Free school holiday art activities coming to regional Vic as part of NGV Kids On Tour

NGV Kids On Tour – a free program of art activities for kids, inspired by the Yayoi Kusama and Cats and Dogs exhibits – is coming to 150 venues across the state. See if your town is on the list.

The NGV is going bush.

Melbourne’s world-renowned art gallery is hitting the road for NGV Kids On Tour, with free school holiday art activities across Victoria, inspired by summer blockbuster exhibitions Cats and Dogs and Yayoi Kusama.

The program will visit 150 venues statewide, including galleries, libraries, hospitals, migrant resource centres, and community hubs, throughout January.

Country kids Oliver, 5, and Harvey, 7, got a jump start on making dog ear bandannas, with four-legged muse Paddy, at their farm in Cressy, in western Victoria.

Country kids Oliver, 5, and Harvey, 7, with Paddy the kelpie at Cressy. Picture: David Caird

Yayoi Kusama is renowned for her pumpkin art – including the Dancing Pumpkin sculpture now at the NGV, standing at 5m-tall and weighing more than nine tonnes. Picture: Josie Hayden

Program activities will include making cat and dog headbands, illustrating Kusama-inspired pumpkins and creating fashion designs for paper dolls.

NGV director Tony Ellwood: “This initiative was born from our desire to share arts and culture with all Victorians, irrespective of their proximity to the NGV.”

Creative Industries Minister Colin Brooks added: “The NGV is Australia’s most popular gallery, and its impact extends well beyond Melbourne.”

The Yayoi Kusama exhibition – featuring more than 200 artworks by the beloved Japanese artist, including 10 immersive mirror infinity rooms – is at NGV International until April 21, 2025.

Find out whether the NGV Kids on Tour program is coming to your town via this link.