Playful Museums Festival 2025
In Person EventIn February 2025 the NI Museums Council will be hosting its annual Playful Museums Festival.
The Festival has become a core part of programming for NI museums and welcomes under 5s, their parents and carers for a series of free bespoke activities and events designed for Early Years. The festival build relationships between families and under 5 units with their local museums and creates long term changes to museum spaces.
The benefits of these interactions is well documented and access to arts and culture have been shown to improve a child’s cognitive abilities. Studies that have confirmed that children who visit cultural institutions are more likely to return as an adult.
The 2025 festival has been supported by Art Fund.
Join in the fun as we welcome under 5s into our museums and galleries for Playful Museums Festival in February 2025.
How can my organisation get involved?
Register your event with us and we can include it in our programme. You can benefit from wider exposure and the festival can continue to grow.
What kind of event can be included?
This is up to you! We understand that each venue is different and has different opportunities and limitations.
The event could be a drop in activity, a bookable session, a family day, a kids eat free day, a new trail or anything else! You can book facilitators or run in house.
Our only requirement is that the activity is suitable for under 5s and that is free to attend with no associated charge.
I am not sure if my event is applicable / we don’t have space or resources for an event / we have never worked with under 5s.
No problem. We are happy to give advice and support to help you develop an offer. Please get in touch with catherine.doran@nimc.co.uk
How to register an event?
Fill in the attached word document and return to us or email us directly with the following:
- Name and Address of Museum
- Name of Event/Activity
- Date/s and Time/s
- Description of activity/event that can be used on promotional material (no more than 75 words)
- Bookable/Drop In? If bookable, please provide guidance on how to do this
- Links to websites/social media
- Confirmations that event is suitable for under 5s and free to attend
Email event details to catherine.doran@nimc.co.uk
