Did you know that Vivid Sydney is more than just spectacular lights? There is also a music and ideas component which are action-packed with fascinating workshops and concerts. We’ve identified that top Vivid Ideas Sessions perfect for kids and families.

From family-friendly coding hackathons to awesome (and cute!) robots, there are sessions for all ages to learn about critical and creative thinking, develop computer skills, and experiment in teams on a range of cool techy projects – all in an easy-going, fun and supervised environment. Key sessions include:

{PROGRAM THE FUTURE} WITH CODE CLUB AUSTRALIA

26 MAY | Start-up Hub, 11-31 York St, Sydney 

A fun, family-friendly full-day hackathon for girls and boys ready to explore innovation, art and STEM, and inspires kids and parents to program their world.

Parents, carers and kids work together to develop computational skills, critical thinking and entrepreneurial prowess, taking a design-thinking approach to their concepts and delve into the world of coding. With an emphasis on fun and experimentation, every project promises to be as unique and creative as the minds of its makers!

This event is suitable for kids aged 8-15, open to all sexes and skill levels. And for the first time, Code Club is providing a space for kids aged 6-8 to play and interact with code and programming.

RHODES CREATIVE

The Connection, 30 Shoreline Drive Rhodes, Various Dates (26 May – 15 June)

Rhodes Creative is an exciting program of workshops and events that engage the entire community with the latest ideas and processes in creative practice. The focus for students and families will be on robots and STEM engagement.

Hands-On Workshops

Wearable Electronics For Beginners: Saturday, 26 May 9:30am – 4:30pm

Circuit Bending Fun: Sunday, 27 May 10:30am-1:30pm

Augmented Reality Using Video For Beginners: Saturday, 2 June 9:30am – 4:30pm

Creative Camera Hacking Fun: Sunday, 3 June 10:30am – 1:30pm

Human+Robot Friendship Ball for Families, Friday, 15 June 6-8pm

CREATIVE THINKING AND INVENTING FOR KIDS

9 June | Vivid Ideas Exchange, Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia, 140 George St, The Rocks

A fast-paced, hands-on workshop for 9-12-year-olds that explores Human-Centred Design and Design Thinking. In this lively and fun two-hour event, children will uncover a problem and be guided through steps to invent a creative solution, learning ‘soft skills’ such as interviewing and observing, and ‘hard skills’ such as prototyping.

Children work in pairs throughout the workshop, completing each exercise while being supported by professional creative problem solvers every step of the way. At the end of the workshop, children take home a physical prototype of their invention and can choose a take-home design challenge.

FASHTECH

ARTeConnect presents Workshop Fashtech where you discover first hand how to build circuits and combine micro-controllers, light, code and fashion – and take home a creation of your own!

Workshop FashTech # 1 simple circuits (8-12 years)

9 June | Vivid Ideas Exchange, Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia | 140 George St, The Rocks

Let’s make awesome costumes! This workshop gets kids to combine circuits with LEDs and build their own creations to flash with different colours and patterns for that family night out at VIVID. Our professional team of creatives will lead kids and parents through the steps to create fashtech.

No experience necessary and all materials are provided. NB: Ticket price includes: 1 child aged 8-12 years + 1 adult. Working together Parents/guardians participate in the workshop with their children.

Workshop FashTech #2 (13+ years)

Take computing beyond the screen and learn the skills to add wearable electronics to activate your clothes, shoes, costume skateboards, or any other object you can think of!

Our team of professional creatives will introduce you and your teen will learn about the amazing array of sensors, accelerometers, microphones and more, that gather and respond to data and merge fashion with technology.

For more details about Vivid Sydney 2018, including transport tips, visit www.vividsydney.com and download the Vivid Sydney App, which will keep you up-to-date and help you navigate the precincts, idea sessions and installations. It is available free to download from the App Store or Google Play Store.

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