On the loveliest of spring days these school holidays, my friend Renee and I took our kids to the Abbotsford Convent for a writing workshop with Lucinda Gifford, run through the Grand Imaginarium.
Lucinda is an illustrator and writer. She showed the kids her sketchbook – it was amazing. If I could choose an instant new talent, it would be drawing. I love looking at artists’ sketchbooks and Lucinda’s was fabulous.
Lucinda guided the kids through a group drawing, then set them off, creating their own alien.
Renee and I left at this stage, and went across to the other side of the quadrangle to the cafe where we discussed our own writing projects.
The kids reappeared two hours later with a mini library – their own books about aliens, complete with imprint details on the back page.
It’s not easy to find kids’ activities that cater for kids from 5-12, so it was a workshop that worked well for our family. The Grand Imaginarium run many programs – their vision is ‘a world where books by children for children strengthen culture, language and literacy in all communities’.
As the kids received two copies of their story, as well as the original, Mr 8 decided he could sell the copies. Please look out for his book, Kailback crash landing, available in all good bookshops – unless he cons his grandparents into buying a copy first!
I have visions of a bidding war between the two sets of grandparents and the Man Booker prize next year!
Great to hear of activities like this for kids in holidays.
Terri.
Didn’t think of the Man Booker prize – must tell Mr 8 his entrepreneurial dreams could have been extended past his grandparents!
How lucky are the children to have activities like this?
It was such a great program, Pam.
What a great activity. I’d like the same instant skill of drawing Karen.
It was a great activity, Anthony.