ARTS
National Concert Hall
Musician/sculptor and improviser Max Eastley is back this year to inspire children to create their own instruments from string, yoghurt cartons, toilet rolls and much more. Workshops for eight to 10-year-olds and 11 to 13-year-olds on July 10th and 11th at 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. respectively. Tickets £4 per workshop. Meanwhile, eight to 12-year-olds can join in a musical puppet-making workshop on Friday, July 14th, 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. or 1.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Ten to 14-year-olds can set themselves the challenging task of creating story boards and sound for the classic Red Riding Hood tale on July 15th from 10 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Tickets £4. Tel: 014780686.
National Gallery of Ireland
The ever-popular children's summer club in July is divided into three age groups: The Little Masters Drawing workshop for three to seven-year-olds; the Kids Art Attack for eight to 12-year-olds and the Teenagers Portfolio and Drawing Course for teenagers. The younger children's workshop costs £3 per one-hour class held Mondays to Fridays from July 10th-28th at 11 a.m. each day. The older children's programme are week-long courses held from July 10th-July 28th from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. each day costing £30 per week. The teenagers' portfolio courses run from July 10th-21st from 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. daily, cost £60. Tel: 016615133.
The Ark, Temple Bar, Dublin
Choose between a creative musical experience for seven to 10-year-olds (once-off sessions from July 10th-13th, tickets £4); an exploration of an arts treasure island for four to six-year-olds (once-off sessions from July 11th-13th, tickets £4); a mosaic-making workshop with ceramic artist, Orla Kaminska (five two-hour sessions for eight to 10-year-olds and 10 to 13-year-olds from July 17th-28th. Cost £25); dance workshops for four to six-year-olds, seven to 10-year-olds and 10 to 13-year-olds (once-off sessions from July 17th-28th, August 21st-25th, tickets £4/£5) and a drumming workshop for eight to 10-year-olds and 10 to 13-year-olds (once-off one-and-a-half-hour sessions, July 31st August 3rd, tickets £5). Tel: 016707788
National Museum at Collins Barracks
The Hands On History summer school has three different four-day workshops for eight to 12-year-olds. Explore the ceramic collection and make your own clay work from July 11th-14th; look at the costume collection, make your own puppet and see it perform from July 18th-21st and make a kite inspired by the collection and learn to fly it from July 25th-28th. Admission is free and all materials are provided. Booking essential. Tel: 016777444. Also don't miss the free Sunday activities at 3 p.m. at the National Museum, Kildare St, the Natural History Museum, Merrion Street and the National Museum, Collins Barracks. Themes explored include mythical beasts, Viking life and the harp through history.
Irish Museum of Modern Art
The Irish Museum of Modern Art runs an informal programme every Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., during which facilitators are available to interact with adults and children in an exploration of the artworks on show. No booking required. Admission free. Tel: 01-6129000.
Pine Forest Arts and Crafts courses
The scenery itself is inspiring at these art and craft courses for five to 12-year-olds and 13 to 16-year-olds respectively. The forthcoming two-week courses begin on July 3rd, 17th, 31st and August 14th. Cost: £120/£140. Tel: 01-2941220.
Waltons School of Music
Five to seven-year-olds can enjoy a one-week introduction to music and music-making from July 3rd-7th (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day). Cost: £60. Advanced booking on Tel: 01-4781884
Brendan Scully School of Dance
Back by popular demand again this year is Summer School 2k. Includes classes in drama, singing, hip-hop, Irish dancing, Latin American dancing for seven to 11-year-olds and 12 to 17-year-olds in Sackville Place, Dublin 1. Tel: 01-8780095.
DRAMA AND STORIES
Gaiety School of Acting
With a programme entitled Confidence and Creativity, these summer courses held in Temple Bar and Blackrock are the starting point for tomorrow's actors and directors. Two-week, morning drama courses available for eight to 15-year-olds from July 3rd, 17th and 31st. Cost £125. Make a play courses for 11 to 13-year-olds run from August 14th-18th. Cost £140. Make a movie courses for 11 to 13-year-olds or 14 and 15-year-olds run from August 21st-25th and August 14th to 18th respectively. Cost £150. Youth Theatre courses also available for 16 to 19-year-olds. Tel: 01-6799277.
Betty Ann Norton Theatre School
One of the most popular and longest-running drama schools in Dublin, this school runs courses in Clonbrock House, 11 Harcourt St, Dublin 2 and St Louis High School, Rathmines. Weekly courses for six to 13-year-olds and 14 to 17-year-olds begin on June 26th, July 3rd, July 24th and August 8th. Tel: 01-4751913.
The Ark, Temple Bar, Dublin
Innovative once-off sessions in which six to eight-year-olds and eight to 10-year-olds make small figures for a developing story (once-off sessions from July 2428, tickets £4). Also, workshop for four to six-year-olds and six to eight-year-olds in which children create the end of the story (once-off sessions from July 31st to August 3rd, tickets £5).
Act One
One-week drama courses for six to eight-year-olds and two-week courses for nine to 13-year-olds, from July 3rd in Terenure, Dublin. Tel: 01-4961018.
Dublin Central Library
A highly varied programme of summertime treats which include storytelling, board games, an introduction to photography and book-making. Variable times on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout July. Tel: 01-8734333
