Workshop

Family day: Entangled Pasts, 1768–now

Workshops for families

Sunday 21 April 2024 11am - 4pm

Clore Learning Centre | John Madejski Fine Rooms | Collection Gallery

Drop-in, no booking required

Join us for a full day of free drop-in creative activities across the RA.

Inspired by our exhibition Entangled Pasts, 1768–now, our spring Family Day will focus on the themes of journeys and identity with a range of creative activities.

John Madejski Fine Rooms | 11am-1pm & 2-4pm | Free | Drop-in
Empathy through making an experiential art workshop exploring Lubaina Himid’s work
Embark on an experiential journey with artist Esther Adesigbin travelling through the Royal Academy Fine Rooms. Gathering ‘ordinary’ materials, exploring the space, and absorbing sound bites of artists' narratives from the Entangled Pasts exhibition. The interactive art workshop will start with a large-scale shared drawing and collage activity, and end with the creation of experimental woven fibre artworks. Creating artwork adornments that celebrate mirror the power of the ordinary extraordinary expressed in Lubaina Himid’s ‘Naming the Money’ installation.

Clore Learning Centre | 11am-1pm & 2-4pm | Free | Drop-in
Silhouette cutout workshop inspired by the work of Kara Walker
Using cakes as a starting point to tell stories, with artists Antoinette Onelum and Josie Ralls-Glyn, you will be engaging in storytelling through the use of collage and silhouette art.

Picture exploration tours | Meet in the Collection Gallery
11:30am - 12pm / 12:30 - 1pm / 2:30 - 3pm | Free | Drop-in (it is advisable that you come to the gallery a few minutes early to secure a space)
Exploration and drawing activities inspired by Lubaina Himid's 'Naming the Money' images in the Collection Gallery
Join Amy Leung for drawing activities in the Collection Gallery, where you will explore line shape and texture of the paintings and drawings on display.

Book reading | Meet in the Tennant Gallery (entrance to the Fine Rooms)
1:15 - 2pm | Free | Drop-in (it is advisable that you come to the room a few minutes early to secure a space)
Join us for a special book reading and conversation with author J.T. Williams. The themes in our Entangled Pasts, 1768 - now exhibition are some of the reasons why she wrote her novel for 8 – 12 year olds, The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Portraits and Poison (on sale now in the RA shop). Inspired by real Black British historic figures, the books explore the world of Lizzie Sancho, daughter of Ignatius Sancho, and Dido Belle, who grew up in Kenwood House.

These sessions can be incredibly popular, and as we run a first come, first served system, you may be asked to wait, or return later. The beginnings of the sessions prove the busiest, so we advise you to try joining us slightly later once the initial group have completed their work. We try to accommodate everyone while ensuring that the space doesn't become overcrowded.