Families can fuel the fun factor with the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia’s annual Children’s Festival this Sunday November 4th from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm.

Presented by Telus, this year’s get creative day for young and old alike, is called ImagineNATION: Blazing the Art Trail and includes an afternoon of art activities inspired by the current AGNS exhibition, Canadian Pioneers: Tom Thomson, Emily Carr, J.W. Morrice and The Group of Seven – Masterworks from the Sobey Collections.

Highlights include:

1. Artist Passport – Design your own artist passport so you can blaze your own trail through all the colourful activities taking place in the gallery throughout the afternoon;

2. Into the Woods – Create your own painting sketch inspired by nature, just like the Group of Seven did nearly one hundred years ago. Artists Leah Hunnakko and Heather Wilkinson will be your gracious guides;

3. Time-Travel Adventure – Learn alongside funky filmmakers Luckas Cardona and Susan Wolf! They will lead the way as you step into giant-sized paintings by Emily Carr and The Group of Seven in a “green-screen movie” , play with props and help you decorate your own miniature time-travelling machine to take home;

4. Enchanted Trees –Build an enchanted tree made from multiple hand prints that will sparkle and sway in the autumn breeze. Artist Margarita Fainshtein’s magic touch will thrill all the wee ones who pop into the Young Learners studio to participate; 

5. Performance in Progress – Play along with awesome artists Brian Riley and Rachel Derrah as they complement the afternoon with surprise music performances, games and creative experiments!

6. Crazy Caricatures – Back by popular demand and always a favourite is artist Brad Perry and his on the spot caricatures.

The AGNS Children’s Festival has become a key event in the regional arts calendar looked forward to by children and their families. Visitors are encouraged to come and join in the fun this Sunday. Admission is free with regular gallery admission and free for AGNS members.
For further information please contact the AGNS Info Desk at 424-5280.


Pre-registration not required. Art Gallery of Nova Scotia members free. Regular admission rates apply for non-members.

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LOOKING BACK ON GREAT MEMORIES!

The Annual Children's Festival 2011 was a huge success with over 400 participants. Art Beat! included performances by All Nations Drummers, young people from Indonesia and Canada involved with the Canada World Youth program, and a Symphony Nova Scotia brass quintet.  Looking forward to seeing you at next year's event!

The Annual Children's Festival 2010 was all about animals – from fur to wings to scales, it was all here. We had some very special live guests—13 different species in fact—at this year's event. Maritime Reptile Adventures joined us all day bringing with them Medusa, a 10-foot Boa Constrictor, and Anika, the only Anaconda in Nova Scotia, among others.
A collaborative team of exciting musical, dance, and improvisational performers kept everyone uniquely entertained offering interactive games, songs, and skits for all ages. Visitors "howled, chirped, and growled" their way through the day.

Annual Children's Festival 2010