Creative Ballarat unveils two children’s public art walks and installations

The City of Ballarat is well known for its considerable public art collection and great free art walk trails, which has now been expanded with a new children’s offering.

Two walks specifically designed for children and their families are now available with families able to either participate in the trail on their own, or with Jessica Wilson, from Child Nation as a special guide at specific times.

Key features of this new offering allow participants to hear secrets and information from the art collection that make it easy for children to understand and encourage imagination to fill in gaps that history may have forgotten.

Creative Ballarat Children’s Public Art walks:

• The Rulers and Risk-Takers Walk, which takes children around the Sturt Street gardens to see historic statues such as Queen Victoria and Albert Coates.
• The Bigger than Us Walk, which takes children around Lydiard Street, Sturt Street and Bridge Mall to see fountains, murals and the Titanic Memorial Bandsta

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here. 

 

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To celebrate the new trail, an exhibition at the Art Space Gallery is hosting three unique installations in January.

Designed specifically for our little people, fostering imaginative play and creativity and to test everyone’s memory.

Free children’s art workshops are also available at the gallery over the holiday period until 2 February:

Renowned young artists Jay and Annelise will help children discover fun techniques to transform their sketches into vibrant murals using techniques like the Grid and Scribble methods.

Lauded storyteller theatre-maker Em Chandler will tell tales from around the world inspired by the Ballarat Art Walk. With rolling, rumbling pumpkins, Mother Earth’s basket, animals, adventures and more – it’s an hour of fun for everyone aged 5 and up.

What’s on: 

• Wednesday, 22 January 2025
  – Public Art Adventures with Jessica from 11:00am – 12:00pm
  – Public Art Adventures with Jessica from 2:00pm – 3:00pm.
• Thursday, 23 January 2025
  – Mural Designs with Jay from 11:00am – 12:00pm.
• Friday, 24 January 2025
  – Mural Designs with Jay from 2:00pm – 3:00pm.
• Saturday, 1 February 2025
  –    Mural Designs with Jay from 11:00am – 12:00pm.
  –    Storytelling with Em from 2:00pm – 3:00pm.
• Sunday, 2 February 2025
  – Mural Designs with Jay from 2:00pm – 3:00pm.

To find out more, head to Creative Ballarat.

The Art Space Gallery, 14 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat Central is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am – 5pm.

words by staff writer