A year of lockdown life has been tough on Cork’s kids.

But this summer, Cork City Council is joining forces with Creative Ireland to lay on 30 free interactive and imaginative events for young people on Saturday, June 12th.

As part of Cruinniú na nÓg, the national day of creativity, 26 cultural partners in Cork will host street-based activities, venue-based in-person experiences, live workshops, online events, and book launches.

Renowned illustrator Fatti Burke and young participants of the public artwork Open Road will paint their design onto a pedestrianised street in Cork and you can learn how to paint your own handmade tiles with Shandon Art Studios.

Outdoor activities will include 18th-century dance lessons in the gardens of Nano Nagle Place, poetry readings by young poets in Fitzgerald Park, Ballincollig Regional Park and Tramore Valley Park and imaginative billboards created by Activate Youth Theatre at Graffiti in collaboration with Notes to Cork where you can strike a pose, dance and become part of the story.

As part of Star Me: A Planetary Game which is organised by Cork Midsummer Festival and Cork Puppetry Company, children can take part in workshops to create aliens, UFOs, and otherworldly creatures which will be presented as art installations in Gerry O’Sullivan Park, Churchfield.

Venues are opening their doors to the public and St Peter’s Cork is hosting a day of art and fun for young children where they can participate in workshops on the skill of cartooning and colour mixing.

The festival has several interactive online workshops where children and teenagers can try new experiences:

• Cork Migrant Centre is hosting music and creative writing workshops
• Follow Your Nose features step-by-step drawing guides for the Crawford Art Gallery, which have been made collaboratively with young co-creators in direct provision, Cork Migrant Centre and artist Julie Forrester.
• Award-winning musician Jason Turk will demonstrate the art of listening to traditional Irish music to teenagers
• Cork City Library is hosting a wildlife workshop for children up to seven years of age
• Graffiti Theatre is hosting an introduction to youth theatre workshop for children aged 8 to 10 years of age
• Tools of the Trade will take parents and children on a creative maritime journey through Cork

Events are free but booking is essential, you can check out the full schedule here.