MoPA

Geelong's first Children's Museum MoPA: Museum of Play and Art has opened at the historic Wintergarden Building in McKillop Street.

Home to an impressive collection of fully immersive exhibits and experiences, the play-based-learning offered by the Museum is not only loads of fun, but has also been aligned with the Early Learning Framework for Kindergarten aged children and with the Victorian Curriculum for Children in early primary school.

"All the exhibits and activities at MoPA were inspired by the worlds' best Children's Museums," says Tom, co-director of the Museum, with his wife Billie. "They have been designed, engineered then crafted by designers, craftspeople and artists from all over Australia. We're so proud of just how much of this Museum we managed to build right here, on-site in Geelong."

Families are encouraged to explore, create, play and experiment together with all the features of the Museum. Features include: Soft Play designed to support the development of a toddler's fine-motor skills, whilst also incorporating creative block assembly and identity-building sculpture; Sunset City (for the bigger kids), which rewards little climbers with an impressive view over the entire museum; the crowd-favourite Wind Wall, brought home to Geelong from the world's biggest and best Children's museums; a Zoom Room filled with LEGO® that children can build with and race down giant ramps and jumps; and the now-famous MoPA Art Car that allows children to layer their creation on a real VW bug, challenging the young artists to consider just how unusual a canvas can be, and much more.

MoPA are offering General Admission Play sessions, Memberships and Birthday Parties, but also Educational Programs for Kindergarten and School excursions, and an After Dark series in partnership with Deakin University, that will see parents network, create, learn and discuss a huge range of complex and important topics concerning parents today.

Behind the impressive Wintergarden facade is also a new café, feeding and change facilities, disabled access, pram parking, low-sensory spaces and the Museum will hold special events, community activations, special needs days, and much more.

To ensure every visitor's experience is comfortable for everyone, entry numbers are limited and visitors are advised to book in advance on MoPA's website, where they can choose to arrive in the morning, at midday or during the afternoon.

For more information and to book, please visit: https://www.museumofplayandart.com.au/