Got #SmallBigDreamersAtHome? While there are plenty of things to do to keep 'em active tykes busy, it's never too early to expose your little ones to art. Add some colour to the kids' stay-home routine with the digital spin of National Gallery Singapore's biennial children's festival Small Big Dreamers. From June 1 to March 28, 2021, let the little Picassos tap into their imagination with creative play including interactive games, guided art tutorials, and immersive art-viewing experiences at the first online art festival in Singapore. The programmes are designed to unleash their inner artist, all while learning about the inspiring artworks from Singapore and Southeast Asia, including those within the National Collection.
The online art festival spotlights the works of five regional artists, namely Tropical Fruits by Georgette Chen, Horizontals I by Choy Weng Yang, Gamelan Orchestra by Sudjana Kerton, and Dungun Siri II by Ruzaika Omar Basaree, and My INK-credible Adventure by Yeo Shih Yun which focuses on the medium of ink painting.
These pieces are brought to life with interactive content and activities through four fun-filled experience zones. The Artists’ Studio is an immersive art-viewing experience that allows viewers to take a keener look at each masterpiece. The Make and Create section features downloadable activity cards for fun arts and crafts projects. The Play and Discover part introduces various artmaking techniques through interactive games. Watch and Listen showcases a series of on-demand tutorial videos by creative pros to spark the flame of creativity among the little ones, inspiring them to embark on their next art adventure. Plus, storytelling sessions and casual chats with artists, educators and curators will also be added to the programme in the coming weeks.
That's not all – look forward to a fifth zone, titled SBD Live!, in September where children can sign up for scheduled live-streamed programmes including workshops, talks and performances.
"#SmallBigDreamersAtHome allows children to learn while being in their element with the online platform and ignites their imagination through creative play. We hope that it will serve as a springboard for new and regular visitors to take their own self-guided adventures into the world of art and look forward to welcoming them at the Gallery soon," says Suenne Megan Tan, Director of Audience Development and Engagement at National Gallery Singapore.
Complementing Gallery Kids!, the Gallery's digital portal that transports the little ones to the world of art through new weekly activities, #SmallBigDreamersAtHome offers a more curated line-up of programmes for kiddos aged six to 12. As part of #GalleryAnywhere, it aims to bring more unique art experiences, especially of Southeast Asian art, to its junior home audiences while the Gallery remains temporarily closed until further notice. Adults can also join in the fun too – you might even learn a thing or two. Start your art adventure at nationalgallery.sg/smallbigdreamers.
