New Sonic Garden tunes up Richmond’s Children’s Arts Festival

Barbara Reid

Richmond, B.C. – Celebrate BC Family Day with imagination and creativity at the expanded Richmond’s Children’s Arts Festival on Feb. 9. New for 2015 is the Sonic Garden featuring live musical performances and art activities all day long.

Other 2015 highlights include performances by the acclaimed Beijing Shadow Play Art Troupe and hands-on plasticine art workshops with Governor General Award-winning children’s author/illustrator Barbara Reid.

Now in its seventh year, the festival prides itself in offering highly interactive and high quality artistic activities for children 12 and under, all led by local professional artists who enjoy working with children and are passionate about their art. Hands on activities are complemented by feature performances, author readings and special events that will delight all ages. The Children’s Arts Festival is held at the Richmond Cultural Centre, 7700 Minoru Gate from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“The arts are an amazing gateway for young people and parents to discover new skills that improve children’s literacy, allowing them to express their thoughts and emotions in creative ways,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “The variety of activities at the festival such as puppet making, cartooning and dancing will present opportunities for children to find their artistic voice, while keeping parents and providers happy with the low price for such high quality activities.”

General festival admission is $5 per person. Admission provides drop-in access to all of the performances and Imagination Stations, a range of activities that includes Yarn Bombing, Spray Art, Personalized License Plates, The Tinker’s Box and Enchanted Hats. In addition, admission includes access to magic shows, family improv theatre and a special reading by author Brandee Bublé.

One of this year’s highlights is Governor General’s award winning author/illustrator Barbara Reid. She will present two plasticine art workshops for children ages six to 10 years. Inspired by her book, Picture a Tree, children will create their own plasticine art page that will become part of the first ever Children’s Arts Festival digital book. Cost of this special workshop is $15 per child and includes festival admission.