Skip to main content
Menu

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 March 2023 – Monday 24 March 2025

The family
The family
The family
The family

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
The family
The family
The family
The family

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
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil

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
Portrait play
Portrait play
Portrait play

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

Portrait Play

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

Explore portraits through drawing and creative activity in the galleries.

Bookings required
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke

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
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke

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
The family
The family
The family
The family

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
The family
The family
The family
The family

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
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil

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’.

The family
The family
The family
The family

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
The family
The family
The family
The family

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
Mitzy, Iska & Nyssa
Mitzy, Iska & Nyssa
Mitzy, Iska & Nyssa
Mitzy, Iska & Nyssa

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.

A boy drawing on paper with a pencil
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil
A boy drawing on paper with a pencil

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.

Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily

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
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily

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
Portrait play
Portrait play
Portrait play

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
Tangki Tjuta Donkeys
Tangki Tjuta Donkeys
Tangki Tjuta Donkeys
Tangki Tjuta Donkeys

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
Tangki Tjuta Donkeys
Tangki Tjuta Donkeys
Tangki Tjuta Donkeys
Tangki Tjuta Donkeys

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
Larissa Kovalchuk
Larissa Kovalchuk
Larissa Kovalchuk
Larissa Kovalchuk

Drawn in

Larissa Kovalchuk

1:00pm, Sun 9 Jul

Draw while listening to Larissa Kovalchuk as they play an assortment of vocal and instrumental music from different eras.

Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily

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
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily

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
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily
Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Lily

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
No-Knit Neurons
No-Knit Neurons
No-Knit Neurons
No-Knit Neurons

No-Knit Neurons Installation

10:00am, Mon 7 Aug until Thu 31 Aug

Whether you’re a whiz with yarn or just discovering the joy of craft, drop in the Gallery and take part in a community art project to crochet, wrap, knit or knot your way to a healthier brain.

No-Knit Neurons
No-Knit Neurons
No-Knit Neurons
No-Knit Neurons

No-Knit Neurons Workshop

10:30am, 1:30pm, Sun 13 Aug

Fire up those neurons this winter and make no-knit neurons with Neural Knitworks artist Pat Pillai and textile artist Rita Pearce.

More events

Tuesday 25 March 2025 – Friday 26 March 2027
© National Portrait Gallery 2023
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

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 past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency