special event celebrating their children’s book The Tiny Forest. Children will also be able to make native seed balls and mini bee hotels while learning about biodiversity and the natural world.
Graphic novel fans can head to Newcastle City Library on 13 July for a Genre Journeys session covering manga, superheroes and independent slice-of-life stories, with participants invited to discover new titles and share recommendations.
NAIDOC Week activities are also part of the program, including an illustration workshop led by award-winning author and First Nations storyteller Dub Leffler at Newcastle City Library on 8 July. Children can make jewellery inspired by the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at Wallsend Library on 10 July, while Uncle Amos Simon will lead a stringybark rope-making activity on 9 July before a mini silent disco celebrating music from First Nations artists.
Young scientists, engineers and inventors can take part in free STEM Punks Education workshops at Wallsend Library from 13 to 16 July, exploring virtual reality, robotics and 3D design while developing problem-solving and collaboration skills.
Newcastle Museum will also host timed LEGO building challenges on 14 July, with children racing against the clock to create imaginative designs and test new ideas.
For older students, free Bike School city riding workshops will run on 12 and 19 July, starting at Tighes Hill TAFE. The sessions for high school students will cover bike safety checks, route planning, shared path etiquette, safe road positioning and e-bike legalities before participants ride on local streets.
More information and bookings are available through Newcastle Museum, Newcastle Libraries, Newcastle Art Gallery and the City of Newcastle website.
