Activities for Children & Families
We have lots of in-person and online activities for our families to follow and plenty of activities to take part in and explore whilst you’re in the gallery spaces too.
Over the October half-term you can find lots of different activities from crafts to storytelling, circus skills to rhymes we have something to keep you busy! You’ll also find the wonderful activities happening at Oldham Libraries below too!
Branch craft Activities:
Each branch library has a selection of wonderful spooky craft activities to keep you entertained over half-term, all sessions are free and drop in, there’s no need to book.
Tuesday 24 October – Uppermill Library, 2 – 3pm
Wednesday 25 October – Fitton Hill, Northmoor and Delph Library, 2.30 – 3.30pm
Thursday 26 October – Greenfield Library, from 2pm
Friday 27 October – Limehurst Library, 10.30 – 11.30am & 2 – 3 pm, Crompton Library
Oldham Library and Gallery Oldham Activities:
Story time with Mama G – Tuesday 24 October, 1pm, Failsworth Library, bookable via Eventbrite
The Magic Bookmark – Tuesday 24 October, 5.30pm, Oldham Library, bookable via Eventbrite
Drawing with the Five Senses – Wednesday 25 October, 1pm, Gallery Oldham, bookable via Eventbrite
Factory International – Thursday 26 October,10.30am, Gallery Oldham, bookable via Factory International
Little Reads – Friday 27 October, 10am – 11am, Oldham Library, drop-in
GO! with Henshaws – Friday 27 October, 1pm, Gallery Oldham, bookable Eventbrite
Alexandra Park Heritage Trail
Explore the history and importance of Alexandra Park with this family friendly trail. Download the trail and complete it self-guided during park opening hours.
Alexandra Park Heritage Trail (PDF)
Online Heroes – Join in the fun with our online maker videos
We have loads of fun activities that you can get involved with from home. Download our latest activities sheets and follow our how-to films; all our activities use materials that you’ll find around the house.
It Came From the Deep… | Visit OMA YouTube Channel
From the watery depths it came with a snap, snap, snap! The Ichthyosaur – a dolphin like creature from Jurassic times. Artist Dominic Harbot shows us how to make our own snapping puppet monstrosity based upon the largest fossil in Gallery Oldham’s geology collection!
Rain Cloud Mobile | Visit OMA YouTube Channel
Join artist Alison Cooper and make your own colourful rain cloud mobile to decorate your home. Using simple coloured paper you will be able to make a 3D cloud and a rainbow cascade of rain drops.
Fishy Fun | Visit OMA YouTube Channel
Discover how to make a fantastic 3D fish with artist Fay Buchanan. Raid the recycling for a plastic bottle, tissue paper and some card and get creative!
Amazing Ammonites| Visit OMA YouTube Channel
Ammonites were marine animals that lived 400 – 65 million years ago, they became extinct at the same time as dinosaurs. These fossils are amazing to look at with their mathematical spiral shape and the often pearl-like colours of the rocks.
Join artist Isobel Pickup as we use the spiral as our starting point and experiment with cardboard and collage to create a beautiful mixed media relief picture of an ammonite.
Oldham Owl | Visit OMA YouTube Channel
Did you know that the symbol of Oldham was an owl? Join artist Fay Buchanan to create a beautiful feathery friend. Her easy step-by-step guide is simple to follow and you can customise your owl with buttons and patterned material to give it a unique look!
Colours of Autumn | Visit OMA YouTube Channel
We’re back for another Super Saturday activity this weekend. Artist Dom Harbot is experimenting with the colours of autumn inspired by Gallery Oldham’s painting Scarlet and Green in Brown by Patrick Heron. Learn some painting techniques & create your own masterpiece.
Nature Frames | Visit OMA YouTube Channel
Artist Isobel Pickup shows us how to create an autumn picture frame in this online workshop. We’re getting weaving with some lovely strips of fabric. Just watch the film below and get inspired by the natural materials around you.
Paper Flowers | Visit OMA YouTube Channel
Follow this step by step guide created by artist Alison Cooper. Craft some beautiful paper flowers inspired by the artwork Tradition by Bangladeshi artist Abdus Shakoor Shah which is part of Gallery Oldham’s art collection. All you’ll need are scissors, coloured paper, a pencil, ruler and glue.
Watch below or follow the link to take part: https://youtu.be/CXJPz9QYIpk
This week we’re creating our own shadow puppet theatre and sock puppets. What stories can you tell using your own mini theatre. Why not put on a production for friends and family via Zoom or FaceTime?
Do It Yourself Art Gallery At Home
Fancy curating your own art gallery at home? We’re learning about Matisse’s masterpieces created with cutouts, sculpting our own Picasso faces, crafting our own posh picture frames and creating colourful circle paintings inspired by Kandinsky.
Please share your masterpieces with us on Facebook and Instagram @galleryoldham using the hashtag #galleryoldham.
You can also download all our past fun craft ideas below.
Make a Shoebox Football Game PDF
Girl in a Wood Colouring Sheet
White Mountain Colouring Sheet
The Drinking Place Colouring Sheet
More Creative challenges and crafty makes!
We have been working with local artists and makers to create some brilliant video guides to help you make something at home. We will be adding more so watch this space! You can also find loads more creative challenges from our arts, heritage and libraries teams at Take Part Oldham
Granny’s Gallery Treasure Hunt
Meet Gran, a lovely ol’ octogenarian from Yorkshire who has made a special treasure hunt just for you…yes you. It’s designed to be played in your home. The aim is to find all 7 clues and complete all 7 tasks before tea time! To take part in the fun, click here, and in the words of Gran, ‘Off you go!’.
Make a Rainbow Mobile Window Decoration
Artist Gordon Banks demonstrates how to create and decorate your own rainbow mobile with a variety of materials, inspired by our outdoor and indoor environment. You can watch his video here
Download the template or choose your very own designs!
Kids in Museums – Museums of the Year shortlisted nominee 2015>
Manchester Life Magazine – Exhibition of the year nominee 2015
Museums and Heritage Award for Excellence – Project on a limited budget shortlist 2016
Visit England – Family Friendly Finalist 2017
Curious Minds – Northwest Cultural Education Awards, Inclusive Partnership nominee 2017
Henshaws – Visual Impairment Friendly Business of the Year nominee 2018
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Gallery Talk: Peter Davis
Gallery Talk: Peter Davis
Join prize-winning painter, Peter Davis MAFA, for his talk “Painting the zeitgeist”, where he’ll look back to the work of Edward Hopper, and the themes in his own work, to discover why documenting the here and now is important for many artists. Meet in Oldham Stories gallery.
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The Extra Small Cinema
The Extra Small Cinema
Join our new programme for under 5's and their families in partnership with Oldham Library. New for 2022 our Extra Small Cinema sessions are sensory film screenings for under 5’s, […]
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Life Drawing
Life Drawing
From beginners to experts we welcome all abilities to our life drawing sessions. Explore drawing the nude form with a variety of models, our monthly sessions are very friendly, relaxed […]
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Lino Printing: Christmas Cards
Lino Printing: Christmas Cards
Join Hunion for a beginners Lino course! Print your own Christmas cards and Christmas wrapping this year, to really stand out. If you have your own image in mind, please […]
Monster Mash – Silent Disco
Monster Mash – Silent Disco
Kick off the festive season with our Gallery Oldham Monster Mash! This silent disco will take place amongst the monsters of our current exhibition - Carboniferous Monsters: 150 Million Years […]