School Holidays

Create and play together all year-round with our free school holiday programme that's suitable for all ages.

Wednesday 28 October and Thursday 29 October  

This October half term, join us for a joyful mix of free, drop-in family activities and creative workshops inspired by our popular Beneath the Great Wave: Hokusai and Hiroshige exhibition. 

Paper Ripples: Family Workshop 

Wednesday 28 October and Thursday 29 October 10:30am – 1:30pm. Free, drop-in.   

Artist Jasmine Gardner invites families to explore water, waves and movement through playful paper cutting and making. Add your creations to a growing interactive installation, which will build and change across the two days. 

These workshops take place in Gallery 3. Suitable for all ages.

Loose-Parts Play 

For our youngest visitors, drop in to the Mezzanine during our opening hours and explore our loose parts play area. Get creative with everyday objects, build, balance, stack, sort and imagine together in a relaxed space designed for little hands and curious minds. 

Whipped Glue Decorative Workshop for 8-12 year olds 

Wednesday 28 October and Thursday 29 October 1pm-2:30pm. Tickets are £15 per person, booking required. 

Facilitated by Class Bento, this hands-on workshop introduces young people to the playful world of Decoden, a decorative craft style that grew from Japanese culture, known for its colourful, cute and highly embellished designs. Using whipped glue, charms and playful decorations, participants will design and decorate their own keepsake item to take home. 

It is suitable for ages 8–12 only.

Booking essential. Booking opens on Thursday 1 October at 9am. 

Book for Wednesday 28 October 1-2:30pm

Book for Thursday 29 October 1-2:30pm 

Parents and carers may leave children in the Studio for the workshop, but must remain within the building. 

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February Half Term  

In partnership with Venture Arts 
Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 February 2027 

An exciting collaboration between Sarah Marsh of The Sensory Toolkit and Venture Arts, families are invited to explore the colourful, tactile world of artist Gulnur Mukazhanova and help build a growing collaborative artwork together. 

Afrocats is an award-winning charity supportsing people who face social exclusion, including refugees, asylum seekers and families from diverse backgrounds. Through creative activities like art, music, dance and community events, Afrocats helps people build confidence, make connections and feel welcome in the city.  

The Afrocats × Whitworth partnership brings Afrocats’ creative energy into the Whitworth’s gallery spaces, making the gallery more welcoming, inclusive and accessible for families who may not usually visit. Together, Afrocats and the Whitworth offer free and culturally rich activities where visitors can play, make art, dance, drum and explore together. This partnership is built on removing barriers to participation - from offering travel support to creating spaces that feel safe and supportive for everyone.

Follow Afrocats on Instagram (@afrocats.mcr) for regular updates.

Image Credit: Ray Chan