Get making during our Holiday Fun: Make session with a variety of free creative activities at Firstsite this Summer.

Most suitable for those aged 4 – 11 yrs, but all ages welcome.

Drop-in anytime between 10am – 2:30pm from Tuesday to Sunday to take part.

No need to book for our Make sessions.

Adults required to stay.

Session Activities

Sat 18 July

Firstsite Flags — Sue Gascoyne

Help us fill Firstsite with fabric flags and bunting using recycled materials which will be used to decorate the building to celebrate our summer of creativity.

Sun 19 July

Flowering Meadow — Nicola Burrell

The summer is in full flower – come and help create a colourful summer meadow using cardboard cut and slot technique and vibrant Posca paint pens.

Tue 21 July

Everyone’s a Champion — Joe Boyd

Inspired by the boxing imagery in Godfried Donkor’s ‘It’s a Numbers Game’ exhibition, come and design your own championship medallion belt using collage and colouring pencils.

Wed 22 July

Front Page Heroes — Joe Boyd

Join us to create a portrait of your hero using collaged newspaper, inspired by Godfried Donkor’s use of newspaper pages as a canvas, and Arpita Shah’s Nalini portraits of the mothers and grandmothers we look up to.

Thu 23 July

Wish You Were Here — Joe Boyd

Inspired by the strong sense of place in the exhibitions, come and design a large postcard of your favourite family place. This can be anywhere that matters to you: home, a grandparent’s house, the park, the local swimming pool, a favourite holiday spot, or a country you love or dream of visiting.

Fri 24 July

Global Journey Board Game — Mary Pullen Deacon

Inspired by the strong sense of place in the exhibitions, come and design a large postcard of your favourite family place. This can be anywhere that matters to you: home, a grandparent’s house, the park, the local swimming pool, a favourite holiday spot, or a country you love or dream of visiting.

Sat 25 July

Silhouette Patterned portraits — Mary Pullen Deacon

Inspired by Godfired’s artworks make your own striking silhouette portrait cut-out and design a patterned Kente Cloth background to present it on.

Sun 26 July

Petal Portraits — Mary Pullen Deacon

In her photography exhibiton Arpitah Shah has framed her loved ones with petals – come and create your own precious petal portrait using coloured pencils and  tissue paper.

Tue 28 July

Action Art — Elaine Tribley

Strike an action pose, trace in some sports equipment, add loads of bright colour and pattern and become part of our giant sports frieze!

Wed 29 July

Collaged friends — Hetal Amin

Inspired by Godfried Donkor’s embroidered collages come and create your own unique artwork of your favourite friend using newspaper and stitch.

Thu 30 July

Terrific Trophies — Elaine Tribley

Celebrate your sporting heroes at our family trophy-making workshop! Design and create your own unique trophy inspired by your favourite sport, team or sporting moment.

Fri 31 July

Stadium Making — Tom Armstrong

Sat 1 Aug – Sun 2 Aug 

Collaborative Rag Rugs — Clare Sams

Work together with your family members to create woven mats from upcycled fabrics. Once complete, you can then use them for sitting on in the Firstsite gardens.

Tue 4 Aug

Mini Mascots — Elaine Tribley

Show your team spirit at our Mini Mascot Family Workshop! Using your country, school or team colours, create and decorate your own mini mascot to cheer on your favourite side.

Wed 5 Aug

Wellbeing Storytime — Sherry Balizaire

Join artist and storyteller Sherry to explore the themes of wellbeing through colouring, music and words.

Thu 6 Aug

Medal Mania — Elaine Tribley

Design and create your own shiny medal using sparkling materials and bold colours, then celebrate your achievement with a photo on our champions’ podium.

Fri 7 Aug

Trophy Making — Tom Armstrong

Sat 8 Aug

Firstsite Flags — Sue Gascoyne

Help us fill Firstsite with fabric flags and bunting which will be used to decorate the building to celebrate our summer of creativity.

Tue 11 Aug

Everyone’s a winner — Sara Barker

Come and make medals from a range of colourful recycled materials. Use your favourite shapes and colours to design an exciting medal that celebrates YOU!

Wed 12 Aug

Craft your own keepsake frame — Sara Barker

Inspired by Arpita Shah’s beautiful petal frame you will make your own picture  frame, to put a photo or drawing in. Think about the picture you are making the frame for and use whatever materials you like to suit the person, pet or favourite thing you are framing.

Thu 13 Aug

Read All About It — Sara Barker

Inspired by Godfried Donkers collaged newspapers, we will be making eye-catching posters that share whatever message you like! Is it your own or someone else’s sporting achievements? Is it about your hobby or favourite place? Make a poster that tells everyone about it.

Fri 14 Aug

Create Your Own Sports Kit — Tom Armstrong

Sun 16 Aug

Orchard Harvest — Nicola Burrell

As we enter the time of harvest, join Nicola to create your own orchard tree top with ripening fruits and birds.

Tue 18 Aug

Litter Bugs — Lavina Doluner

Wed 19 Aug

Firstsite Games: Field Recording and Musical crafts — Clip

Learn how to capture sounds around you with our digital recorders. We’ll be exploring sports and movement themed sounds around Firstsite.
You can also try some music and sound-themed arts and crafts like building a kazoo out of lolly sticks, or a paper megaphone.

Thu 20 Aug – Fri 21 Aug

Mascot Head-dresses — Jane Stewart

What would be your mascot animal? Could it be a unicorn or perhaps an elephant, maybe you would prefer to design your own mythical beast. Create your own animal head-dress from recycled materials to wear to the Firstsite games on Friday 28 August.

Sat 22 Aug – Sun 23 Aug

Postcards From Summer — Clare Sams

Come and get creative with drawing and collage to show what you have done during the summer. On the reverse of your postcard why not write about what makes the holidays special.

Tue 25 Aug

Firstsite Games: Sound Sculpture — Clip

Join us and be part of making a collaborative sport and movement themed sound sculpture with sounds collected from Holiday Fun workshops as part of the Firstsite games!

Wed 26 Aug

Aspirational Storytime — Sherry Balizaire

Join artist and storyteller Sherry to explore the themes of wellbeing through colouring, music and words.

Thu 27 Aug – Fri 28 Aug

Mascot Head-dresses — Jane Stewart

What would be your mascot animal? Could it be a unicorn or perhaps an elephant, maybe you would prefer to design your own mythical beast. Create your own animal head-dress from recycled materials to wear to the Firstsite games on Friday 28 August.

Our Holiday Fun activities are for families facing economic challenges or who require additional support during the school holidays, including those that qualify for benefits-based free school meals.

Holiday Fun is designed in partnership with African Families in the UK, Bangladeshi Women’s Association Essex, and Level Best Enterprises.

Find out more about Holiday Fun.

How to get to Firstsite

Please note there is no parking available at Firstsite, however there are car parks nearby, and Colchester Town Centre is well serviced by public transport. How to get here

Explore more of Holiday Fun

Children can take part in our movement activities and enjoy a free hot meal for all the family too – find out more and book here

Holiday Fun is designed in partnership with African Families in the UK, Bangladeshi Women’s Association Essex, and Level Best Enterprises.

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