Yarrila Arts and Museum

Contemporary Collage
2026-01-14 13:30 - 15:30 (Australia/Sydney)
Contemporary Collage

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Join Coffs Coast artist Alykat for a fun and thought-provoking contemporary collage workshop inspired by Deborah Kelly’s exhibition CREATION.

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Join Coffs Coast artist Alykat for a fun and thought-provoking contemporary collage workshop inspired by Deborah Kelly’s exhibition CREATION.

In this interactive workshop, participants will delve into themes of identity and imagination through the art of collage. Working with striking imagery, vibrant patterns, and expressive text, they’ll layer elements to craft bold, contemporary artworks that tell a story.

All materials are supplied, just bring your curiosity and creative spark!

STEAM - Marine Art Adventure
2026-01-16 13:30 - 15:30
STEAM – Marine Art Adventure

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

In this hands-on creative STEAM session, young scientists will explore the fascinating world of marine biology.

Image: Coral structure courtesy of Adrienne Gooden

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

In this hands-on creative STEAM session, young scientists will explore the fascinating world of marine biology – from tiny plankton to swirling seaweed structures – and use microscopes to look closely at natural forms.

Inspired by YAM’s current exhibition ESSSENSSSE by the artist HOSSEI and their scientific discoveries, participants will then create vibrant artworks that capture the hidden beauty of the sea.

Create And Perform Your Own Wearable Art!
2026-01-22 10:00 - 11:30
Create And Perform Your Own Wearable Art!

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Join our hands-on workshop inspired by ESSSENSSSE, YAM’s current exhibition by artist HOSSEI.

Photo courtesy of And the Trees Photography

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Join our hands-on workshop inspired by ESSSENSSSE, YAM’s current exhibition by artist HOSSEI. Explore vibrant textures to craft your own wearable art to parade in the live performance that celebrates imagination, self-expression and connection.

All children must be accompanied by an adult and can drop in to The Workshop at YAM any time between 10 and 11:30am. This drop-in workshop will be followed by the ESSSENSSSE live performance.

'ESSSENSSSE' Live Performance!
2026-01-22 12:00 - 12:30
‘ESSSENSSSE’ – Live performance

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

HOSSEI, ESSSENSSSE, 2023. Performer Lauren Booker. Photography by Jacquie Manning.

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

UPDATE – we’re experiencing an error with our booking system. If you get a message that tickets for the 12:00pm ESSSENSSSE Live Performance are sold out please disregard and join us for the event – we won’t be checking tickets. We look forward to seeing you at the event!

Step into the world of ESSSENSSSE and watch the vibrant celebration of movement, emotion and transformation. HOSSEI and his performers will bring the themes of the exhibition to life though an unforgettable mix of performance, sound and visual expression.

Expect bold colour, playful energy, raw emotion and a whole lot of fun!

HOSSEI I ESSSENSSSE22 November 2025 – 1 February 2026

ESSSENSSSE is a joyful work about healing and new beginnings by contemporary artist HOSSEI. Featuring otherworldly sea creatures in a playful and multi-sensory aquatic themed ecosystem, this immersive installation creates a dynamic space for all ages and abilities that invites audiences to celebrate their inner creative spirit and explore art through more than just sight.

ESSSENSSSE is a Verge Gallery exhibition curated by Tesha Malott, touring in partnership with Museums & Galleries of NSW, supported by the University of Sydney and proudly funded by the NSW Government. Verge Gallery is supported by the University of Sydney Union.

Image credit: Deborah Kelly, from the CREATION collage suite, 2019-ongoing, image courtesy of the artist; HOSSEI, ESSSENSSSE, 2023. Performer Lauren Booker. Photography by Jacquie Manning.

YAM Up Late
2026-01-22 17:00 - 19:00
YAM Up Late

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Step into an unforgettable night at YAM Up Late!

Image credit: HOSSEI, ESSSENSSSE (performance view), 2024. Image courtesy of Verge Gallery. Photograph Jacquie Manning.

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

UPDATE – we’re experiencing an error with our booking system. If you get a message that tickets for YAM Up Late are sold out please disregard and join us for the event – we won’t be checking tickets. We look forward to seeing you at the event!

Experience an unforgettable night at YAM Up Late!

Celebrate summer evenings at Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) with a vibrant mix of art, music, and flavour. Wander through exhibitions after hours, dive into creative art-making for adults, and enjoy live performances under the fig tree with drinks and wood-fired pizza. It’s the perfect way to wind down with friends and soak up the creative spirit of Coffs Harbour.

What’s on:

– A bold, dynamic performance of ESSSENSSSE by HOSSEI

– Collage-making inspired by CREATION with artist AlyKat

– Beats by DJ Jemka to set the vibe

– Delicious pizza from OneTwoFive

– Handcrafted gin cocktails from Emerald Island Distillery at the YAM Bar

It’s the ultimate mix of art, movement, music, and flavour — and best of all, it’s free to attend!

Step into the world of ESSSENSSSE and watch the vibrant celebration of movement, emotion and transformation. HOSSEI and his performers will bring the themes of the exhibition to life though an unforgettable mix of performance, sound and visual expression.

Expect bold colour, playful energy, raw emotion and a whole lot of fun!

HOSSEI I ESSSENSSSE22 November 2025 – 1 February 2026

ESSSENSSSE is a joyful work about healing and new beginnings by contemporary artist HOSSEI. Featuring otherworldly sea creatures in a playful and multi-sensory aquatic themed ecosystem, this immersive installation creates a dynamic space for all ages and abilities that invites audiences to celebrate their inner creative spirit and explore art through more than just sight.

ESSSENSSSE is a Verge Gallery exhibition curated by Tesha Malott, touring in partnership with Museums & Galleries of NSW, supported by the University of Sydney and proudly funded by the NSW Government. Verge Gallery is supported by the University of Sydney Union.

Natalya Hughes The Interior
2026-02-07 00:00 - 2026-03-15 23:59
YAM Teeny Tours

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

The Interior invites audiences into an exaggerated consultation room playfully furnished for psychoanalysis.

Natayla Hughes, fabric design (detail) from The Interior, 2022. Image courtesy of the artist.

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

The immersive installation combines sculptural seating, richly patterned soft furnishings, and uncanny object d’art, nestled around a hand painted mural to generate a stimulating space to unpack our collective and unconscious biases. Audiences are invited to recline and be enveloped, soothed, and held by the furniture’s womanly forms while taking turns playing analyst and patient.The Interior is a travelling exhibition organised by the Institute of Modern Art and toured by Museums and Galleries Queensland.

Janet Besançon Monokini
2026-02-12 10:00 - 2026-03-15 10:00
YAM Teeny Tours

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Australian–French artist Janet Besançon explores themes of labour, resilience, and cultural identity through a diverse range of mediums and sustainable practices.

Janet Besançon, Monokini 4, 2025, pigments, clay (detail)

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Her work combines gouache, acrylic, oil, pure French pigments, and raw Gumbaynggirr country pigments with natural materials such as clay and charcoal, grounding her art in both European and Australian traditions.

Monokini is a striking series of 28 abstract paintings created using French pigments, Australian white clay, and everyday domestic utensils – sponges, mops, and kitchen tools. These objects, often linked to unpaid household labour, become instruments of protest and expression. The repetitive, physical process mirrors the gestures of cleaning and caregiving, while the final layers of white clay evoke healing, silencing, and erasure.

The number 28 is symbolic, referencing the menstrual cycle and the rhythms of the female body. Through this, Besançon honours women’s resilience and generational strength, challenging the invisibility of domestic work. In Coffs Harbour – a city shaped by diverse migrant communities – the exhibition invites cross-cultural dialogue on gender roles and shared experiences.

Ultimately, Monokini asks us to reconsider the tools we overlook, the cycles we silence, and the labour we too often take for granted.

Cheeky Collage & Cocktails with AlyKat (Adults 18+)
2026-02-12 17:30 - 19:30
Cheeky Collage & Cocktails with AlyKat (Adults 18+)

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Join us for a special workshop event at Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM).

Image: Self portrait collage by AlyKat

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Inspired by the bold, provocative collage practice of Deborah Kelly and her exhibition CREATION, this adults-only workshop invites you to make art that’s a little bit daring!

The event will start with a private tour of CREATION followed by drinks and snacks, then a hands-on artmaking workshop led by Alykat.

Using found imagery, text and mixed media, participants will create a contemporary collage that explores humour, contradiction and delight. Expect a relaxed, social atmosphere where rules are bent and ideas overlap. A glass of bubbles or a gin cocktail is included to help the scissors glide and the conversations flow.

No experience necessary just bring you curiosity, a sense of fun, and a willingness to get a bit cheeky with your artmaking.

All materials and refreshments are provided.

Janet Besançon: Monokini Exhibition Opening
2026-02-13 17:30 - 19:00
YAM Teeny Tours

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Yarrila Arts and Museum invites you and your guests to the opening of Janet Besançon Monokini.

Janet Besançon, Monokini 4, 2025, pigments, clay (detail)

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Official Opening of the Exhibition

Event begins at 5:30pm on Friday 13 February and concludes at 7:00pm.

Light refreshments provided. YAM Bar open

International Women's Day
2026-03-05 12:00 - 13:00
YAM Teeny Tours

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Celebrate International Women’s Day with a thought‑provoking panel discussion featuring Australian-French artist Janet Besançon and First Nations author Judi Morison.

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Through visual art and storytelling, Janet Besançon and Judi Morison share perspectives that illuminate resilience and creativity. The panel discussion will be chaired by Annie Talve, chair of ArtsNational Coffs Coast.

Janet Besançon’s is an Australian-French artist who explores themes of labour, resilience, and cultural identity in her practice. Her solo exhibition Monokini, currently on display at Yarrila Arts and Museum, is a powerful series of 28 abstract paintings created with French pigments, Australian white clay, and everyday domestic tools, transforming objects of unpaid labour into instruments of protest and expression. Each piece reflects on the invisible, undervalued work expected of women, while the symbolic cycle of 28 paintings honours resilience and generational strength.

Judi Morison is a storyteller whose writing engages with truth-telling through fiction. Her debut novel, Secrets, which won the 2022 Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship, was published by Bundyi in 2025 and her short fiction and poetry have been published in various literary anthologies. Judi’s historical novel manuscript, ‘Crossing the Creek’, was shortlisted for The Australian Fiction Prize 2025 and will be published by Bundyi in January 2027. After 23 years on Wadi Wadi Country, where the South Coast Writers Centre was important in her writing journey, Judi now lives gratefully on Gumbaynggirr Country.

Seniors Festival
2026-03-09 10:30 - 11:00
YAM Teeny Tours

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Join this gallery tour by YAM’s Senior Curator, developed especially for Seniors Festival.

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Tour includes exhibition explorations to engage the senses. Discover the hidden stories, materials and inspirations behind selected works in the galleries.For any accessibility requirements please email: yamprograms@chcc.nsw.gov.au

Following this tour is a paid art workshop: Colour at Play with Jan Allsopp (bookings essential).

Colour at play with Jan Allsopp
2026-03-09 11:00 - 12:30
YAM Teeny Tours

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Celebrate the bold playful use of colour in the work of Natalya Hughes’ exhibition The Interior in this joyful hands-on painting and collage workshop designed especially for Seniors Festival.

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Inspired by the spirited energy of contemporary art and colour play, there are no rules. No prior painting experience is needed but experienced artists also welcome.

Guided by practising artist, Jan Allsop, participants will experiment with paint simple marks and intuitive choices. The emphasis will be on play rather than perfection with plenty of room to chat and enjoy the process.

Cost: $10 seniors (Especially for Seniors Festival)| $20 general admission

All materials are provided.

Deborah Kelly CREATION Performance
2026-03-14 17:30 - 20:00
Deborah KellyCREATION Performance

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Step into a living contemporary art ceremony at YAM.

Photo by Lucy Parakhina

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

You are invited to an unforgettable CREATION performance by acclaimed artist Deborah Kelly and her collaborators from near and far. Experience this powerful contemporary art performance that merges ceremony, collective ritual and visionary story telling. Known for her striking visual worlds and transformative works, Deborah Kelly invites audiences into an immersive experience where art becomes action and community becomes creator. This one-of-a-kind event showcases CREATION Chorale – a cohort of Coffs Coast choristers and musicians led by Ruth Kennedy along with guest soloist Natasha Rusterholz (Newcastle) and composer Lex Lindsay (Sydney). Through costumes, song and spectacle, this event celebrates creativity, connection and unity. From 5:30pm, view Deborah Kelly’s CREATION and accompanying exhibitions in the galleries, grab a drink at the YAM Bar, and get hands-on with collage making inspired by CREATION before experiencing the CREATION Chorale performance in Yarrila Place’s soaring central atrium.

Please note seating will be limited. Please contact us at yamprograms@chcc.nsw.gov.au if seating is required.

Deborah Kelly I CREATION 22 November 2025 – 15 March 2026 CREATION is a multi-dimensional and cross-disciplinary artwork developed by contemporary artist Deborah Kelly. Born from collaborations with communities across Australia, the immersive installation featuring video, textiles, costumes and ceramics invites audiences to explore a queer, climate-conscious belief system that celebrates possibility, and collective dreaming.

CREATION is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia.

Seabastion Toast Seeing other people
2026-03-19 10:00 - 2026-04-19 14:00
YAM Teeny Tours

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Through portraiture, Seabastion Toast examines observation as both discipline and encounter in Seeing other people. Each work negotiates the space between what is seen and what is felt, between the speed of recognition and the slower accumulation of paint.

Seabastion Toast, Aimee, 2025, oil on canvas (detail)

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

When invited to participate in Australia’s first televised Portrait Artist of the Year, Seabastion Toast had never painted alla prima (wet on wet technique) nor completed a work in under four hours. Faced with the constraint of speed and public scrutiny, she did what she always does when confronted with a challenge: she trained.

For eleven weeks, five days a week, for four hours a day, she restructured her process around immediacy and sustained observation. The resulting works, many of which form this exhibition, document that period of concentrated looking. Some remain raw four-hour studies, while others have been further developed. Together they trace a shift in method while extending an ongoing investigation into perception.Anchored in portraiture but grounded in broader concerns of composition and attention, these paintings examine observation as both discipline and encounter. Each work negotiates the space between what is seen and what is felt, between the speed of recognition and the slower accumulation of paint.Working from both familiar and unfamiliar faces, the paintings reflect on presence and on what remains when a fleeting encounter is translated into pigment. Some retain the urgency of their making; others carry the density of extended looking. Throughout, light, value and structure are used to test how perception shifts across a surface.These works invite the viewer not simply to look, but to see through the changing conditions of light, time and touch.Seabastion Toast is a contemporary Australian painter based on the mid-North Coast of NSW. Working primarily with figurative subjects, interiors and domestic spaces, she constructs structurally rigorous compositions that balance clarity, pattern and atmosphere. Her paintings investigate the act of looking and the texture of everyday life, using colour and value to carry emotional and narrative weight.Toast has been a regular finalist in major national prizes including the Portia Geach Memorial Award, Mosman Art Prize, Glover Prize and Sunshine Coast Art Prizes. In 2024 she won the $40,000 Percival Portrait Prize and has twice received the Darcy Doyle Landscape Prize. In 2025 she appeared on ABC’s Portrait Artist of the Year Australia.

Seabastion Toast: Seeing other people Exhibition Opening
2026-03-19 17:30 - 19:30
YAM Teeny Tours

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Yarrila Arts and Museum invites you and your guests to the launch of Seabastion Toast’s exhibition, Seeing other people. Artist talk from 5:30pm, exhibition opening 6:00 – 7:30 pm

Seabastion Toast, Aimee, 2025, oil on canvas (detail)

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Join us for the launch of Seabastion Toast’s exhibition, Seeing other people.

Event begins at 5:30pm on Thursday 19 March

Artist talk in the gallery from 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm

YAM Bar open from 6:00 pm with light refreshments provided.

Event concludes 7:30 pm

RELICS A New World Rises
2026-03-28 10:00 - 2026-07-19 16:00
Vintage objects meet miniature LEGO® brick worlds in RELICS: A New World Rises, an extraordinary exhibition created by LEGO® Masters winners.

Tickets on sale!

The year is 2130. Humans have long abandoned planet Earth after mass-consumption led to an exhaustion of all its natural resources. The world is slowly recovering and showing signs of new life. A series of discarded objects are blossoming with LEGO® civilisations; each one inspired by the relic they now call home. RELICS: A New World Rises explores an imagined future, one that might not be as far removed from reality as we think.

RELICS: A New World Rises is an immersive experience that’s equal parts nostalgic and thought-provoking, where vintage objects and LEGO® brick creations tell tales of a possible future. Created by LEGO® Masters winners, Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, RELICS inspires curiosity for all ages and invites you to explore artistic intricacy and story-telling in an extraordinary way. Discover intricate LEGO® brick civilisations thriving inside treasured objects from our past. Within each relic, the LEGO® civilisation has adapted to the distinctive character of the artefact it inhabits. A vintage refrigerator becomes a cryogenic health resort and a Volkswagen Beetle houses an energy revolution, each with hundreds of hidden stories waiting to be uncovered.

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Ticket Prices

Adult$21.00Child (4 – 16 years)$13.00Student/Concession$15.00Family (2 Adults + 2 Children)$55.00Infants (3 years and under)FREE

Buy your tickets

Exhibition Highlights:

12 immersive displays combining vintage objects with intricate worlds built from LEGO® bricks

Created by LEGO® Masters winners Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler

Layered storytelling that rewards curious minds of all ages with details and discoveries

Interactive build area where you can create and display your own model using LEGO® bricks

Custom scavenger hunt with different versions for children and adults

Audio guide: Download the free accessible audio description guide to your device before arriving and remember to bring your own headphones for the best listening experience

This is not your typical exhibition. RELICS: A New World Rises is an immersive art experience that’s equal parts nostalgic and thought-provoking – what Co-Creator Jackson Harvey describes as “the love child between an antique shop, The LEGO® Movie, and Blade Runner.”

Don’t miss this extraordinary exhibition where forgotten objects and LEGO® brick creations tell tales of a possible future.

LEGO® is a trademark of The LEGO Group which does not sponsor, authorise or endorse this exhibition.

Plan Your Visit To Coffs Harbour

RELICS and The Observatory Apartments Couples Package

Enjoy two adult tickets to RELICS at YAM, two nights accommodation in Ocean View Studio Apartment for two at The Observatory Apartments and a $70 voucher for dinner or breakfast at Stef & Co.

RELICS and BIG 4 Park Beach Holiday Park Family Package

Enjoy a family ticket ( 2 Adults & 2 Children) to RELICS at YAM and two nights accommodation in a Beach Villa at Big 4 Holiday Perk at Park Beach.

Discover Where to Stay, Eat and Explore on the Coffs Coast

Coming for RELICS? Stay to explore the Coffs Coast. Discover places to visit, eat and unwind around your museum experience. Plan your trip and enjoy a region where culture, nature and creativity meet.

Play the RELICS game on the Coffs Coast Explorer App

The minifigs have escaped! Track them down across the Coffs Coast using the Explorer App, collect them all, and uncover hidden locations along the way. Complete the game and redeem your reward when you visit RELICS at YAM.

Current Exhibitions

RELICS
A New World Rises

28 Mar – 19 Jul 2026 at 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Exhibition
The year is 2130. Humans have long abandoned planet Earth after mass-consumption led to an exhaustion of all its natural resources. The world is slowly recovering and showing signs of new life. A series…

Nikky Morgan-Smith: Index Act

Thursday 2 July – Sunday 2 August 2026
Exhibition

RELICS Education Groups
2026-03-28 10:00 - 2026-07-19 14:00
Vintage objects meet miniature LEGO® brick worlds in RELICS: A New World Rises, an extraordinary exhibition created by LEGO® Masters winners.

YAM Teeny Tours

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Step into a world where imagination builds the impossible.

RELICS: A New World Rises is the perfect learning adventure for school groups, student excursions, and community education programs.

Created by LEGO® Masters winners Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, RELICS transforms everyday objects into extraordinary miniature worlds made entirely from LEGO®. Each scene is packed with stories, characters, humour, and hidden details that ignite curiosity and reward close looking.

Image Credit: Auckland Museum

Why RELICS is an excellent excursion for schools:

RELICS brings together creativity, storytelling, engineering, and problem‑solving in a playful, hands‑on format. It’s an ideal learning experience for:Visual Arts – Explore sculpture, installation, design principles, composition, colour, and creative reuse.STEAM & Engineering – Spark conversations about structure, balance, scale, pattern, and imaginative problem‑solving.English & Creative Writing – Each RELIC invites students to interpret narrative clues, make inferences, and create their own stories.HSIE / HASS – Themes like environment, urban life, sustainability, and community are explored through tiny worlds. These relatable scenes spark conversations about contemporary real‑world issues and help students connect the exhibition themes to the world around them.Critical & Creative Thinking – Students engage in observation, analysis, wonder, question‑asking, and inventing new possibilities.Teamwork & Collaboration – LEGO® naturally supports group thinking, shared decision‑making, and playful learning.Whether your students love art, design, building, storytelling, or simply the joy of creating, RELICS meets them where they are — and encourages them to imagine beyond the boundaries of the everyday.

School and group visits can include:

A guided exhibition introduction tailored to age level

Time for close looking, sketching, photography and video, and discussion

Scavenger hunts for every student

Optional hands‑on creative activities or LEGO® challenges (subject to availability)

Accessible, inclusive gallery spaces designed for all learners

Suitable for:

Primary (K–6)

Secondary (7–12)

Early childhood groups

Homeschool groups

Vacation care and out‑of‑school programs

Community education groups

Special needs education groups

Alternative education programs

Youth support services

Youth clubs or activity groups

Bookings:

Bookings are essential for all schools and groups.Bookings for group of 10 or more will receive a 15% discountTo make a booking or discuss how we can tailor your visit, please contact:education@chcc.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) 6648 4700

LEGO® is a trademark of The LEGO Group which does not sponsor, authorise or endorse this exhibition.

Win a RELICS Prize Pack!
2026-03-28 10:00 - 2026-07-19 16:00
Win a RELICS Prize Pack!

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Scan the QR code in the gallery or complete a quick visitor survey online for your chance to WIN a RELICS prize pack valued at over $60.

The prize pack features a RELICS cap, RELICS book – A New World Rises: Tales of a LEGO Future, and your very own LEGO® Minifigure!

Already visited? You can still enter the draw by completing the survey online.

Meet the RELICS creators: Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler
2026-03-28 11:30 - 12:30
YAM Teeny Tours

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Hear what inspired RELICS: A New World Rises and how this exhibition came to life.

Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

RELICS: A New World Rises is an immersive experience that’s equal parts nostalgic and thought-provoking, where vintage objects and LEGO® brick creations tell tales of a possible future. Created by LEGO® Masters winners, Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, RELICS inspires curiosity for all ages and invites you to explore artistic intricacy and story-telling in an extraordinary way.

Join us for a meet and greet with Alex and Jackson on RELICS opening day and hear about the inspiration for this extraordinary exhibition and how it came to life!

Tickets to RELICS are available separately.

Children and Family Trail
2026-04-04 10:00 - 2026-04-19 10:00
Children and Family Trail

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Discover Coffs Harbour’s history these school holidays.

Image Credit: and the trees photography

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Discover Coffs Harbour’s history these school holidays with our free, self‑guided trail for YAM’s interactive social history exhibition Yaamanga (around here).

Families can explore local stories, objects and hidden treasures throughout the exhibition at their own pace.

Drop in anytime, no bookings required.

Autumn School Holidays
2026-04-04 10:00 - 2026-04-19 10:00
Autumn School Holidays at YAM

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

These autumn school holidays, Yarrila Arts and Museum invites children, families and young people to explore, create and imagine together.

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

From discovering local stories and hands‑on making to STEAM workshops and youth‑led experiences, YAM’s holiday program is packed with playful learning and creative fun.

Whether you’re dropping in for a self‑guided trail, joining a workshop, or stepping inside the immersive world of RELICS: A New World Rises, there are plenty of opportunities to spark curiosity, build confidence and enjoy meaningful creative time together.

Perfect for families, budding artists and young innovators, YAM is your go‑to destination for inspiring, screen‑free school holiday adventures!

Children and Family Trail

Discover Coffs Harbour’s history these school holidays with our free, self‑guided trail for YAM’s interactive social history exhibition Yaamanga (around here). Families can explore local stories, objects and hidden treasures throughout the exhibition at their own pace. Drop in anytime, no bookings required.When: All school holidays during gallery hoursCost: FreeAges: Families, 6-10 year olds

Drop‑in RELICS Play Space

Build, imagine and create in the RELICS Play Space, a free, drop‑in LEGO® building zone where you become part of the exhibition! Inspired by the worlds of RELICS, this hands‑on space invites children, families and curious minds of all ages to design, build and display their own creations. Whether you’re constructing a tiny civilisation or experimenting with bold ideas, the RELICS Play Space offers a relaxed, playful environment to explore creativity together.

Time: Gallery hoursCost: FREE – drop in, no bookings requiredAges: Families

Drop‑in RELICS Family Challenges

Looking for a creative holiday activity, the whole family can enjoy? Visit YAM these school holidays and take part in our drop‑in RELICS family Challenges! Inspired by RELICS: A New World Rises, kids can unleash their imaginations as they repurpose an everyday object into something totally new for a mini-figure community.When: All holidays in gallery hoursCost: FREE – drop in, no bookings requiredAges: Families

STEAM Challenge: Future Makers Lab

Young innovators are invited to roll up their sleeves and imagine a greener tomorrow in this hands‑on STEAM sustainability challenge!

In this dynamic workshop, kids will explore real‑world environmental problems and dream-up creative solutions using science, technology, engineering, art and maths. When: Wednesday 8 AprilCost: $10 Ages: 8 – 14 year olds

Expressive Painting With Kelly JoyJoin artist Kelly Joy for a fun and inspiring painting class designed to spark creativity and build confidence. Young artists will explore colour, layers, and playful techniques while creating their own unique artworks in a supportive, hands-on environment. When: Thursday 9 AprilCost: $20Ages: 8 – 12 year olds

Youth Week Special Event! Youth Run Tour Of RELICS: A New World Rises

To celebrate Youth Week, the YAM Young Creatives will be leading special Youth Tours designed by young people, for young people through RELICS: A New World Rises. Get behind‑the‑scenes insights hear what inspired the RELICS creators and take part in a scavenger hunt. When: Friday 17 April Cost: FREEAges: 12 – 25 year olds

STEAM Challenge: Future Makers Lab
2026-04-08 10:00 - 12:00
STEAM Challenge: Future Makers Lab

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Young innovators are invited to roll up their sleeves and imagine a greener tomorrow in this hands‑on STEAM sustainability challenge!

Young inventor working in his laboratory

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

In this dynamic workshop, kids will explore real‑world environmental problems and dream-up creative solutions using science, technology, engineering, art and maths.

Inspired by RELICS: A New World Rises participants will be given an unused item and challenged to reinvent it for a better future. The session is packed with brainstorming, building, testing and plenty of creative chaos!

Along the way, kids will discover how a fresh perspective can spark cleaner, smarter planet-friendly ideas.

A fun, empowering experience that ignites curiosity, teamwork and environmental awareness.

Expressive Painting With Kelly Joy
2026-04-09 10:00 - 12:00
Expressive painting with Kelly Joy

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Join artist Kelly Joy for a fun and inspiring painting class designed to spark creativity and build confidence.

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Young artists will explore colour, layers, and playful techniques while creating their own unique artworks in a supportive, hands-on environment.

Perfect for all skill levels, this class encourages self-expression, curiosity and the joy of making art. Come ready to paint, play and discover.

RELICS Youth Week Special Event
2026-04-17 14:00 - 16:00
Youth Week Special Event! Youth run tour of RELICS: A New World Rises

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

To celebrate Youth Week, the YAM Young Creatives will be leading special Youth Tours designed by young people, for young people through RELICS: A New World Rises.

Image credit Sia Duff

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Get behind‑the‑scenes insights hear what inspired the RELICS creators and take part in a scavenger hunt.

After your guided tour, you are welcome to stay and explore the exhibition at your own pace or get creative in the RELICS Play Space.

Please note: Adults attending with young people or younger siblings will need to purchase their own exhibition ticket separately.

Bookings are essential, as spots are limited, so be sure to book!

Block 1 – 2:00pm – 2:15pm Youth Tour – participants can then view the exhibition on their own until 4pm

Block 2 – 2:20pm – 2:35pm Youth Tour – participants can then view the exhibition on their own until 4pm

Block 3 2:45pm – 3:00pm Youth Tour – participants can then view the exhibition on their own until 4pm

Long Pose Portrait Sessions
2026-04-19 10:30 - 13:30
Long Pose Portrait Sessions

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Join artist Seabastion Toast for a relaxed, inspiring long pose drawing experience at Yarrila Arts and Museum.

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Observe. Develop, Perfect.

These untutored sessions, held one Sunday each month, offer three hours of uninterrupted creative time, perfect for artists of all levels to slow down, focus deeply, and connect with the clothed figure through longer, sustained poses.

Whether you’re just beginning or looking to push your creative boundaries, this is your chance to:

– Sharpen your observation skills

– Refine your technique in your chosen medium

– Develop more layered, detailed works overtime

Work at your own pace in a calm, welcoming environment. While there’s no formal instruction, Seabastion will draw and paint alongside participants, providing a unique glimpse into her personal process and approach to figurative art.

Each session is gently facilitated to ensure a supportive and respectful atmosphere, making it the ideal setting to experiment, grow, or simply enjoy a few uninterrupted hours of creative flow.

Sessions are ticketed individually and run monthly. Each one is a fresh opportunity to reconnect with your practice and other artists.

Duration: 3 hours (with regular short breaks – tea coffee and biscuits provided)

All mediums are welcome, including drawing, painting, and mixed media. Basic materials such as paper, charcoal, graphite, and a small selection of acrylic paints will be provided. If you’d like to work with other materials, feel free to bring your own – just ensure they’re low-irritant and easy to clean up.

Model: Clothed and seated in the same position throughout (with lighting)

Facilitator: Seabastion Toast

Equipment: Easels, stool, chair, clips and boards provided

Kate Mackay: Everything at once
2026-04-23 10:00 - 2026-05-24 16:00
YAM Teeny Tours

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Kate Mackay, 2 pieces (detail), oil on canvas. Image courtesy of the artist.

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Painter and sculptor Kate Mackay works within the genre of the non-objective and geometric abstraction. Her work is an exploration of repetition, process and random difference within uniformity, in which series of works are created by repeated combinations of simple elements, often leading to inevitable imperfections.Everything at Once brings together a series of oil‑on‑canvas works into a single large‑scale installation. Each painting translates a written quote—from artists, writers and philosophers spanning 320 BC to 2024—into a geometric field of squares and circles, turning reflections on art‑making into visual patterns that obscure their original meaning.Using stencils to make the work introduces chance into the process, randomising colour placement and revealing unexpected relationships. When assembled, the individual works also generate a new, accidental narrative. Across the installation, chance, process and perception shape both the making of the works and the meanings that surface.

Kate Mackay: Everything at once Exhibition Opening
2026-04-23 17:30 - 19:00
YAM Teeny Tours

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Kate Mackay, 2 pieces (detail), oil on canvas. Image courtesy of the artist.

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Yarrila Arts and Museum invites you and your guests to the opening of Kate Mackay I Everything at onceThursday 23 April, 5:30 – 7:00pmFree entryLight refreshments provided. YAM Bar openYarrila Arts and Museum

Studio Kids @ YAM
2026-04-29 16:00 - 2026-06-17 17:30
YAM Teeny Tours

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

This children’s art program offers a fun and engaging exploration of creativity through a range of hands-on activities. Young artists will capture movement through line and colour, experiment with mixed media collage, explore ideas of place, play with shadows, develop expressive mark making, and create artworks inspired by land and sky. With time spent working both freely and on the easels, young artists will build confidence, develop skills and be encouraged to explore their own ideas in a supportive and imaginative environment.

Each week, students begin with a guided gallery visit with an artist educator, exploring artworks and ideas as inspiration. This is followed by studio-based artmaking activities ranging from painting and drawing to sculpture and mixed media, where participants experiment with materials, learn new techniques, and develop their own creative responses.

Location: Yarrila Arts and Museum Dates: 8-week intensive after school program during Term 2, 29 April to 17 June 2026Time: 4:00 – 5:30pmCost: $100 for the 8-week programAges: 8 – 12 year oldsAll materials provided, aprons available but old clothes recommended.

Creative Kids vouchers accepted. Vouchers can be redeemed during the Eventbrite booking process. Only valid vouchers will be accepted.

Email yamprograms@chcc.nsw.gov.au for all other enquiries.

CREATIVE LAB: Experimental Art and Design
2026-05-05 16:00 - 2026-06-30 17:30
YAM Teeny Tours

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

CREATIVE LAB: Experimental Art and Design is a hands‑on after‑school program for ages 9–13 that brings together science, technology, engineering and maths through experimental art processes and techniques (STEAM).

Through creative making, participants will experiment with simple materials and reimagined finds, exploring movement, light and energy to create exciting, contemporary artworks.

Classes will include:

– Glow and phosphorescence experiments layered with art, design and photography

– Designing drawing machines powered by motors, water and wind

– Experimenting with UV‑reactive ‘light drawing’

– Making moving artworks inspired by flight and air

– Transforming sound into unexpected drawings

– Bio-inspired object design based on nature

Participants will practice creative thinking and problem‑solving, while building confidence through making, testing, adapting and sharing their ideas in a fun and supportive studio environment.All materials provided. Old clothes recommended.

Email yamprograms@chcc.nsw.gov.au for all enquiries. Places are limited – book early to secure your spot!

The Rubbish Renaissance: Jewellery, Jazz & Gin
2026-05-14 17:30 - 19:30
The Rubbish RenaissanceJewellery, Jazz & Gin

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00amProgram, Workshop

This evening jewellery‑making workshop invites you to transform everyday waste into wearable relics, set to a smooth jazz soundtrack and paired with Emerald Island Gin cocktails.

Program, Workshop

YAM Teeny Tours
When

Fridays during the school term from 10:00-11:00am

Book for Teeny Tours

Step into the after‑hours world of RELICS: A New World Rises, where forgotten materials are reimagined and nothing is quite what it was before.

This evening jewellery‑making workshop invites you to transform everyday waste into wearable relics, set to a smooth jazz soundtrack and paired with Emerald Island Gin cocktails. In a relaxed, social two‑hour Thursday night session, participants will experiment with plastic bottles, aluminium cans and repurposed gems – turning discarded materials into bold, one‑of‑a‑kind pieces.

Inspired by RELICS’ playful take on sustainability and creative reuse, this workshop celebrates curiosity, reinvention and the unexpected—because even the smallest off‑cuts can spark the most surprising transformations.

Your ticket includes:

– All materials (rescued, repurposed and ready for reinvention)– Step‑by‑step creative guidance– A crafted Emerald Island Gin cocktail (or two!)– A laid‑back, after‑hours making experience inspired by the world of RELICSNo prior experience needed – just an open mind and a willingness to see old things differently.
