The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) invited families to embark on a magical journey of creativity and imagination at its BMW Centre for Art Education’s Children’s Summer Holiday Programme. This vibrant initiative provided a nurturing space for children and their families to delve into the wonders of storytelling, hands-on art-making, and imaginative play.
This year’s programme, which ran until January 9, 2026, was tailored to foster a love for learning through art, offering a series of engaging experiences that spark curiosity and build confidence in young participants. Its festivities draw inspiration from The Stories That Ran Away, a new children’s book series developed in collaboration with the African Literary Agency. While the formal launch of these enchanting stories is set for March 2026, the holiday programme provided an early activation, introducing young audiences to the characters, themes, and artistic expressions intertwined within the books.
Families gathered at the Atrium Bowl for two days of storytelling sessions and creative arts workshops throughout the holiday season. The sessions run from 10 am to 5 pm, where the magical characters of The Stories That Ran Away were unveiled through interactive storytelling and imaginative activities. Excitement filled the air as children allowed their thoughts to flow freely and expressed themselves through art.
Participants met exuberant characters such as Khvum and the Crocodile Woman, Mouse with her story children, Father Sun, and Nya Nya Bulembu. Each storytelling session, designed from 10 am to 12 pm, culminated in creative arts projects inspired by these characters, allowing children to take home their crafted artworks as cherished mementos of their imaginative journey.
Following the morning storytelling, families participated in an Open Studio session from 1 pm to 5 pm in Classroom 1. Here, children were given the freedom to explore their artistic vision, utilising a rich array of two- and three-dimensional materials while being supported by enthusiastic studio assistants who encouraged creative experimentation.
The Children’s Summer Holiday Programme epitomises the BMW Centre For Art Education’s vision of inclusive learning environments that harness the powerful combination of storytelling and visual art. By fostering literacy, creativity, and confidence in young learners, the programme stands as a beacon of inspiration for families eager to explore the endless possibilities of artistic expression.
