Arts

Access Art
Experience arts activities presented by museums, galleries and artists, wherever you live.

Artisancam's KidZone
Fun and easy to use, KidZone will keep children amused for hours as they try their hand at a huge assortment of unusual activities from plate decorating and screen printing to collage making.

Arts Council England
The national development agency for the arts in England.
Telephone 0845 300 6200

British Arts Festivals Association
Many of the arts festivals held in the UK each year have lots for children to do. Find out more about your local festival by mailing info@artsfestivals.co.uk, or call 020 7247 4667.

Artsmark
Schools in England who help young people to learn and take part in art, dance, drama and music activities can be officially recognised by Arts Council England. To find out more, see if your school has an Artsmark or how it can apply, visit the *Artsmark website*.

BBC Blast
Be inspired by music, art, film.

British Council
Details of UK theatre companies and dancers, as well as information on film and music. Telephone 020 7389 3194

British Federation of Festivals
Supporting over 300 festivals across the UK.

The Campaign for Drawing - 'Big Draw' October 2005
Organises the 'Big Draw' in October and lots more.
Telephone 020 8351 1719

Circus Arts Forum
Learn circus skills!
Telephone 020 7739 1188

Circus Space
A centre of excellence in the circus arts.
Telephone 020 7613 4141

The National Youth Theatre
Gives youngsters aged 13-21 the chance to participate in the theatre - all are welcome to apply!
Telephone 020 7281 3863

Youth Arts Network
For activities in London.
Telephone 020 7482 3012

Youth Arts Online
Getting kids interested in creativity.
Telephone 020 7286 2722

Youth Music
Something for everyone interested in making music, whatever your experience, ability or taste.

Museums, galleries, heritage sites, libraries

Love Libraries
Love Libraries is a campaign aimed to get everyone excited about what public libraries offer, including free access to books and reading, information and knowledge. To find out more, and to have your say about public libraries visit www.lovelibraries.co.uk

24 Hour Museum
Gateway to over 3,000 UK museums, galleries and heritage attractions.

Show Me
Games, fun and activities for kids from UK museums and galleries.

Bank of England Museum
The site includes details of family events running through the summer, activity sheets for children, and online quizzes and jigsaws in the Kids' Corner.

British Museum
Illuminating world cultures.

English Heritage
Caring for England's historic environment.
Customer Services 0870 333 1181
Membership Enquiries 0870 333 1182

Imperial War Museum
A huge range of activities at its main London location, at the Cabinet War Rooms in Whitehall, the historic ship HMS Belfast, moored in the Pool of London, Imperial War Museum Duxford near Cambridge, and Imperial War Museum North in Trafford.

Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Telling the story of the history, science and industry of Manchester - the world's first industrial city.

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
MLA connects people to knowledge and information, creativity and inspiration. Telephone 020 7273 1444

The National Gallery
Housing one of the greatest collections of European painting in the world - pictures that belong to the public, so entrance to see them is free.

National Maritime Museum
Illustrating for everyone the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people.

National Museums Liverpool
Eight venues home to fabulously varied collections covering everything from social history to space travel, entomology to ethnology, dinosaurs to docks, arts to archaeology.

National Museum of Science and Industry
Including the Science Museum, the National Railway Museum at York, the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television at Bradford and Wroughton outstation in Wiltshire.

National Portrait Gallery
Active and innovative programmes to explore history, art and photography through portraiture. For our Family Faces exhibition (running until 4 September 2005), families working together produced sculptures representing themselves. See their work, and the portraits they were inspired by, in the Studio Gallery - together with dressing up clothes and activities designed for family visitors.

Trusty the Hedgehog at the National Trust
Loads of things to do with the National Trust all round the country.
Membership Department 0870 458 4000

Natural History Museum
Entry is free to the UK's national museum of nature, and a centre of scientific excellence in taxonomy and biodiversity.

Royal Armouries
Includes the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, HM Tower of London, Fort Nelson, Hampshire and Louisville, USA.

Seven Stories
The rich heritage of British children's books inspires all kinds of exhibitions, activities and events. Explore these classic books, and write and draw stories of your own.

Tate Gallery
Includes Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives.

Tyne & Wear Museums
A federation of 11 museums and galleries.

Victoria & Albert Museum
Free entry to the V&A in South Kensington, the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green and the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden.

European Heritage Days

Heritage Open Days
Celebrates England's fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission.

London Open House
Programmes for schools and regular, special events for families to explore architecture in a creative hands-on environment.

Safety

Childline
The free 24 hour helpline for children and young people in the UK.
Telephone 0800 1111

Childnet International
Helping to make the internet a great and safe place for children.
Telephone 020 7639 6967

Children's Safety Education Foundation
Encouraging young people to respect themselves, others and their community.
Telephone 0161 477 5122.

Kidscape
Helping to prevent bullying and child abuse.
Telephone 020 7730 3300

ParentsCentre
Helping your child make safe, effective use of the Internet.

thinkuknow
The inside info on how to stay safe while having fun online.

Other Useful Links

...is your network, whoever you are, whatever it is you want to do. The People's Network website is here for you to enquire, discover and read online at your convenience whenever and wherever you want to log on. Enquire is a free national service, offering a live question and answer service with trained library staff, available 24 hours a day, every day. You can ask absolutely anything, and library staff will help you to find the answer. To find one of England's public libraries use Discover, or use Read to meet with readers online or find a reading group in your area.

digyorkshire.com
A what's on website, run by Audiences Yorkshire, with a dedicated children's page, a days out page for family activities and a free quarterly family e-bulletin.

ideasforthekids.co.uk
A free online source of places to go and things to do with kids in the UK. It is aimed at parents and families (rather than the children themselves) and has over 10,000 child-friendly venues and attractions listed across the UK.

family-fun.org
Family Fun Events at Museums and Galleries in the West Midlands.

busylittleones.co.uk
Helping parents across the UK to find toddler and baby activities within their local area.

babyandkids.co.uk
For tips and advice on all aspects of pregnancy and parenting.

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