RELICS Activities and Workshops
Drawing on the exhibition’s themes of reinvention, sustainability and storytelling, the programs encourage participants to look closely at the world around them and to see everyday materials as sites of possibility, transformation and wonder.
Adult Workshops
Rethink waste, remix ideas – three hands-on workshops where discarded materials become bold new creations.
To coincide with RELICS: A New World Rises, this creative and sustainable workshop series invites participants to reimagine discarded materials as bold new creations. Across hands‑on sessions in jewellery making, printmaking and sculpture, artists guide participants to experiment with creative reuse, rethink waste and explore the unexpected potential of everyday materials. From an after‑hours art‑and‑cocktails experience to weekend workshops, the series encourages curiosity, creativity and new ways of imagining a more sustainable future – proving that some of the most exciting ideas begin with what’s left behind.
The Rubbish Renaissance: Jewellery, Jazz & Gin
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.
Date: Thursday 14 May
Time: 5:30 – 7:30pm
Cost: $30 including all materials, drinks and refreshments
Ages: 18+
Cardboard Forms: Old School Foundations, Contemporary Sculpture Workshop
In this hands‑on sculpture workshop, artist Nick Warfield invites participants to transform humble cereal‑box cardboard into bold, contemporary sculptural forms. Drawing on both classic construction methods and experimental approaches, the session explores form, structure and balance – turning everyday waste into dynamic three‑dimensional works.
Date: Saturday 30 May
Time: 10:30am – 1:30pm
Cost: $40 including all materials
Ages: 18+
Stamp It: Upcycled T-Shirt Print Lab
Led by artist Marc Renshaw, this creative printmaking workshop invites participants to transform a plain or pre‑loved cotton T‑shirt or fabric bag into a one‑of‑a‑kind wearable artwork. Using blocks, lino stamps and experimental print textures, you’ll explore pattern, repetition and layout – turning familiar materials into something fresh, graphic and expressive.
Date: Saturday 20 June
Time: 10.30am – 1.30pm
Cost: $40 (BYO t-shirt or cotton/canvas bag)
Ages: Adults and teens 16+
Children and Family Workshops
Blending art, science, technology, engineering and design, the program series creates accessible entry points into creative learning that are playful, future‑focused and grounded in curiosity. Participants are encouraged to experiment, test ideas, take creative risks and work together—whether they are building LEGO® worlds, reimagining discarded objects, exploring printmaking and painting, or discovering new ways of thinking through STEAM challenges. Each experience is designed to build confidence, spark imagination and support different learning styles through making and doing.
From free drop‑in activities for families to facilitated workshops and youth‑led experiences, these programs extend the world of RELICS beyond the gallery walls. They transform the exhibition from something to be viewed into something to be activated—inviting audiences to become makers, thinkers and storytellers in their own right. Together, the programs create a welcoming, inclusive space where creativity is shared across generations and where art and STEAM intersect to inspire new ideas about the future at Yarrila Arts and Museum.
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 hours
Cost: FREE – drop in, no bookings required
Ages: Families
Drop‑in RELICS Family Challenges
Looking for a creative activity the whole family can enjoy? Dive into the RELICS Family Challenges, a free drop‑in experience where imagination takes centre stage. Working together, kids and adults are invited to repurpose an everyday object into something entirely new for a LEGO® minifigure community. This self‑paced, hands‑on activity is perfect for tinkerers, dreamers and builders of all ages. Simply collect a challenge card and object, then let your ideas lead the way.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Time: Gallery hours
Cost: FREE – drop in, no bookings required
Ages: Families