SYDNEY.- The Art Gallery of New South Wales, in partnership with Blacktown Arts, announces the return of Hive Festival, a free, fun-filled festival inviting children and families to explore art and play during the summer school holidays. As part of Sydney Festival 2025, the second iteration of Hive Festival will be presented over four days at the Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre on 16 and 17 January 2025 and then the Art Gallery of New South Wales on 18 and 19 January 2025.

Presented across both Art Gallery of New South Wales buildings, visitors can take part in a variety of art-making experiences, be immersed in the magic of storytelling and experience unique and exciting performances, inspiring young and old to share in play, new ideas and creative exchange.

At the heart of Hive Festival 2025 is a joyful project by Sydney-based artists and 2022 Sulman Prize winners Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro. Flights of fancy invites festival attendees to join in on the magic of kites, flight and daydreaming. Flights of fancy participants will make and decorate panels to be contributed to a giant tetrahedral kite, based on designs by the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell.

Art Gallery of New South Wales senior curator of exhibitions Jackie Dunn said that Healy and Cordeiro’s vibrant work is an ideal avenue for engaging children with the inspirational power of visual arts.

‘In Flights of fancy, Claire and Sean invite children and their families to think about the way our world works while experiencing the joy of creativity. The kite is an “object of marvel”, one that inspires daydreams and encourage people to let their imaginations take flight. Claire and Sean have a speculative and experimental practice underpinned by insightful social critique, but it’s a practice that is always spirited and playful,’ said Dunn.

Visitors to Hive Festival can also make kites inspired by the Japanese tradition of koinobori, streamer-style kites that are flown on Children’s Day to honour children and wish them luck for the future, adorned with designs inspired by the birds that live throughout Sydney.

Hive Festival 2025 also includes a variety of workshops, performances and programs:

• Experience the joy of composing and performing original flight-inspired songs in a beginner's ukulele workshop with Toy Choir

• Young children and their parents or carers can explore the idea of ‘dancing in the sky’ in a free movement workshop led by choreographer Cloé Fournier in which participants will delight in zooming through the air

• Join the Art Gallery’s volunteer guides for a roving art-making tour of some of the museum’s most intriguing artworks that feature things that fly

• Enjoy a special children’s film program exploring themes of kites, expansive skies and daydreaming in the Art Gallery cinema

• Children under five can take flight in a bespoke soft play space in Naala Nura’s function room

• Immerse your imagination in children’s storytelling sessions in the Art Gallery’s children’s art library

Hive Festival will also present accessible activities for visitors with different abilities, including a Dancing in the sky Autism-friendly movement workshop led by choreographer Sarah-Vyne Vassallo, and a Sensory-friendly Hive session with early festival entry and reduced sensory stimuli.

The children’s activity space Kwatja Kngarritja Tnyirlalhama: Big Rain Falling, created by Grace Kemarre Robinya with artists from Yarrenyty Arltere Town Camp, will also be open daily in Naala Nura from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free for children and families.

Admission for children under 12 to the Art Gallery’s major summer exhibitions, Magritte and Cao Fei: My City is Yours 曹 斐: 欢迎登陆, is free when accompanied by an adult ticketholder. Family discounts and free children’s trails are available for both exhibitions.

Co-presented by the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Blacktown Arts and supported by The Bayard Foundation, Hive Festival is part of the Sydney Festival 2025.

Hive Festival takes place at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 January 2025, and The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 January 2025. Entry and all activities are free. Some bookings are required.