The Holburne in Bath is taking part in ‘Kids Aloud’, a popular initiative from Art Fund, the national charity for museums and galleries, by inviting children to be their expressive, energetic selves during special shush-free hours this summer.
Kids are always welcome at the Holburne!
Free Space to Make – Pop into our family-friendly creative space on the ground floor to enjoy colourful self-led creative activities with beautiful materials to inspire children.
Family drop-in workshop: Dinosaur Party (a ‘Kids Aloud’ dedicated time slot)
Wed 13 August, 10.30 -12.30
A family of dinosaurs have arrived at the museum in Nicolas Party’s exhibition! Create your own dinosaur character through playful art making and roar as often as you like! Free for children aged 3+
Partner Schools Summer Exhibition
I Spy with my Little Eye features artwork from local young artists from Threeways School, Widcombe Junior School, Paulton Junior School and St Michael’s Junior Church School. Pop into our CLORE learning room to enjoy and be inspired! Open on weekends:
26-27 July
2-3 August
Alongside the Holburne, more than 20 museums and galleries across the UK are taking part by offering dedicated ‘Kids Aloud’ time slots and special events for families during the summer holidays.
Back by popular demand, the ‘Kids Aloud’ initiative responds to research from Art Fund revealing that over half (52%) of parents with young children (aged 11 or under) worry about feeling too uncomfortable or embarrassed to take young children into museums and galleries – limiting opportunities for children to engage with art and culture.
During ‘Kids Aloud’ hours, children will be encouraged to be as loud and enthusiastic as they like in ‘shush-free zones’ – catering to the 58% of UK parents who say that they would be more likely to visit museums or galleries more often if they had designated hours for kids to be themselves.
The initiative is aimed at making parents of children of all ages feel more comfortable visiting galleries and combatting misconceptions that children being noisy and expressing themselves is looked down upon. Families can use a National Art Pass for free entry to over 900 museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK, as well as 50% off major exhibitions and discounts in museum shops and cafes.
Nine in ten (92%) parents believe that visiting a museum or gallery is beneficial for their children, however nearly half (45%) of those surveyed agree that there is a perception that some museums and galleries aren’t welcoming to children, and 68% have previously felt judged when bringing their children to galleries and museums.
Amongst all parents in the survey, 52% worry that their children would run around and potentially damage something, with 47% being concerned that their children would be too loud or excitable, and 44% worrying about their kids getting upset and disrupting people.
Art Fund Director, Jenny Waldman, said, “There are hundreds of family-friendly museums and galleries on our doorsteps across the UK, offering a fantastic experience for all the family. We hope that our Kids Aloud initiative will encourage parents to bring their little ones and let them run free in an environment where noisiness and expression will be actively encouraged! A National Art Pass gives free or discounted entry to all these museums so you can visit as many times as you like.”
The Kids Aloud initiative runs throughout the school summer holidays from this week onwards.
More information about participating venues, timings and activities on offer can be found at artfund.org/national-art-pass/kids-aloud
