Heroes and Monsters, Manchester Art Gallery
Price from:
Free
Opening Times:
20/07/2010 - 19/09/2010
Category:
Art
,
Exhibitions
,
Family
.
Heroes and Monsters
Manchester Art Gallery has become a must-visit refuge for anyone looking after kids during the Summer holidays, and this year is no exception with their new exhibition Heroes and Monsters bringing the gallery to life for kids of all ages (and their accompanying adults).
The gallery has previously won acclaim for its ability to make the space, and the collection, accessible to children without becoming patronising or sacrificing the strengths of the gallery's main collection. This year, artist Jim Medway has created a giant specially-commissioned mural, bringing the ancient Greek classical heroes and mythic monsters from the gallery’s historic paintings and sculptures into our modern world.
Medway's mural of teenage cats eating kebabs and getting on the night bus on Oxford Road is one of the most popular current pieces in the gallery's 'Manchester Room', and he brings the same acute eye for capturing human behaviour to this new family friendly work. The mural is just the beginning of the adventure though. Family visitors can create their own fuzzy felt stories, act out mythical adventures and are also invited to pick up one of Jim Medway’s amazing interactive Hero Quest maps and travel on a journey of discovery around the gallery and back in time.
The quest challenges your family to find mysterious objects, meet other heroes and immortals and slay monsters, as you play, draw and imagine your way around the gallery together.
Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, Councillor Mike Amesbury has seen the plans for the "brilliant" new exhibition and describes it as "a free and fun way to get the kids off the sofa and out of the house this summer. When you arrive at the gallery, there are always lots of clear suggestions and instructions for what your family might enjoy most. They make sure planning your visit is easy, so you can focus on spending some quality time together.”
Alongside the exhibition there are a range of free activities and workshops that invite families to come and play at the gallery during the holidays.
Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon (Weds 28 July to Fri 27 August), families can also enjoy free Heroes and Monsters inspired dancing, music, role-play and costume-making workshops too.