The popular NGV Kids Summer Festival is back with a packed schedule of entirely FREE events for families from Saturday 11 January to Sunday 19 January 2020 at the National Gallery Victoria on St Kilda Road (NGV International) and Federation Square (NGV Australia).

We are invited to spend a fun morning checking out the NGV Kids Summer Festival 2020. This year the festival's theme takes inspiration from NGV’s summer exhibitions – KAWS and Keith Haring x Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines.

Melbourne creatives Ghostpatrol, Beci Orpin and Underground Sundae are leading making activities in the Great Hall.

We experience ‘Wander, Draw, Explore’ where the kids can let their imagination run wild and draw whatever they want with every colour chalk to create a giant collaborative mural.

Kk draws a Tyrannosaurus Rex named Rex who then becomes an explorer with a device that was a portal and could take him anywhere in the world! Cleo draws a princess while Joey draws a turtle.

Then we move to the next crafty table with a ‘Little Gems’ activity the kids get to cut, paste and decorate their own necklaces.

Joey is partially proud of his creation!

The program also includes performances and workshops by Indigenous Hip Hop Projects, a Kids Disco Party and free family movie screening of Horton Hears a Who!

At NGV Australia, Federation Square, Home-Work is leading a printing workshop especially designed for teens.

Check out the full program at ngv.vic.gov.au and can make a day of it by exploring the rest of what NGV has to offer.

For instance, visit the free children's gallery exhibition KAWS: Playtime and the paid exhibitions for KAWS: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness and Keith Haring x Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines.

The kids think the art inside KAWS: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness is very cool! 

Inside KAWS: Playtime the children get to create their own character as a friend for KAWS’s royal blue character BFF. It is really beautiful to see the kids understand BFF is lonely and needs someone to draw him a friend.

All the kids receive a special set of alphabet stickers created by KAWS. In this activity the kids learn and play by spelling out new words or leaving a message for a friend.

We have a lot of fun at the gorgeous screens where you can make a short video with a KAWS filter and email it to yourself!

During the NGV Kids Summer Festival KAWS: Playtime will be opening early 8:30-9:30am for Relaxed Mornings for visitors with autism, sensory sensitivities or disability to have a quieter Gallery experience, with fewer people and reduced noise. 

If you still need more ideas, you can experience parts of the NGV Collection with the Let's Find It activity sheet, an interactive, guided trail. 

Complete your NGV outing with a picnic lunch to eat in the Great Hall or the Scuplture Garden. Or choose from family-friendly food options at Gallery Kitchen that you can take away or sit down for a proper meal at the NGV Tea Room.

Click here for my reviews of the NGV Kids Summer Festival 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016