December Holiday Programs

Welcome to this year’s December Holiday Art Programme: a warm, creative series of four art‑filled days designed especially for children aged 6 to 12.

Taking place at Chichester Cottage, each session blends the summer season, nature‑inspired exploration, and thoughtful artmaking in a calm, supportive environment.

If you are considering enrollment, please note that these programs usually fill up quickly, so early booking is strongly recommended.

At a Glance

  • Dates: 17, 18, 19 & 22 December

  • Times: 9:00 am–3:00 pm (drop-off from 8:45 am)

  • Location: Chichester Cottage, 192b Buckley Avenue, Hobsonville Point

  • Ages: 6–12

  • Materials: All provided

  • Choose: 1–4 days

  • Cost: $85–$310, depending on days booked

Programme Highlights

  • Calm, creative studio environment set beside open green space

  • Outdoor artmaking is woven naturally through each day

  • Small groups so each child feels supported and seen

  • Emphasis on materials, experimentation, and developing a personal creative voice

  • Clear daily structure + open-ended creative freedom

  • Choice‑based making: children are guided by a daily artist/theme, offered a thoughtfully curated range of materials and options, and supported to explore their own ideas without overwhelm

  • Sensory breaks and non-art-related activities are available when needed to support comfort and regulation

Programme Overview

Wednesday 17 December: The Shape of Movement

A lively introduction to how artists use rhythm, gesture, and motion to make marks come alive. Children explore how lines can swoop, drift, or pulse: much like wind through trees or waves along the shore.

Materials: charcoal, soft pastels, ink brushes, large-format paper, natural mark-makers such as twigs or leaves, and more.
Artist inspo: Cy Twombly, Julie Mehretu, Movement-focused contemporary art, Abstract Expressionist mark-making.

Thursday 18 December: Light and Surface

An exploration of how light transforms what we see. Children experiment with reflection, glow, and shifting surfaces, creating artworks that respond subtly to movement and sunlight, both indoors and out.

Material taster: foil papers, cellophane, reflective card, printing inks, layering films, translucent supplies and more.
Artist inspo: Olafur Eliasson, László Moholy-Nagy, Light and Space movement.

Friday 19 December: Invented Spaces

A day where children design and construct imaginative environments. They explore how spaces hold stories, emotion, and memory, using both natural materials and studio tools.

Material taster: cardboard, clay, natural fibres, fabric scraps, found objects, wire and more.
Artist inspo: Louise Nevelson, Isamu Noguchi, Architectural sculpture, Installation art.

Monday 22 December: Art That Celebrates

A vibrant finale exploring colour, play, and creative expression. Children create artworks that feel festive and full of movement, inspired by summer brightness and nature’s shapes.

Materials: vibrant paints, collage papers, inks, mixed-media embellishments, natural dyes, coloured chalks and more.
Artist inspo: Reuben Patterson, Beatriz Milhazes, Expressionism, Contemporary celebratory art.

Pricing

  • $85: one day

  • $165: two days

  • $240: three days

  • $310: all four days

How to Enrol

Use the form on this page to register your interest. You will receive confirmation + payment details within 24 hours. Spaces are limited and filled on a first‑come basis. A waitlist is available if needed.

Thank you for considering this programme: holiday programmes are the highlight of my year. I love working with your children and creating a space where their creative confidence can grow.