Learning

The RWA works with specific community groups on and offsite, to bring art to everyone

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Free Scribble and Sketch family workshops take place at Easton, Redcliffe, Hartcliffe and Southmead, as well as the RWA on Saturdays once a month

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The RWA holds Tuesday Teatime Tours for people living with dementia

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Sensory activities are available for all to enjoy in the Family Activity Space

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Workshops for adults with learning disabilities are run in partnership with BCL (Bristol Community Links)

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Roma young people taking part in a creative workshop

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Baby group at the RWA

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Happy Mondays sessions for autistic children and those with profound and multiple disabilities take place on Mondays when the galleries are closed to the public.

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More than an Art Gallery

The RWA is known as being an Art Gallery but it is so much more! It’s also a hub for community engagement, offering a range of free activities tailored for individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. From mums and babies to older adults, the RWA is committed to fostering inclusivity and creativity within the local community. 

Inclusive Programming for Children and Young People

The RWA's extensive events programme invites individuals from all walks of life to take part in the  enriching experience of creating. 

The Family Room 
This purpose-built space is free to use and suitable for families of all ages, you'll find an array of drawing materials, giant interactive artwork, dressing-up options, puzzles, a chill-out zone with books, and even a puppet theatre for you to create your own shows.  

Scribble and Sketch 
Our Scribble and Sketch sessions provide an opportunity for free family art workshops at various locations across the city on Saturday mornings. With no pre-booking required, these sessions are designed for children and grown-ups to participate together, emphasising the importance of shared creative moments. 

• Hartcliffe City Farm – 1st Saturday of every month, 10:30-12:30pm
• Easton Christian Family Centre – 2nd Saturday of every month, 10:30-12:30pm
• Studio, Windmill Hill City Farm – 3rd Saturday of every month, 10:30-12:30pm 
• Community Corner, Greenway Centre Café, Southmead – 4th Saturday of every month, 10:30-12:30pm 

Baby Tours 
For parents with babies (12 months and under), the Baby Tour offers a relaxed and informal space to explore artworks in our main gallery. This experience is designed to be pressure-free, allowing parents to enjoy the gallery and share the space with other parents without worries about noise. Adult ticket £9.90 (Standard adult main exhibition ticket)

Holiday Activities 

Art Skills is a series of workshops designed for budding young artists and are held in the RWA Studio during school holidays. This is an opportunity for young art enthusiasts to work with established artists to learn new skills and techniques that they can try again at home.  

Early Years days are drop-in sessions specifically aimed at 2-4 year olds and take place in the RWA Family Room. Materials are provided for very young artists to get stuck into a morning or afternoon of fun activities. These sessions are FREE but booking is required.  

Happy families are for parents with children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEN+D). These take place once each school holiday on the first Monday of the holidays when the galleries are shut to the public. Families can enjoy sensory, explorative workshops with gentle guidance from a facilitator in a quiet, calm space. These sessions are FREE but booking is required. 

See all upcoming events on our Family Events page.

Art for Everybody

In addition to family-oriented activities, the RWA offers tailored experiences for older individuals and those with specific needs.  

Tuesday Teatime Tours
Tuesday Teatime Tours run monthly for people living with dementia and their carers. A warm welcome awaits – not only will our gentle artist facilitator support your exhibition visit, but this is followed by tea and cake.  

Described Tours
For blind or partially sighted adults, the Described Tour allows for a tactile exploration of the exhibition with experienced facilitators.  

BSL Tours
Our British Sign Language (BSL) Tours are led by Heather Williams, offering a Deaf perspective on each of our exhibitions ensuring accessibility for the Deaf community.  

See all upcoming our Access For All page.

We also work offsite with our partners in community groups across the city, on projects that we design together.