Calling all little explorers! The Bureau’s popular Shared Sounds programme for young children is back at the National Festival of Making on a much bigger scale!

Taking over The Bureau’s new venue at 5 Exchange street, expect a mix of music, art and creative play designed to spark imaginations and support early development.

Discover our huge immersive Underwater installation upstairs! Swim with the giant jellyfish, splash with sparkling fish and grow a mermaid tail! Explore the sounds and textures of the deep underwater world. Capture movement and light and create your own light painting. Dance, wave or draw deep in the cave where the octopus hides with iridescent lights, and record it in a photograph!

Downstairs in the tropical Jungle, sculpt and decorate clay bugs and beetles with sparkling wings and wriggling legs, create colourful mosaic butterflies, chameleons and elephants, weave a spidery web, fold a bright flapping parrot puppet, thread a long and flowering vine, roll with wet felt to create a wiggly stripey snake, and paint the humid flora and fauna of the jungle on the watery wet on wet painting.

Gather around in the Window Gallery for a Sing Song Circle with many musical instruments and a chance to join the band. Indulge in a tasty yarn, a wholesome tale and a sweet story in our Story Feast, and discover if Pom and Sue will find their lost strawberries in time for tea in The Great Strawberry Hunt.

Please note: Some activities may require you to sign up over the weekend. Visit the venue for details.

The Bureau’s cafe will also be open, so stop by for a brew.

Venue: The Bureau, Exchange Street (next door to The Making Rooms) This venue has alternative level access at the rear – entrance via the side street off Museum Street. Pram parking will also be available here indoors.