CORK.- Astronauts, sculpture making, finger puppets, fun and games. It’s all happening at the Crawford Art Gallery this summer for young and old and it’s free!

To accompany the summer exhibition at Crawford Art Gallery, about how children are made visible in Ireland today, an entire gallery space has been devoted to play.

As part of the associated Crawford Art Gallery Learn and Explore Programme Seen, and Heard is a unique Playspace on the first floor, harmoniously complementing the main exhibition Seen, not Heard downstairs. The events are free and until October, the Playspace will provide the perfect chance for young imaginations to run wild and discover hidden talents in a safe and supportive atmosphere.

Younger visitors will most definitely be seen and heard here; inspired by kids and for kids as a fun and immersive experience. The Seen, and Heard Playspace is a place for children and adults alike to play, discover the art materials provided, read, dream, draw on the wall and make new friends over the summer holidays and beyond. These vibrant and exciting events and workshops will run weekly throughout the summer.

Two years in the making, this innovative exhibition and playspace is a first for the Crawford Art Gallery and will give guests over the summer a rare glimpse into how children have long been an important subject matter in art. Seen, Not Heard encourages the audience to reflect on their own ideas of childhood and on the place of children in society today.

The Crawford Art Gallery’s Learn and Explore programme has long provided fascinating and entertaining learning activities for young and old. With weekend workshops, school tours, life-drawing, creative writing classes and community based projects.

The Playspace will host workshops from some of the creative industry’s brightest minds. Will Sliney well known comicbook artist. (Marvel's “Fearless Defenders” & bestselling graphic novel “Celtic Warrior”), Dowtcha Puppets, Danielle Sheehy, stop-motion animations with Julie Forrester, Cork Printmakers and Eamon O’Kane’s Froebel Studio: Institute for Creativity .