Art Stomps

Art Stomps is back at National Galleries of Scotland: Modern, with the first session on 19 September 2026 at 11:30. It's a free, welcoming drop-in workshop series for children under five and their parents or carers, built around relaxed, hands-on, sensory activities that they hold outdoors whenever possible. The sessions are designed to let families spend unhurried time in the gallery, noticing, chatting and taking in art side by side, and the staff share simple creative ideas you can try again at home. This time, the focus is on sculpture.

The setting is a big part of the experience. National Galleries of Scotland: Modern spreads across two buildings, Modern One and Modern Two, and holds Scotland's national collection of modern and contemporary art in extensive parkland. Modern One features a striking landform by landscape architect Charles Jencks and Cafe Modern One, famous for its legendary scones. Modern Two houses Paolozzi's Kitchen, named after the Scottish artist Eduardo Paolozzi, and looks out over its own green space with outdoor works by Dan Graham and Nathan Coley. The grounds also show sculpture by Ian Hamilton Finlay, Henry Moore, Rachel Whiteread and Richard Long.

It's a slow-paced way to introduce little ones to art, with the focus on doing and seeing rather than sitting still. If you're taking a toddler, the outdoor element is a bonus—plenty of room to move around without worrying about keeping them quiet. The sessions run on 19 September at 11:30, with further dates on 24 October and 21 November. Entry is free, and you book your spot via nationalgalleries.org.