Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre is celebrating a summer of imagination, creativity and storytelling with August Children’s Month, a packed programme of arts experiences inspired by the centre’s new exhibition Wanderlore, which officially opens on Saturday 1 August.
Running throughout August, Children’s Month will transform Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre into a place where stories come to life, with opportunities for children to explore everything from mythical creatures and Celtic legends to animation, illustration, sculpture and experimental art.
At the heart of the programme is Wanderlore (1 August – 25 September), a vibrant exhibition created in collaboration with Causeway Museum Service, celebrating Limavady’s heritage through the imagination of local children.
Featuring artwork from Ballykelly Primary School, Drumachose Primary School, Limavady Central Primary School, Roe Valley Integrated Primary School, Rossmar Special School, St. Finlough’s Primary School and Termoncanice Primary School, the exhibition brings local stories to life through colourful artwork and audio stories.
The exhibition launches on Saturday 1 August at 1pm, with families invited to join a free celebration at Drumceatt Square. The afternoon will feature arts and crafts, street theatre, walkabout performances, storytelling and live music, creating a fun-filled start to a month dedicated to creativity and discovery.
Throughout August, young visitors can step into the world of Wanderlore through a series of free drop-in workshops inspired by the exhibition’s themes. Children can create their own magical fairy doors, craft Celtic pendants and amulets from air-dry clay, and design mythical creature masks based on the stories and characters that feature in the exhibition.
For children aged 6–11 years, the programme offers a wide range of creative workshops designed to encourage curiosity and imagination. Young artists can experiment with traditional marbling techniques, create colourful fused glass hot air balloons, explore the connection between art and science, develop watercolour skills, build imaginative sculptures, and bring LEGO creations to life through stop-motion animation.
Aspiring storytellers and illustrators can also work alongside professional artists, including comic artist Kev F Sutherland, to create their own comic characters and stories, while ceramic enthusiasts can get hands-on with clay during a Jellycat-inspired ceramics workshop or explore the tactile world of wool felting.
The celebrations also include exciting family performances, with Banyan Theatre presenting Imaginary Friends on Tuesday 25 August at 11am. Combining puppetry, object theatre, storytelling and music, this magical performance follows Sam, a child with a limitless imagination, on a journey about friendship and finding connection in unexpected places. Families will also take part in a playful creative workshop after the show to make their own perfect friend.
Film lovers can enjoy a special screening of The Secret of Kells on Saturday 1 August at 9.30am, delivered in partnership with Cinemagic Young Audiences’ Supporting the Foodbank Initiative.
From discovering mythical worlds and making magical creations to learning new skills and experiencing live performance, August Children’s Month at Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre offers families the chance to create, explore and be inspired together.
For full programme details and booking information, visit www.roevalleyarts.com and follow on social media @roevalleyarts