Do you have a mini-Picasso in your home who is craving a creative outlet for artistic expression? Here we round-up Noosa’s best children’s art & craft studios and classes.
Writer: Rebecca Walker, The Conscious Wordsmith
Mindful Creative Hearts
Led by experienced art teacher, art therapist and meditation instructor, Julie Tucker, Mindful Creative Hearts is an exceptional art programme that empowers young minds through guided meditation, mindfulness activities and art instruction. Consciously created to cultivate imagination, self-worth and calmness, there are 2 main programmes to choose from – both of which revolve around mindful art activities that help regulate emotion, increase focus and build resilience. Comprised of 5 classes per term, themes include ‘Inner Peace’, ‘Love Over Fear’, ‘Gratitude’, & ‘Energy Balancing’ (among many others!) and are specifically designed to ignite creativity and enhance neuroplasticity though hands-on practices. Custom programmes and bundles are also available and Julie also runs art therapy classes for special needs children.
https://mindfulcreativehearts.com.au/
Red Door Art Studio
Owned and run by Katrina Woodland, an award winning artist & teacher with 30+ years of teaching experience, Red Door Art Studio offers a diverse range of children’s art classes (for kids aged 7 upwards) in the Noosa Hinterland. Encompassing painting, drawing, assemblage, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media collage and ceramics, all classes revolve around a theme – allowing children to explore a variety of artistic techniques. Packages are term-structured and delve into heart-based concepts that initiate intuitive and creative engagement, as well as practising core design and composition skills. Red Door also runs Holiday Art workshops & art birthday parties.
https://www.reddoorartstudio.com.au/
Sienna By The Sea Art
Run and owned by experienced art coach and mother (of 6!), Hana Nataprawira, Sienna by the Sea Art provides children’s art classes and art meditation lessons for kids aged 6-16 years. Allowing students to experiment with various art techniques and mediums to help kids develop a personal artistic style and build confidence, classes revolve around creativity and fun! Held in the Noosa Hinterland at Hana’s Ninderry studio, students are joined by friendly ducks and chickens who spectate classes from the surrounding garden as children create. Regular art lessons are also offered in 6-week blocks at the Yandina School of Arts, along with school holiday workshops. Hana also hosts kid’s art parties.
https://siennabytheseaart.com/
Story Box Arts
Taught by author and creative coach, Debbie Smith, Story Box Arts is an after-school and school holiday programme offering art workshops to young ones. Categorized into age groups (Kinder-prep morning art; Year 2-3 weekend art; Year 3-6 after school art; and Year 4-6 weekend art) classes give kids the chance to deepen their creativity, explore art materials, strengthen fine motor skills and develop self-confidence. Incorporating art mediums such as pencil, biro, pastels, charcoal, watercolours, acrylics, marbling, scratch art, collage and other mixed media activities, children are invited to hone creative art skills through educational play. Most importantly, each lesson encourages self-discovery, creative expression, imagination, joyfulness and a love of learning. Based in Cooroibah, the studio is surrounded by tropical bushland which is integrated into classes through observational drawings and mindfulness exercises in nature.
https://debbiesmithauthor.com.au/storyboxarts/
Noosa Regional Gallery
Noosa Regional Gallery hosts an array of ‘Young People’ art programmes which include: ‘Art Adventures’ (sensory workshops for 3-5 year-olds) and ‘After Art School’ (art programmes for 7-12 years), along with school holiday workshops. They also host complimentary ‘Art Play Sunday’ events which include family-friendly activities outside the gallery, alongside the river. All workshops are designed to introduce kids to the world of art and engage them in creativity through hands-on experience with various art materials and visual forms.