Art studio opens up in time for school holidays

A new kids art studio is opening in Bundaberg, just in time for school holidays.

Owner of ONCEdesigns Art Studio, Amy Lawley said the studio, which opens on 29 June, is about having fun with creativity, exploring exciting materials and making a bit of a mess along the way.

She said her desire to start a kid’s art studio was borne when she moved to Bundaberg in 2016.

“I am a qualified registered teacher, but my passion has always been with the arts and creative channels,” she said.

“I have young children and when I first moved here, I was looking for something for my children to do in the way of art programs.”

“These programs and avenues didn’t all exist, but other places we’d lived in we had been able to take our children to these things from when they were toddlers.”

Amy said ONCEdesigns takes the mess away from art at home, and that a range of sessions will be available from Monday 29 June. 

“Everyone likes their kids to do art, but not everyone likes to facilitate or clean up after it,” Amy said.

“We’ve got a few holiday sessions available.”

“We’re doing a single session, where kids can come for a once off, and a three-day workshop where kids come for three consecutive days and work on a single project over the three days.”

All art sessions are run under COVID guidelines and in-line with current restrictions.

Amy said there will be stringent cleaning of the space after each session.

 “We’ll be running three different age groups; a lower primary and upper primary age group, and also an under-school age 2-5-year-old group, which will be more craft and messy play based.”

For Amy the aim is not just to provide a facility for parents to drop their kids off at, but a safe, fun, and supportive environment where kids can learn and build relationships while doing things they love.

“It gives the kids an avenue to express themselves, because in art there’s no wrong answer and it lets them get messy and try new things,” she said.

“For parents it gives them the opportunity to have someone guide their children through some new experiences and different mediums.”

ONCEdesigns is located at the Rounds Arcade, 54 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg and will open on 29 June.

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