Family Friendly Activities
We have a whole range of Family Friendly Activities taking place at ArtsFest 2012. A PDF document of all of these events is available to download at the bottom left hand side of the homepage and the full list is also below. These activities are subject to change so please check at one of our Information Points in Centenary Square or Victoria Square during the festival for an up to date programme.
Friday 7th September 2012
Mandala
Chamberlain Square (18.30 – 22.00)
Mandala is a dazzling free outdoor performance fusing International and British Asian music and dance with spectacular 3D digital projections. Town Hall will be magically illuminated with colour and light to tell a story that connects the past and the present. The building will be brought to life with stunning digital projections and visual effects triggered by the live dance, music and audience interaction.
18.30 – Red Baraat (A live set by the dhol ’n’ brass band)
20.30 – Performance of Mandala
21.30 – Repeat performance of Mandala
Saturday 8th September 2012
The Playmakers
mac (All day)
Japanese artists KOSUGE1-16 have worked with local children to create a playful installation in the gallery at mac Birmingham for their first ever UK exhibition. An interactive experience for all the family featuring giant puppets, squishy swans and a slide!
Musical Picnic
Symphony Hall Foyer (10.30 – 13.00)
A morning of musical entertainment for all the family.
The Rootless Forest
Brindleyplace (11.00 – 13.00)
Visit the Rootless Forest and walk with it from Brindleyplace to Edible Eastside. This is a mobile artwork, a mini-forest made of real tress and soil, planted on a barge that travels at walking pace along the Birmingham and Black Country Canals. It is a landscape and soundscape piece.
The Mobile Arts Vehicle
Chamberlain Square (11.00 – 18.00)
Birmingham City Council Culture Commissioning Service and Birmingham’s Local Art Forums help you to explore the culture on your doorstep!
Free Radio
Chamberlain Square (11.00 – 18.00)
Come and meet Free Radio’s very own HumFree the hamster for fun, games and much more.
The pARTicipate Village
Chamberlain Square / Victoria Square / Upper New Street (11.00 – 18.00)
Heart of England Galleries – Discover more about the galleries and have your photo taken in The Public’s Photo Studio.
Library of Birmingham – Book a tour of the new Library of Birmingham, take a ‘virtual’ tour and play online games.
Matt & Pete’s Photo School – Experience ArtsFest and Birmingham through new eyes with this inspirational photo walk.
Brahma Kumaris – Art of Peace: creating you vision of a peaceful world.
Full Potential Arts – Our City: Create artistic Birmingham images.
Midlands Potters Association – Being creative in clay.
Sara’s Parlour – Create your own face paint design with Sara.
The REP – Get stuck into creating, making and maybe even getting a little messy in celebration of the REP’s Christmas production of The Wind In The Willows.
Writing West Midlands – Supporting creative writing and writers in the region.
Ping! Birmingham
Centenary Square (11.00 – 18.00)
Fancy a game of Ping!? Then head over to one of the tables in Centenary Square.
The Outdoor Learning Service Climbing Wall
Centenary Square (11.00 – 18.00)
Are you brave enough to scale the wall in this adventurous challenge?
Arts In The Yard
mac (Buses from 11.30 – 16.30)_
_Do you live in Acocks Green, Sheldon, Stechford or Yardley?
Join us on board Arts In The Yard’s magical musical Bus Tour to visit three exciting venues and take part in fabulous arts activities at each stop. Calling at South Yardley Library, mac Birmingham and Blakesley Hall throughout the day there will also be music making activities on board! Explore your local neighbourhood and enjoy all that ArtsFest and Heritage Open Day has to offer. More info at www.macarts.co.uk
Saheli
The ‘Be Active’ Zone (11.30 – 12.00)
A dance based aerobic taster session to music.
Warwickshire Young Voices
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery – Round Room (11.30 – 12.00)
Fresh and inspirational youth singing for all.
Dance Fit Base
The ‘Be Active’ Zone (12.30 – 13.00)
Dance fitness fun for everyone!
Toni’s Tots Drama
mac – The Performance Studio (12.30 – 13.30)
Drama and storytelling workshops for toddlers.
The REP
The Council House – HMS Daring Room (13.00 – 13.30)
Enchanting stories from the REP’s forthcoming Christmas production of The Wind in the Willows.
Creative Workshops
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (13.00 – 16.00)
Join an artist led session in the Learning Zone. Whatever you make, you can take away!
BSEF
The ‘Be Active’ Zone (13.30 – 14.00)
An interactive basketball technique and skills workshop.
Ikon Gallery Workshops
Oozells Square (14.00 – 16.00)
A range of family friendly drop-in workshops where you can join Ikon Gallery to make and sail your own paper boats. Children should be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Bhangra Tots
The Council House – Room 1 (14.00 – 15.00)
Interactive dance and story for children and their parents/carers.
The Arcadians
mac – The Performance Studio (14.00 – 15.00)
Family ‘Wizard of Oz’ workshop.
Zumba Central
The ‘Be Active’ Zone (14.30 – 15.00)
Sweat the Alphabet and Dance the Digits with Bokwa.
Birmingham Stage Company: Terrible Tudors
Central Library – Centre For The Child (14.30 – 15.30)
A Horrible Histories workshop from the world of the Terrible Tudors! (6+)
The REP
Birmingham Conservatoire – Arena Foyer (15.00 – 15.30)
Enchanting stories from the REP’s forthcoming Christmas production of The Wind in the Willows.
Highly Sprung Performance Co: Commotion
Birmingham Conservatoire – Recital Hall (15.00 – 15.30)
An interactive science based performance for Under 11s.
Aspire
The ‘Be Active’ Zone (15.30 – 16.00)
A short course designed to test your balance and fitness.
Sing Live UK Ltd
The Council House – Room 1 (15.30 – 16.30)
Find your voice in Sing Live’s Choir! All ages and abilities welcome.
Glorishears of Brummagem
The ‘Be Active’ Zone (16.30 – 17.00)
Fun and fitness through learning a Cotswold Morris dance.
Operamus
Birmingham Conservatoire – Recital Hall (17.00 – 17.30)
Providing Opera for all and opportunities to get involved!
Brahma Kumaris
The Council House – Room 1 (17.00 – 18.00)
Art of Peace: assembling your vision of a peaceful world.
Aston Sport Club
The ‘Be Active’ Zone (17.30 – 18.00)
An interactive multi spots session with games based around football, handball and cricket.
Sunday 9th September 2012
The Rootless Forest
Brindleyplace (11.00 – 13.00)
Visit the Rootless Forest and walk with it from Brindleyplace to Edible Eastside. This is a mobile artwork, a mini-forest made of real tress and soil, planted on a barge that travels at walking pace along the Birmingham and Black Country Canals. It is a landscape and soundscape piece.
The Mobile Arts Vehicle
Chamberlain Square (11.00 – 18.00)
Birmingham City Council Culture Commissioning Service and Birmingham’s Local Art Forums help you to explore the culture on your doorstep!
Free Radio
Chamberlain Square (11.00 – 18.00)
Come and meet Free Radio’s very own HumFree the hamster for fun, games and much more.
The pARTicipate Village
Chamberlain Square / Victoria Square / Upper New Street (11.00 – 18.00)
Heart of England Galleries – Discover more about the galleries and have your photo taken in The Public’s Photo Studio.
Library of Birmingham – Book a tour of the new Library of Birmingham, take a ‘virtual’ tour and play online games.
Matt & Pete’s Photo School – Experience ArtsFest and Birmingham through new eyes with this inspirational photo walk.
Midlands Potters Association – Being creative in clay.
Sara’s Parlour – Create your own face paint design with Sara.
Writing West Midlands – Supporting creative writing and writers in the region.
Ping! Birmingham
Centenary Square (11.00 – 18.00)
Fancy a game of Ping!? Then head over to one of the tables in Centenary Square.
The Outdoor Learning Service Climbing Wall
Centenary Square (11.00 – 18.00)
Are you brave enough to scale the wall in this adventurous challenge?
Writing West Midlands Book Fair
The Council House – Rooms 3 and 4 (11.00 – 18.00)
Birmingham Independent Bookfair – browse, buy and discover new books, many of which are not available on the high street. This day-long event will feature independent publishers from the West Midlands and beyond, offering you the chance to buy books directly from the publishers, who will be on hand to answer questions and introduce you to new writing. From poetry pamphlets to prose fiction, graphic novels to science fiction and fantasy, a wide range of forms and genres will be represented. This is a project of The West Midlands Independent Publisher Network which is convened by Writing West Midlands.
The Blue Orange Theatre
The Council House – Room 1 (11.00 – 12.00)
Drama taster workshop for 8 – 16 years.
Saheli
The ‘Be Active’ Zone (11.30 – 12.00)
Cycling workshop delivered by qualified instructors to increase your cycling confidence skills.
Elizabeth Stafford
Birmingham Conservatoire – Recital Hall (12.00 – 13.00)
‘Instant Choir’ – workshop for singers of all ages and abilities.
Born2Sing
The CBSO Centre (12.30 – 13.00)
Offering professional singing lessons to all ages and styles.
ABS Latin Promotions
The ‘Be Active’ Zone (12.30 – 13.00)
The pioneers of Latin salsa!
Creative Workshops
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (13.00 – 16.00)
Join an artist led session in the Learning Zone. Whatever you make, you can take away!
Stage2 Youth Theatre
Birmingham Conservatoire – Recital Hall (13.30 – 14.30)
Learn drama skills with some of Stage2’s current members.
Hurricanes Basketball Club
The ‘Be Active’ Zone (13.30 – 14.00)
A chance to brush up on your dribbling, shooting and many more basketball tricks.
Ikon Gallery Workshops
Oozells Square (14.00 – 16.00)
A range of family friendly drop-in workshops where you can join Ikon Gallery to make and sail your own paper boats. Children should be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Touching Sounds
The Council House – Room 1 (14.00 – 15.00)
Khoros Workshops – An interactive musical instrument for everyone!
DanceXchange
The ‘Be Active’ Zone (14.30 – 15.00)
DanceXchange (dx) is a dance house dedicated to creating exciting opportunities for people of all walks of life to experience dance as participants, performers and audience members.
Cordao De Ouro Birmingham
Birmingham Conservatoire – Recital Hall (15.00 – 16.00)
Introduction to Capoeira. Try your hand at Brazilian martial arts and music.
Sport for Life
The ‘Be Active’ Zone (15.30 – 16.00)
A cricket workshop offering the opportunity to play the team sport and practice your techniques.
Stage2 Youth Theatre
The Council House – Room 1 (15.30 – 16.30)
Learn drama skills with some of Stage2’s current members.
Love Fitness
The ‘Be Active’ Zone (16.30 – 17.00)
Try out the new craze for Kangoo Jumps in the ‘Love at First Bounce’ workshop.
Pigeon Park Press
The Council House – Room 1 (17.00 – 18.00)
Kick start the creative writing process with these fun writing games.
WEA
The ‘Be Active’ Zone (17.30 – 18.00)
Zumba workshop offering a danced based aerobic taster session to music.
