Category: BNG Kids

Students from 17 different schools are taking part in a mural competition being hosted by the Green family, with each school set to receive $1,000 while the winning school will receive $5,000, with the finished murals to be displayed surrounding the Luscar Place construction site.

A spokesperson said, “The Green family has once again partnered with the Bermuda National Gallery [BNG] to host an art competition for school students. Today, local middle and upper primary schools will be asked to design murals for a chance to win $5,000 for their school. All completed murals will be displayed as the surrounds to Luscar Place’s construction site throughout the project’s duration.

“School teams of up to 15 students are being asked to paint scenes representing Bermuda in the style of Andy Warhol. To further the exploration of Warhol and his signature style, students will be invited to free class tours of BNG’s exhibition of portraits by Andy Warhol loaned by the Green family, which opens to the public on Thursday, May 29th.

“At the competition, held today, Wednesday, April 30th, students will be given bespoke Luscar Place T shirts, drinks and snacks, as well as the art materials they need to design a winning mural. Painting will occur from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, and a team of judges made up of representatives from the Green family and BNG will decide on the winning mural tomorrow, May 1st.”

Alexander Green, on behalf of the Green family, said, “Similar to past development projects, we wanted to involve young people looking to explore their artistic talents. Registered participation in today’s mural competition surpassed our expectations, with the interest only increasing from our inaugural event at Waterloo House dating back to 2010 [Masterworks] and again at Point House in 2019 [BNG].

“It is heartwarming to know that so many students will come together to express themselves freely through art and teamwork. We look forward to seeing their designs on a large scale. The artwork will be a welcome pop of colour on Pitts Bay Road.”

Jennifer L. Phillips, BNG Executive Director, said, “The Bermuda National Gallery was pleased to partner once again with the Green family and Bermuda’s schools. Today’s increase in school participation demonstrates our young people’s desire to be creative, and it highlights the importance of providing them with platforms to express themselves. Through this collaboration, we continue to nurture the next generation of artists, encouraging innovation, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation for the arts within our community.”

The spokesperson said, “Each participating school will receive a cheque for $1,000, and once the winning design is announced, the student team with the top design will receive $5,000 for their school, with 2nd and 3rd place murals receiving $3,000 and $2,000 respectively.

“The 17 participating schools were: Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning, Bermuda Institute, Chatmore British International School, Dellwood Middle School, East End Primary School, Elliot Primary School, Francis Patton Primary School, Mount Saint Agnes Academy, Purvis Parish School, Saltus Grammar School, Sandys Secondary Middle School, Somersfield Academy, St. David’s Primary School, The Bermuda High School, Victor Scott Primary School, Warwick Academy, and West Pembroke Primary School.”

6 games to play with kids when visiting BNG

Voted Best Art Gallery for Kids two years in a row, the Bermuda National Gallery is the perfect place to visit with children this spring break! In addition to offering free tours for schools and camps, BNG provides Free Activity Books —available both in the Gallery and online. For the two weeks of spring break, we’re also setting up colouring stations to keep young visitors engaged. If it’s your first time visiting the Gallery, check out our tips on explaining the rules of the Gallery to kids.

For our frequent flyers—kids who have already completed all six Activity Books but are still eager for more—here are some fun games to play in the Gallery that encourage creativity, observation, and critical thinking!

1. Speed Seeing

Younger visitors often want to explore everything at once—so lean into that energy! Challenge them to spend five seconds looking at each artwork in an exhibition. This lets them get a quick overview before circling back to their favorites.

Once they’re done, test their memory by asking:

• Can they describe the first piece they saw?
• What about an artwork from a different floor?
• Which artworks do you want to spend more time with?

2. Copy Cat

Encourage kids to engage with art using their whole bodies. Find artworks that are fun to imitate—perhaps a photograph of a person in motion or an expressive abstract painting. Can they strike the same pose as a sculpture? Mimic the movement of a wave? Even invent a dance inspired by a piece?

Moving while looking at art helps children connect with it in a new way, making the experience both playful and memorable.

3. List Race

How many words can they use to describe an artwork? This simple game encourages observation and language development. Choose a painting or sculpture and take turns listing adjectives that describe it. The person who comes up with the most words wins!

For an extra challenge, write the words down to sneak in some handwriting practice, or count them up for a quick numeracy activity.

4. Five Senses

Encourage children to think beyond what they can see by imagining an artwork using all their senses. Ask:

• What do you see? What does it remind you of?
• What would it sound like? Does it make noise? Would it talk?
• How would it feel? Is it smooth like glass, or rough like tree bark?
• What does it smell like? The salty sea? Fresh paint? Bubble gum?
• What would it taste like? Sweet, spicy, or something completely unexpected?

There are no wrong answers—encouraging their imagination is the goal!

5. Describe and Sketch

If you have a blank sheet of paper (or ask for one from our friendly volunteers at the desk), try this fun drawing challenge. One person picks an artwork and describes it while the other, facing away, sketches it based only on the description. Then swap roles!

This activity strengthens observation and communication skills while adding an extra layer of creativity to their gallery visit.

6. Mock Juror

Inspired by the Junior Biennial Activity Book, this game helps children understand the curatorial process.

Give them a blank sheet with five or six frames drawn on it. As they walk through the gallery, they can select artworks for their own mini-exhibition. Once they’ve made their choices, ask them to explain:

• What connects these artworks?
• Why did they choose them?
• What will they name their exhibition?
• What about the pieces that weren’t chosen? They’re still good, right?

This encourages kids to think critically about how exhibitions are created while also reinforcing that all art is valuable—whether it’s on display or not.

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Art galleries aren’t just for looking—they’re spaces for play, learning, and creativity! With free admission for all of 2025, BNG is the perfect place for families to explore, create, and connect with art in the heart of Hamilton.

A Guide for Explaining Rules

At BNG, we are committed to providing world-class art experiences for every member of your family—including the youngest ones. To help children engage with art in a meaningful way, we create free Activity Books for every exhibition, filled with interactive activities that can be completed both in the Gallery and at home.

Many parents have reached out with concerns about how to ensure their children follow proper Gallery etiquette. After years of leading free school and camp tours, we have developed strategies to help children understand and respect the rules—without taking away from their enjoyment. Here are our top five tips:

1. Know the Rules Yourself

Before explaining the rules to children, it’s helpful to be familiar with them. At BNG, our key rules are:

• No running
• No shouting
• No food or drinks
• No flash photography
• No touching the artwork (unless specifically indicated)

2. Explain the “Why”

Rules are easier to follow when children understand the reasons behind them. For example:

• No shouting: It disrupts others trying to enjoy the art in a peaceful environment
• No running: Movement can shake delicate artworks and cause damage
• No touching: Oils and dirt from our hands can harm the artwork

3. Make it Personal

Young children may not understand the financial value of fine art, but they can relate to the effort that goes into creating something. Instead of saying, “We don’t touch because it’s expensive,” try:

• “Someone worked really hard on this artwork—how would you want people to treat something you worked really hard on?”
• “Imagine if your favourite drawing got smudged or torn. We take care of artwork so that it lasts a long time.”

4. Turn it Into a Game

In most areas of the gallery, grey carpet surrounds beige carpet—turn it into “lava”! Challenge your child to keep their hands, heads, and feet off the grey carpet while moving through the space.

5. Unlimited Reminders

We don’t expect kids to remember everything right away! We encourage children to be curious and engaged, and a little enthusiasm is always welcome! If they get excited and forget, a simple, calm reminder is all it takes.

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We don’t expect children to behave like adults in the Gallery—we want them to have fun while learning about art. With these simple strategies, we can create an environment where children feel welcome and engaged, and still be respectful of the artworks on display.

Planning a visit? Don’t forget to pick up one of our Activity Books available for free in the Gallery!