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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Family activities

Friday 24 June 2022 – Monday 24 June 2024

Family activities

Friday 24 June 2022 – Monday 24 June 2024

Exhibitions [

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Talks and lectures [

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Gallery tours [

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Workshops and drawing [

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Little Faces

Winter 2022

10:30am, Wed 22 Jun until Fri 24 Jun

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Family space

Play Plot

10:00am, Sat 2 Jul until Sun 17 Jul

This school holidays, remember to hop (like Peter Rabbit) into our play plot! Inspired by Beatrix Potter’s portrait in our special exhibition, Shakespeare to Winehouse.

Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country written by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing

Story time

Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country

10:30am, Mon 4 Jul

Live online

Can’t come to us? Join us online and celebrate NAIDOC week with a reading of Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country written by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing.

Bookings required

Portrait play

10:30am, Mon 4 Jul until Fri 8 Jul

Are you aged between 4 and 8 years old? Why not join us in the galleries to explore portraits through drawing and creative activity?

Bookings required

Story time

Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country

10:30am, 1:30pm, Wed 6 Jul

Come and celebrate NAIDOC week with a reading of Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country written by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing, followed by some colourful and playful activities.

Bookings required

Portrait play

10:30am, Mon 11 Jul until Fri 15 Jul

Are you aged between 4 and 8 years old? Why not join us in the galleries to explore portraits through drawing and creative activity?

Bookings required

Little Faces

Winter 2022

10:30am, Wed 27 Jul until Fri 29 Jul

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Little Faces

Winter 2022

10:30am, Wed 24 Aug until Fri 26 Aug

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Drawn in

Lynden Bassett

1:00pm, Sun 18 Sep

Draw while listening to a gentle sound work based on mandolin and electronics with sound artist Lynden Bassett.

Art cart

10:00am, Sat 24 Sep until Sun 9 Oct

Our popular art cart is back for the school holidays! This is where you can get all creative during your visit if the mood takes you, responding to our latest exhibition the National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Portrait play onsite

10:30am, Mon 26 Sep until Fri 30 Sep

Explore portraits through drawing and creative activity in the galleries.

Bookings required

Little Faces

Spring 2022

10:30am, Wed 28 Sep

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Little Faces

Spring 2022

10:30am, Thu 29 Sep

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Little Faces

Spring 2022

10:30am, Fri 30 Sep

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Portrait play onsite

10:30am, Tue 4 Oct until Fri 7 Oct

Explore portraits through drawing and creative activity in the galleries.

Bookings required

Story time

Big Fella Rain

10:30am, Wed 5 Oct

Big Fella Rain is a celebration of the transition from dry season to wet season in a country that is like no other place in the world.

Bookings required

Story time online

Big Fella Rain

10:30am, Thu 6 Oct

Live online

Big Fella Rain is a celebration of the transition from dry season to wet season in a country that is like no other place in the world.

Bookings required

Little Faces

Spring 2022

10:30am, Wed 26 Oct

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Little Faces

Spring 2022

10:30am, Thu 27 Oct

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Little Faces

Spring 2022

9:30am, 10:30am, Fri 28 Oct

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Drawn In

Mr Tim

1:00pm, Sun 30 Oct

Join us in the Gallery and draw while listening to Mr Tim journey around the world through rock music!

Drawn in

Smith & Jones

1:00pm, Sun 13 Nov

Draw while listening to Smith & Jones, made up of keyboard player and vocalist Abby Smith, and guitarist and vocalist Sophie Jones.

Little Faces

10:30am, Wed 23 Nov

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Little Faces

10:30am, Thu 24 Nov

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Little Faces

9:30am, 10:30am, Fri 25 Nov

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Children doing activities at a table in the gallery

Family space

Who am I?

10:00am, Sat 17 Dec until Mon 30 Jan

We have free creative activities for families to enjoy together inspired by WHO ARE YOU: Australian Portraiture.

Drawn in

Bella Groove

1:00pm, Wed 28 Dec

Draw while listening to Bella Groove as they play an assortment of originals alongside familiar jazz and blues tunes.

Drawn in

Salar Ayoubi

1:00pm, Mon 2 Jan

Draw while listening to live music performed by Salar Ayoubi. Salar is an Iranian oud player, playing Persian and Kurdish songs.

Portrait Play

My favourite things

10:30am, Tue 3 Jan until Fri 27 Jan

Join us in the Gallery this school holidays and explore portraits of people with the things they love.

Bookings required

Story time

Do you want to meet your Grandma?

10:30am, 1:00pm, Mon 16 Jan

Listen to a lively reading of Do you want to meet your grandma? by author SV Middleby, followed by some creative craft activities.

Bookings required

Story time

Do you want to meet your Grandma?

10:30am, Tue 17 Jan

Live online

Listen online to a lively reading of Do you want to meet your grandma? by author SV Middleby, then create your own visual response with materials found around the house.

Bookings required

Little Faces

10:30am, Thu 19 Jan until Fri 20 Jan

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Art Cart – WorldPride

Heart. Pride. Identity.

10:00am, Sat 4 Feb until Sun 5 Mar

Pop on your colourful kit and join us in the Gallery to celebrate WorldPride. Reflect on your identity and make a colourful flag or fold an origami pocket heart. This is a free activity for families, friends, anyone and everyone!

Drawn in

Pop Up Choir

1:00pm, Sun 19 Feb

Draw while listening to the Pop Up Choir, singing songs that will leave your toes tapping and heart full.

Little Faces

10:30am, Wed 22 Feb until Fri 24 Feb

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Little Faces

9:30am, Fri 24 Feb

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Fantastic Faces Space with Kate Beynon

11:00am, 1:00pm, Sat 11 Mar

Bring your little ones and join artist Kate Beynon as she activates her Fantastic Faces Space! Kate has created 200 cushions with 31 colourful designs that you can arrange with her on the felt walls to create imaginative faces.

Little Faces

10:30am, Wed 29 Mar until Thu 30 Mar

This autumn, join a Learning Facilitator to look at the portrait “The Family” by Charles Blackman to explore colour, patterns and faces through movement, singing and crafty play.

Bookings required

Little Faces

9:30am, 10:30am, Fri 31 Mar

This autumn, join a Learning Facilitator to look at the portrait “The Family” by Charles Blackman to explore colour, patterns and faces through movement, singing and crafty play.

Bookings required

Art Cart

10:00am, Fri 7 Apr until Sun 23 Apr

Our popular art cart is back for the school holidays! Ponder your place in the world and reflect on your own identity by making your own ‘me tree’.

Portrait Play

10:30am, Tue 11 Apr until Fri 14 Apr

Explore portraits through drawing and creative activity in the galleries.

Bookings required

Dulcie Sharpe and Rhonda Sharpe in a room with a brown tile floor, next to a wooden table with soft animal sculptures

Colourful creatures workshop

11:30am, Sun 16 Apr

Join acclaimed Yarrenyty Arltere Artists who live and work in Mparntwe/Alice Springs in a creative walk-up sewing workshop.

Portrait Play

10:30am, Mon 17 Apr until Fri 21 Apr

Explore portraits through drawing and creative activity in the galleries.

Bookings required

Story time - Fashionista

Reading with author, Maxine Beneba Clarke

10:30am, Wed 19 Apr

Join Maxine Beneba Clarke as she reads her book Fashionista, leads us in craft activities and finishes in a flurry with a fashion parade finale!

Bookings required

Story time - Fashionista

Reading with author, Maxine Beneba Clarke

2:00pm, Wed 19 Apr

Live online

Calling all fashionistas, fashion-resisters, fun lovers, fun makers and cool creators! Join Maxine Beneba Clarke as she reads her book Fashionista, leads us in craft activities and finishes in a flurry with a fashion face-off finale!

Bookings required

Little Faces

10:30am, Wed 26 Apr until Thu 27 Apr

This autumn, join a Learning Facilitator to look at the portrait “The Family” by Charles Blackman to explore colour, patterns and faces through movement, singing and crafty play.

Bookings required

Little Faces

9:30am, Fri 28 Apr

This autumn, join a Learning Facilitator to look at the portrait “The Family” by Charles Blackman to explore colour, patterns and faces through movement, singing and crafty play.

Bookings required

Art Cart

10:00am, Wed 3 May until Sun 18 Jun

Ponder your place in the world and reflect on your own identity by making your own ‘me tree’.

Little Faces

10:30am, Wed 24 May until Thu 25 May

This autumn, join a Learning Facilitator to look at the portrait “The Family” by Charles Blackman to explore colour, patterns and faces through movement, singing and crafty play.

Bookings required

Little Faces

9:30am, Fri 26 May

This autumn, join a Learning Facilitator to look at the portrait “The Family” by Charles Blackman to explore colour, patterns and faces through movement, singing and crafty play.

Bookings required

Drawn in

Mitzy, Iska & Nyssa

1:00pm, Sun 11 Jun

Draw while listening to Mitzy, Iska & Nyssa as they play classic pop inspired by the hit TV show Bridgerton.

Art Cart

Patchwork Portraits

10:00am, Tue 20 Jun until Sat 5 Aug

Get warm, cosy and creative with us this winter! Drop-in any time with family and friends for free craft activities.

Little Faces

10:30am, Wed 28 Jun

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Little Faces

10:30am, Thu 29 Jun

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Portrait Play

10:30am, Mon 3 Jul until Fri 14 Jul

Through looking, playing and creating, go on a journey of speculation as we explore a variety of portraits and wonder what their stories could be.

Bookings required

Story Time

Tangki Tjuta Donkeys – Story and sculptures by Tjanpi Desert Weavers

10:30am, Thu 6 Jul

Come one, come all! Book in (see what we did there?) for an immersive story time with us and celebrate NAIDOC week!

Bookings required

Story Time Online

Tangki Tjuta Donkeys – Story and sculptures by Tjanpi Desert Weavers

2:00pm, Fri 7 Jul

Live online

Come one, come all and celebrate NAIDOC week! Book in (see what we did there?) for an Auslan-interpreted story time with us!

Bookings required

Little Faces

10:30am, Wed 26 Jul

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Little Faces

10:30am, Thu 27 Jul

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

Little Faces

9:30am, 10:30am, Fri 28 Jul

Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Bookings required

More events

Tuesday 25 June 2024 – Friday 26 June 2026

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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

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