Playground is a week-long free exhibition of interactive art for children and families. This year the theme is Music/ Response, so it will be a noisy experience. If you or your child have sensory requirements, or find sound overwhelming, we've made space for a Quiet Hour where volume levels will be decreased and the lighting lowered.

Through music, we’re able to express every emotion, and with the show this year we’re asking a number of questions: In these divided times, is music and rhythm key to cohesion? How do we create empathy and understanding through sound? How do we use sound to connect to ourselves and each other?

Who can come?

Everyone is welcome!

The exhibition has been curated for 5-12 year olds, however everyone is welcome to drop-in during the gallery’s opening hours and it is FREE!  If you or your child have sensory requirements, or find sound overwhelming, please join us for The Quiet Hour on the morning of Saturday 7th.

Live Lunchtime Performance Friday 6th July 12noon

Secondary students from Crofton Academy School in Wakefield have been working with artist Alex McLean on experimental coding and music and will give a live lunchtime algorithmic drumming performance in the Millennium Gallery at 12.15pm on Friday 6 July 2018. At 12noon Alex will give an introduction to this and his other work for Playground this year.

  • FREE
  • Best for 5-12 year olds
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Very noisy & distracting
  • Lots of lights used
  • Toilets & baby changing facilities
  • Cafe – open 10:00 – 17:00, 11:00 – 16:00 on Sunday
  • Parking near by

What will be there? Download Guide

Listen

Manja Ebert

In immersive video experience that explores the identity and self-representation of children and adolescents in video from the Internet. 

More info

Press Play

Laura Kriefman

This piece by Laura Kriefman of Hellion Trace encourages collaboration. Only by working together with other people are you able to hear the whole piece.

More info

Light Bug

Tine Bech Studio

A digitally enhanced swing that brings responsive light, colour and sound to the simple act of swinging.

More info

Yoto - Clever Speaker

Yoto

Yoto is a clever speaker designed by families, for families, using Montessori principles to empower children through play.

More info

JazzDuck

Nexus Studios

JazzDuck encourages children to listen and express themselves as they explore the sounds and musical potential of their world!

More info

Typatone

Jono Brandel and Lullatone

Whether it’s a message, essay, story, or poem explore a new way of writing. Make music while you write.

More info

Dance + Doodle with YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids

Discover music and videos through selected content from the YouTube Kids App

More info

Pattern+Code

Alex McLean and pupils from Wybourn Community Primary

Messages hidden in knotted string with rhythms created by groups of children using contemporary live coding techniques.

More info

Tunin’

Royal College of Art

Students from the Royal College of Art have created a fun and engaging machine so that you can really tell us about Playground.

More info

Puffin Rock Music!

Dubit

Explore and remix the music of Puffin Rock through creative play, and share your masterpieces too.

More info

Zajal

Dubit

A touch and listen based game, that is aimed at children with the Cochlear Ear Implant, teaching users the basics of Arabic

More info

Chrome Music Lab

Google Creative Lab

Makes learning music more accessible to everyone through fun, hands-on experiments.

More info

YATATOY Arcade

YATATOY

A collection of playful tools to inspire your kid’s creativity and creation.

More info

Coco (PG)

Handmade Cinema

Saturday 7th July
Join Handmade Cinema at 12noon for an afternoon of Movie Magic activities followed by the showing of Coco at 1pm.

More info

The Quiet Hour

10am - 11am Saturday 7th July

If you have sensory requirements, or find sound overwhelming, please join us for The Quiet Hour.

More info

School of Noise

The School of Noise

Children in Sheffield have been working with School of Noise during the week of Playground.

More info

We would love to hear from you once you have attended the show – please send your feedback to

playground@thechildrensmediaconference.com

The website from last year is archived here and you can find photos from the event here.

Boys exploring VR

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This is the archive of the 2018 Playground exhibition website.

For more information please see the current site or contact us.