Workshops

Educator and school group discussing paintingAvailable throughout the year

Choose from a range of activity sessions, all of which:

Last 1 hour 45 minutes (maximum)
Include practical activities led by artists/educators
Are cross-curricular in approach and wherever possible, cross-cultural
Are based on the permanent collections and often current special exhibitions

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

Step into paintings, meet people and join in their thoughts and conversations. Pupils’ speaking, listening and writing skills will be developed as they explore artworks through drama and develop their group and individual writing.

Find out more about A Picture Paints a Thousand Words

Blitz, Change and Rock 'n' Roll

Based on stories from people who lived in Manchester through the 40s and 50s, this workshop explores life, work and entertainment through drama, dance and song.

Find out more about Blitz, Change and Rock 'n' Roll

Capturing Nature

Pupils discover how artists have been inspired by nature, research still life, costume, paintings and ceramics and record their responses. In our studio they explore mixed media and experiment with wax trapping techniques.

Find out more about Capturing Nature

Discovering Sculpture

This introduction to sculpture uses two and three-dimensional drawing techniques that allow pupils to create a sculptural artwork with wire, withies and wool.

Find out more about Dicovering Sculpture

Greek Art and Architecture

Visit Manchester Art Gallery’s neo-classical building, designed as a temple to the arts. Pupils will discover the Greek way of life by drawing on myths, stories and beliefs that are contained within paintings, pottery, friezes and relief sculptures.

Find out more about Greek Art and Architecture

Greek myths and morals (Year 5&6)

Explore paintings, friezes and pottery to understand how the gods influenced everyday life and the beliefs of Athenian citizens. Pupils debate timeless morals and dilemmas, practice their persuasive skills and use interactive voting systems to experience democracy in action.

Find out more about Greek Myths and Morals

Mystery of the Missing Masterpiece

Pupils adopt the role of newspaper reporters, using role play and their imagination to create the details of a fictitious robbery from the gallery. Hot on the trail of an exclusive story they meet a curator, examine artefacts, conduct research and make decisions, generating emotive and descriptive vocabulary.

Find out more about The Mystery of the Missing Masterpeice.

People in Action

Using paintings and sculpture, pupils draw and collect ideas that translate into movement pieces. The finale is a class performance with the pupils recreating Lowry’s famous painting, An Organ Grinder.

Portraits

Pupils observe and investigate the relationships between people and objects exploring paintings and sculpture to create their own portraits using two and three-dimensional techniques.

Find out more about Portraits

Take a Seat

Pupils experience the design process by looking at our range of seating from the 17th century to the present day. They will try their skills at constructing and deconstructing chairs and developing design sheets to create the perfect chair.

Find out more about Take a Seat

Talking Heads

Facial pattern is explored using artworks that focus on expression, emotion, colour and meaning. Pupils drawings and research are used to design and make unique head masks.

Find out more about Talking Heads

Victorian Manchester

Pupils begin to understand how and why Manchester grew through the Victorian period, by becoming characters from our artworks and empathising with the rich and poor. An online interactive based on Ford Madox Brown's Work is also available.

Find out more about Victorian Manchester

To make a booking or for further information please contact us.
Tel: 0161 235 8842
Fax: 0161 235 8899