Member Article

Easter with the Sunderland Family Arts Network

With the Easter holidays fast approaching, a number of Sunderland’s Arts Organisations are preparing to join forces. As part of the Sunderland Family Arts Network, they will offer families the opportunity to participate in the range of exciting, family friendly Easter arts activities that will be taking place across the city.

The Easter programme will not only act as an initiative to increase the involvement of families in arts activities across Sunderland, but it will also highlight how the network is continuing to work with some of the city’s finest arts organisations – offering families the chance to experience art in their hometown.

With the Easter holidays just around the corner, members of the network have announced their programme of exciting activities. Highlights include, Creative Cohesion’s infamous ‘Blow an Easter Egg’ on April 12 and ARTventurers’ Cupcake/Craft School, which will take place at Tesco, Roker on Monday April 14.

The Sunderland Family Arts Network’s co-ordinator, Kathryn Tye of Creative Cohesion, said: “Exposing families to art is at the forefront of what we do. It’s always great to see so many families from across the city coming together to embrace the arts and spend quality time together whilst supporting Sunderland’s creative organisations.

“So many people think that there’s nothing going on in Sunderland when it comes to allowing children and families the opportunity to get involved in the arts – we’re working hard to change this perception.”

Suitable for children aged 10 and above, Creative Cohesion’s ‘Blow an Easter Egg’ workshops are always a popular activity over the Easter holidays. Families will be able to work alongside resident glassmaker, Roger Tye, to blow their very own Easter egg. Running on April 12 from 10am – 4pm, places must be booked in advance at a cost of £10 per person.

ARTVenturers will also be offering lots of activities to keep families entertained throughout the Easter break. Having teamed up with cupcake experts, Mini Mixers, they will be running a Cupcake/Craft School at Tesco, Roker, on April 14 – giving families the chance to decorate some Easter cupcakes as well as create some Easter crafts.

Run over two separate sessions, the scheme caters for children of all ages. The 10am-11am session, ‘Cupcakes and Crowns’ is for the under 6s and priced at £7 per child. The session includes story time, a cupcake decorating class, the chance to make some Easter crowns and many other activities. From 11.30am-1pm, the over 6s can enjoy a cupcake decorating masterclass. All places must be pre booked and are priced at £10 per child.

Fiona Simpson, of ARTVenturers said: “Offering families access to lots of creative fun is something that is very important to us. With Easter just on the horizon, we’re so excited to be able to give families the chance to experience some creative, edible activities at our cupcake session at Tesco, as well as lots more fun activities.

“We will be offering everything from our themed holiday arty sessions which include painting, decorating eggs, making Easter baskets, modelling, singing and dancing, to our Easter egg decorating workshops. Easter fancy dress and bunny ears are always welcome at our events!”

The team at ARTVenturers will also be giving families the chance to participate in some Easter arty sessions at Ashbrook on April 15 and at Whitburn on Thursday 17, where there will also be a baby session for 6 months plus.

Throughout the year, the Sunderland Family Arts Network has worked hard to expose families to arts activities during the school holidays, giving them the chance to visit the wealth of arts organisations working in and around the city.

Established in 2013, the Sunderland Family Arts Network has already built strong links amongst many of the city’s creative businesses. The Network was formed as part of the Arts Council supported Family Arts Campaign.

With another fun-packed calendar of Easter arts activities about to commence, the Network looks set to continue their work towards broadening public awareness and participation in the exciting range of arts activities Sunderland has to offer.

For more information about the Sunderland Family Arts Network and the wealth of Easter activities on offer, please visit:

The Sunderland Family Arts Network Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/FANSunderland

Twitter - @FANSunderland

http://artventurers.co.uk/our-classes/holiday-sessions/holiday-classes-in-tyne-and-wear-and-south-tyneside/

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Marie Donnelly .