Art Gallery in Leeds forms collaboration for 'Kids Aloud' project
Leeds City Council has announced that the Kids Aloud programme will be returning to Leeds Art Gallery this summer, offering families an opportunity to visit the gallery and shout about culture and the arts. This national initiative from Art Fund aims to make museums and galleries more family-friendly spaces, breaking down barriers that often make parents feel uncomfortable bringing young children into cultural spaces.
Located in Millennium Square, Leeds Art Gallery will host a series of special "shush-free" events designed to encourage children to be lively and expressive while exploring art. Activities include loud gallery tours, portrait workshops, and pattern-making poetry sessions inspired by the current exhibition "To Improvise A Mountain: Lynette Yiadom Boakye Curates." These child-friendly events run alongside the gallery’s regular summer programme during dedicated Kids Aloud timeslots, making the gallery a welcoming and inclusive space for families with children.
Kids Aloud is a national initiative involving over 20 museums and galleries across the UK. At Leeds Art Gallery, children can express themselves energetically in an environment where being loud is actively encouraged, helping families engage with art in a fun and inclusive way. Cllr Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles, and culture, is proud of the council’s work to make museums and galleries accessible and family-friendly.
Cllr Arif encourages families to bring their children to museums and galleries, emphasizing the family-friendly nature of the gallery. She states, "The Kids Aloud programme invites children to simply be themselves and enjoy the incredible collection at Leeds Art Gallery this summer." Over half (52%) of parents with young children worry about taking their children to museums and art galleries due to fears they will be too loud. Leeds City Council is participating in the Kids Aloud initiative to provide families with time slots to visit the gallery without fear of being told off or judged for being too loud.
More information about the special events can be found on the Leeds Art Gallery's website. The gallery continues to offer these vibrant activities throughout the summer holidays 2025. Jenny Waldman, director of Art Fund, encourages parents to bring their little ones to museums and galleries, stating that Kids Aloud will encourage noisiness and expression in an environment designed for it. She says, "We want to create a space where children can be themselves and enjoy art, free from the fear of being too loud or disruptive."
[1] Kids Aloud returns to Leeds Art Gallery this summer. (2025, June 1). Leeds City Council. [2] Leeds Art Gallery. (n.d.). Kids Aloud. Retrieved from https://www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/Pages/Kids-Aloud.aspx [3] Waldman, J. (2025, June 1). Breaking down barriers: Kids Aloud encourages families to explore art. Art Fund. [4] Art Fund. (n.d.). Kids Aloud. Retrieved from https://www.artfund.org/what-we-do/campaigns/kids-aloud [5] Arif, S. (2025, June 1). Leeds Art Gallery offers family-friendly activities this summer. Leeds City Council.
- By participating in the Kids Aloud programme at Leeds Art Gallery, families can engage in a series of loud and expressive activities, fostering new perspectives and embracing a family-friendly lifestyle.
- The Kids Aloud initiative offers families an opportunity to break down barriers and learn more about art, relationships, and self-development as they explore different museums and galleries across the UK, including home-and-garden exhibits or education-and-self-development workshops.
- Through the Kids Aloud programme, children are encouraged to enhance their learning skills and explore their creativity in a fun and inclusive environment that celebrates family-dynamics and expression.
