Child's Play (Part 1)

Art And Music Workshops

National Concert Hall: July 1st to 3rd/ August 25th and 26th

The National Concert Hall has put together an innovative programme of workshops for children and teenagers. The musician and artist Max Eastley introduces 10 to 12-year-olds to the idea of sound sculpture, using raw materials such as string, yoghurt cartons and camera film holders (July 1st, 10 a.m. and 1.30 p.m., £4 per child). Eight to 11-year-olds can experience a two-way conversation creating musical responses to pictures and vica versa with the artist Michael O'Connor (July 2nd, 3 p.m., £4 per child). And all the family can join in percussion practice with percussionists, Bernard Reilly, Paul Maher and Lloyd Byrne (July 3rd, 11 a.m., £3 per person, £10 per family). Later on in the mini-fest (August 25th & 26th from 10 a.m.), a team of musicians will lead traditional music workshops for various ages. (£10 per child). Tel: 01 4751572.

National Gallery of Ireland: July 7th to28th and 5th to 16th

The ever-popular children's summer club invites four to seven-year-olds and eight to 12-year-olds to create their own masterpieces inspired by the gallery's collection. At 3 p.m. each weekday from July 7th until July 28th, these budding artists are brought to a different rooms of the gallery where various themes (including faces and fashion, exotic painters and their paintings and Ireland: life and landscape) are explored. Participants must bring their own paper and crayons/ sketch pad and coloured pencils. Tickets £3 in advance from the gallery shop. Meanwhile a teenage drawing course led by Clea van der Grijn begins on July 5th (season tickets £50). Tel: 01 6615133.

The Ark, Temple Bar, Dublin:

By far the most interesting, innovative and varied selection of workshops emanate from this children's cultural centre. Take a deep breath and check out the following:

Flight - the science and sculpture of flight is a visual arts programme for nine to 13-year-olds held in conjunction with the sculptures currently on exhibition. July 5th to 9th, 12th to 16th, 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets £5.

The Ark's musician-in-residence, Nico Brown, takes four to six-year-olds and six to eight-year-olds on an hour of discovery with sounds, stories and objects. July 20th to 23rd, 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., 12 noon to 1 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. Tickets £4.

Miriam O'Sullivan leads a choral workshop for eight to 14-year-olds which will culminate in a song recital for parents and friends. July 21st to 23rd, 12.30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets £3.

The Seaside is an exploration of the sights, sounds, textures, smells and tastes for four to six-year-olds and six to eight-year-olds. August 3rd to 6th, 9th to 13th, 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.

Kindermusik teacher, Danuisia Oslizlok, leads four to six-year-olds and six to eight-year-olds in an experience of song, dance and drawing. August 3rd to 6th, 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. Tickets £4 and £7 respectively.

Noah Messomo, musician and storyteller from Cameroon, brings seven to nine-year-olds and nine to 13-year-olds on an interactive journey through singing, storytelling and percussion. August 10th to 12th, 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. Tickets £4.

The award-winning designer Jole Bortoli explores colour, symbols and letters through drawing, painting, designing and photography with eight to 10-year-olds and 10 to 12-year-olds. August 16th to 20th, 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets £25. Contact 01-6707788 for information on all Ark workshops.

Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art: July/August

The Hugh Lane Art Club runs from 10.30 a.m. to 12 noon, Tuesday to Fridays from July 6th to 30th. Classes which include drawing, collage and other art activities are held for six to nine-year-olds and 10 to 14-year-olds on alternate weeks. Cost: £10 per child (and under-nines must be accompanied by an adult). Also, Molly's Art Cart, a Wednesday afternoon workshop with Molly Sullivan, will introduce children to well-known works in the gallery's collection. Cost: £2 per child. Advance booking. Tel: 018722181.

National Museum at Collins Barracks: June 27th to July 18th

Design your own plate, wall height chart or jewellery; just a sample of the activities from Muse '99 summer school at the National Museum at Collins Barracks, workshops for six to 12-year-olds, family groups and over-12s on Sundays, Wednesdays and Saturdays until July 18th. Admission free. No booking necessary. Tel: 01- 6777444.

Irish Museum of Modern Art at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham: July 4th to 16th

Family groups are drawn into the current and permanent exhibitions through "a range of stimuli and themed activities". Sunday July 4th or 11th, 12 noon to 5 p.m.; Tuesday/Wednesday, July 13th & 14th, 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.; Thursday/Friday, July 15 & 16 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Admission free. No booking required. (Tel: 016129900).

Ulster Museum Children's Workshops: July 19th to 24th

Entitled Seeing Out Loud, this workshop invites the over-eights to talk, read, write and draw, taking their inspiration from A Land of Heart's Desire, the Ulster Museum's current exhibition of 300 years of Irish art. (July 19th to 24th, 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Tel: 08-01232 383008).

Pine Forest Arts & Crafts courses: until August 20th

Outdoor sketching and the gathering of natural materials for craft work in and around this art centre set in the Dublin mountains, make this an interesting choice. The junior two-week course (for five to eight-year-olds, cost £110) includes pottery, woodwork, painting and beadwork, while the senior two-week course (for 13 to 16-year-olds, cost £130) is more focused on design, sculpture, drawing, oil and water colour painting. A portfolio preparation course is also available for 16 to 19-year-olds (two-week courses £150, four-week course £270). Tel: 01- 2941220.

South Sligo Summer School: July 11th to 17th

Tubbercurry has been hosting traditional Irish music and dance workshops for 13 years, and classes and workshops an, tin whistle, harp, fiddle, piano accordian, accordion, button accordian, accordion, flute, banjo, guitar and concertina begin on July 12th. Fees, which include classes, lectures and recitals are £20 for under-16s. Tel: 07185010.

Dublin Central Library/ July

Storytelling sessions, art, music and art and craft workshops go ahead in the Dublin Corporation Central Library, Ilac Centre, Henry St, Dublin. Admission free. No booking required. Tel: 01-8734333 for more details. Also, local libraries are an excellent source for of information on summer activities in your area.

Wexford Arts: July and August

Mask-making, nature in art days, dance, drama and pottery are just a sample of the creative days ahead for Wexford-born (or bound) children this summer. Contact the Arts Office, Wexford County Council on Tel: 05342211 ext 285/369 for the full Summer Fun 1999 programme.