Parents across Australia looking for affordable and engaging ways to entertain their children these summer holidays are in luck. A huge array of free workshops, performances, exhibitions, and drop-in sessions are available nationwide, offering creative and educational fun without the cost.
Nationwide Reading and Creative Adventures
One standout initiative running Australia-wide is the Big Summer Read. This free mega reading challenge is open to anyone under 18. Young bookworms simply need to log five books or five days of reading to be entered into a prize draw, with rewards varying by state and territory. The challenge continues until 31 January, with extra online activities for bonus badges.
From Adelaide to Sydney, galleries and museums have thrown open their doors with specially designed programs. In Brisbane, the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) invites families to explore a giant, snake-like sculpture made from garden hoses by artists Tony Albert and Nell. Meanwhile, the Express Yourself participatory artwork by Vipoo Srivilasa encourages children to explore their emotions through dance and drawing.
Highlights from Capital Cities and Regions
The cultural offerings are diverse and spread across the country. In Melbourne, the National Gallery of Victoria's free Let's Party! Fashion for Kids exhibition, open until 3 May, is a major draw. Children can strike a pose on a disco dancefloor and try on costumes in dress-up zones. For those near Perth, the Art Gallery of Western Australia hosts Re-PLAY, a tactile exhibition by Maxxi Minaxi May made from repurposed objects, encouraging screen-free family play until 22 February.
Sydney boasts numerous options, including the Plushie pals drop-in workshop at the Art Gallery of New South Wales from 5 to 26 January, and the wildly imaginative TOO~B free play space at the Sydney Opera House for under-12s (bookings essential). In Canberra, under-18s get free entry to the vibrant Super Kaylene Whiskey exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, with a creative space to add their own drawings to a collaborative scene.
Hands-On Workshops and Outdoor Fun
For hands-on making, the Museum of Brisbane offers free Dazzle Discs workshops to create shimmering sun catchers, while in Adelaide, kids can design their own comic book characters at the Art Gallery of South Australia in a session led by Banyjima artist Layne Dhu-Dickie.
Outdoor and large-scale installations provide memorable experiences. At Arts Centre Melbourne from 17 January, children can help operate a gigantic 10-metre-long puppet whale in The Whale installation. In Darwin, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory runs a Lego® Minifigures scavenger hunt through its exhibits until 25 January.
With most activities operating on a drop-in basis and requiring no bookings, these free programs represent a stress-free solution for busy families seeking cultural stimulation and playful adventure throughout the summer break.
