Overview
| Discovery Science & Technology Centre, 7 Railway Place, Bendigo VIC 3550 | |
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| Free but booking is required |
The Gallery invites families to join three days of fun, creativity and hands‑on discovery with artist and educator Laura Jade. Kids will explore science and art in exciting new ways, from building tiny machines to lighting up their own artworks and creating glowing constellations inspired by the night sky. Each session is designed to spark curiosity, imagination and the joy of making something together.
Running from 15–17 April 2026, this special holiday program welcomes high-ability young creators of different ages to enjoy playful STEAM‑based activities in a relaxed and friendly environment. Participants will explore science and art in exciting new ways, from building tiny machines to lighting up their own artworks and creating glowing constellations inspired by the night sky. Each session is designed to spark curiosity, imagination and the joy of making something together and giving high-ability young people the opportunity to extend their skills.
Bendigo Art Gallery’s Emerging Art Leaders holiday workshops are supported by the Victorian Department of Education through the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES). As part of this funding, the Gallery must collect certain information about participating students and securely share it with the Department.
This helps the Department understand:
- Who is accessing the program
- Whether it supports a diverse range of students
- How VCES can be improved
Some information is required for your child to attend. Other information is optional and may be declined.
DNA Origami: Create self-assembling machines
Wednesday, 15 April 2026
10am - 11:30am (Age 8-12)
12:30pm - 2pm (Age 13-18)
Join a fun 1.5‑hour holiday workshop for young creator. Participants explore how tiny systems (from DNA nanotech to origami satellites and modular robots) can build themselves using patterns, sequences, and clever design. Through LEGO® brick challenges and magnetic construction, students learn how small parts connect to form bigger, functional machines.
Constellation Canvas: Explore the wonders of the night sky
Thursday, 16 April 2026
10am - 11:30am (Age 8-12)
12:30pm - 2pm (Age 13-18)
Join us for a magical workshop where young creators design their own glowing star‑constellation artwork. Using canvas, mixed materials and battery‑powered LED lights, participants can re‑imagine a real constellation or invent one from scratch - learning how patterns and stories from different cultures have helped humans make sense of the night sky.
This workshop encourages creativity, storytelling, and astronomical thinking - all through the magic of light. Perfect for curious kids who love to make, imagine, and explore!
Paper Circuits: Create glowing artworks
Friday, 17 April 2026
10am - 11:30am (Age 5-7, must be accompanied by a parent/carer)
12:30pm - 2pm (Age 8-12)
Make your drawings light up! In this 1.5‑hour hands‑on workshop, kids mix art with simple electronics to create their own glowing paper designs. Using copper tape, LEDs and coin batteries, they’ll learn how to build a working circuit right on the page, then turn it into a one‑of‑a‑kind illuminated artwork to take home.
Collection Notice
Bendigo Art Gallery is collecting your name, email, phone number, and your student’s name, school and year level. This information will be used for the purposes of registering your student into the VCES activity, managing their registration in the activity, and to facilitate contact with you should any clarification or further information be required. The information collected about your student is also used by the department to understand the program’s reach and impact, and for the purposes of evaluating the program to improve the program in future years.
Bendigo Art Gallery is also seeking to collect optional information to report and evaluate participation in the program across different demographics. This optional demographic and health information includes your student’s gender, whether they identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, are twice-exceptional (have high ability and have a disability), or if a language other than English is spoken at home.
The information from the optional questions is used to help the department understand changes that could be made to the program to further increase student participation across these cohorts, to evaluate the effectiveness of the program offering, and for demographic reporting purposes. Your answers to the optional questions will be provided to the department in a way that does not identify your student to the department of education. The information will be aggregated by school and year level in a way that does not identify your child. This information will be aggregated by the department of education in a method to ensure that your student cannot be identified.
If you do not provide all the information requested in the form, we may not be able to register your student or follow up on any submitted information.
Information provided in the form will be stored securely in Bendigo Art Gallery’s systems in accordance with our privacy policy, with access restricted to those administering the VCES program, staff that need to provide required technical system assistance.
Deidentified data may be shared with external organisations for the purposes of evaluating the program.
Your information will be handled in accordance with this Privacy Notice and our privacy policy or where otherwise authorised or permitted by law.
All information will be handled in accordance with Victorian privacy and records laws. For more information about how the department handles personal information, please refer to the department’s Privacy Policy at vic.gov.au/department-of-education-privacy-policy.
For further information on this Notice or how personal information is handled, or to request access and correction of personal information, please contact [email protected]
Please note that the student’s name is collected for the purposes of our organisation to facilitate their participation in this activity. This personal data will not be shared or used beyond this purpose.
If you have any questions about the registration process, please contact: [email protected]
Guest speakers
Laura Jade
Laura Jade is an Australian illumination artist and interaction designer whose work brings together art, biology, light, neuroscience and brain–computer interface (BCI) technology. She loves finding creative ways to help people see and understand the hidden biological processes happening inside us, turning complex science into immersive, sensory experiences.
Laura holds a Master of Illumination Design from the University of Technology Sydney, a Fine Art degree, and has completed additional studies in biology, science communication, curatorial practice, and museum studies. With a deep curiosity for living systems, Laura often collaborates with scientists and uses real research tools to explore how technology and human experience can come together in meaningful ways.
For over 15 years, Laura has developed and delivered engaging workshops for young people across schools, museums and community programs. Skilled in painting, ceramics, drawing, textiles, printmaking, sculpture and digital design, she creates hands‑on learning experiences that spark curiosity, creativity, and a love of STEAM.