From Sunday 16 July, Tate Liverpool will be launching a new range of free activities and resources for families with young children. Tate Liverpool is accessible to families, offering excellent facilities, captivating exhibitions and a new series of interactive art activities. By offering a fun alternative to more traditional attractions, families can encourage young hearts and minds to experience modern and contemporary art as they enjoy an interactive, stress-free, family day out. Free special events, regular and anytime activities are all on offer at Tate Liverpool this summer – visitors can drop in and try out an activity, enjoy the exhibitions at their own pace, plan a future visit or simply take advantage of the family friendly facilities.
Child’s Play
From Sunday 16 July Tate Liverpool will be launching Making Sense of IMA, a new hands-on activity created by artists from North West Disability Arts Forum. Taking its inspiration from the DLA Piper Series: International Modern Art Display on the first floor, Making Sense of IMA presents activities that imaginatively draw on the five senses: sight, smell, touch, sound and taste. Suitable for children aged 0-12 years, accompanied by an adult, Making Sense of IMA is available every Sunday (except the last Sunday of the month) from 1.30 – 4.30pm. These activities are fully accessible for children with special educational needs or physical impairments. The Making Sense of IMA activity space can be located in the Education Studio, just off the DLA Piper Series: International Modern Art display on the first floor.
In time for the summer holidays Tate Liverpool will be throwing open the doors to the new Tate08 Activity Space. Inspired by the acclaimed stripe paintings of Kenneth Noland, freelance artist Katie McCall will be working with the Gallery’s Assistants from 25 July – 26 August to help children create eye-catching art. Drop in and experiment with colour and new techniques to recreate the effects of Kenneth Noland’s stripe paintings with colour discs, mobiles and slide shows. The Tate08 Activity Space is situated in a room just off the Tate08 Series: Kenneth Noland– The Stripe Paintings exhibition.
These new events complement other established family activities currently available at Tate Liverpool. Pick up and Play in IMA goes from strength to strength – these free specially-designed art trails are available for families at any time and help young children learn more about specific works in the DLA Piper Series: International Modern Art display. Pick up and Play in IMA trails can be found in the Information Room on the first floor.
On the last Sunday of every month Tate Liverpool encourages families with children aged 5-12 (accompanied by an adult) to take a closer look at other exhibitions and artists in the Gallery through Great Art Adventure. With a different theme, exhibition or artist each month, Great Art Adventure gives families the opportunity to try their hand at art making activities and art trails from 1.30 – 4.30pm. On 30 July Great Art Adventure explores the work of Henry Moore, on 27 August Kenneth Noland’s stripe paintings come under closer scrutiny and on 24 September families can create their own pop art designs based on Patrick Caulfield’s attention-grabbing paintings.
Bags of Fun
From Sunday 16 July new Tate Family bags will be available for families to pick up from the Gallery. The bags are free and include details of all Tate Liverpool activities, and a leaflet to help families make the most of their visit. The leaflet answers the frequently-asked-questions that concern visiting families, such as where to go for toilets and baby changing facilities, where to eat and where to safely deposit bags and buggies. Children will also get the opportunity to personalise their Tate Families bag – each bag contains a ‘picture frame’ postcard which can be designed to reflect the inspirational art seen on a trip to Tate Liverpool!
Tate Liverpool is a family friendly Gallery, and offers baby changing facilities, a free cloakroom, a drinking water fountain, level access on all floors, child-friendly merchandise in Tate Shop and a child-friendly menu in Tate Café (where high chairs are available on request).
For information on Tate Liverpool activities, events and facilities please call 0151 702 7400 or visit www.tate.org.uk/liverpool.