Big Days Out: Make Your Mark
This May half-term, bring the whole family along to Baltic to Make Your Mark.
Big Days Out: Make Your Mark
Wed 27 – Sun 31 May
This May half-term, bring the whole family along to Baltic to Make Your Mark - a playful, hands-on exploration of drawing and mark-making inspired by current exhibition Foundation Press: Starting Lines. An evolving programme of artist-led workshops and participatory activities that celebrate movement, experimentation and collaboration.
Throughout the building you’ll find opportunities to get involved: contribute to a large, shared drawing, try out simple drawing machines, make prints using unexpected materials, or join us to create marks that grow and change over time. Activities are designed to be accessible, imaginative and joyful, encouraging visitors of all ages to discover new ways of making marks and working together.
Whether you join in for a few moments or spend the afternoon experimenting, every mark matters - helping to build a vibrant, collective artwork that captures the energy of the space.
Plan Your Visit
Wednesday 27 May
Cereal Disco
10:00-11:00
Front Room
All ages / Free, drop in
Fancy starting your day with a cereal disco in the school holidays? Join us for breakfast and a boogie in Front Room available every morning Wednesday to Sunday during the school holidays.
Play & Learn
10:00-18:00
Learning Lounge
Under 5s / Free, drop in
Little explorers under 5 can explore the world around them through imaginative, creative, self-led play. Includes a special tour led by Baltic Crew of Foundation Press: Starting Lines
Storytime
11:30 and 13:30
Learning Lounge
All ages / Free, booking advised
Join our friendly learning team for an interactive and creative storytelling session aimed at all ages.
Meet & Mark Make
10:30-15:30
Level 2 Art Room
Aimed at 5-12 yrs / Free, booking advised
A three‑day, artist‑led celebration of creative process. Each day offers something new to try - from printing and pattern play to building simple mark‑making machines and experimenting with lines in all directions. Drop in, explore at your own pace, and discover joyful, hands‑on ways to make your mark.
Curious Arts presents Wheelie Proud
Daytime disco trike performance
11:00, 11:30 & 12:00
All ages / Free, drop in
x3 repeated performances with 20 min intervals
A groovy, gold trike, a disco on wheels bringing joy to your day, inviting audiences of all ages to join in, dance, and express themselves. Featuring one dancer, Wheelie Proud is an outdoor interactive promenade piece by Curious Arts, a leading LGBTQIA+ arts organisation based in the North East of England.
Thursday 28 May
Cereal Disco
10:00-11:00
Front Room
All ages / Free, drop in
Fancy starting your day with a cereal disco in the school holidays? Join us for breakfast and a boogie in Front Room available every morning Wednesday to Sunday during the school holidays.
Sewing Bees
11:00-13:00
Front Room
All ages / Free, drop in
Join us for Sewing Bees, our regular sewing group (for all ages) but with sewing that works for smaller hands, make your mark using cardboard & yarn. Crew & volunteers will be on hand to help you get started.
Meet & Mark Make
10:30-15:30
Level 2 Art Room
Aimed at 5-12 yrs / Free, booking advised
A three‑day, artist‑led celebration of creative process. Each day offers something new to try - from printing and pattern play to building simple mark‑making machines and experimenting with lines in all directions. Drop in, explore at your own pace, and discover joyful, hands‑on ways to make your mark.
Leave Your Mark
10:00-18:00
Learning Lounge
All ages / Free, booking advised
Become a Baltic artist and help build our All‑Together Artwork. Create your initial in your own way - a swirl, a scribble, a bold line or a tiny pattern - and add it to the display. Your letter will join everyone else’s to form a growing artwork that will be exhibited here all week. Every mark counts!
Friday 29 May
Cereal Disco
10:00-11:00
Front Room
All ages / Free, drop in
Fancy starting your day with a cereal disco in the school holidays? Join us for breakfast and a boogie in Front Room available every morning Wednesday to Sunday during the school holidays.
Gardening Club
11:00-12:30
Front Room
All ages / Free, booking advised
Join in with our Front Room garden, with some digging and weeding as well as making your own flag that shows how you feel about nature. Leave your mark by planting your flag amongst the flowers and plants so everyone can see how much you appreciate being outdoors.
Meet & Mark Make
10:30-15:30
Level 2 Art Room
Aimed at 5-12 yrs / Free, booking advised
A three‑day, artist‑led celebration of creative process. Each day offers something new to try - from printing and pattern play to building simple mark‑making machines and experimenting with lines in all directions. Drop in, explore at your own pace, and discover joyful, hands‑on ways to make your mark.
Leave Your Mark
10:00-18:00
Learning Lounge
All Ages / Free, booking advised
Become a Baltic artist and help build our All‑Together Artwork. Create your initial in your own way - a swirl, a scribble, a bold line or a tiny pattern - and add it to the display. Your letter will join everyone else’s to form a growing artwork that will be exhibited here all week. Every mark counts!
Pedal & Play
10:30-14:30
Baltic Square
All ages / Free, booking advised
Navigate a cone course, practise your skills, and enjoy activities designed for the whole family.
Saturday 30 May
Cereal Disco
10:00-11:00
Front Room
All ages / Free, drop in
Fancy starting your day with a cereal disco in the school holidays? Join us for breakfast and a boogie in Front Room available every morning Wednesday to Sunday during the school holidays.
Drawing Tables
11:00-17:30
Front Room
All ages / Free, drop in
After Cereal Disco & Doodle, we’ll have some still life set up in Front Room, along with paper and drawing materials. Grab a pencil and sketch pad and get sketching whilst you relax in Front Room.
Sunday 31 May
Cereal Disco
10:00-11:00
Front Room
All ages / Free, drop in
Fancy starting your day with a cereal disco in the school holidays? Join us for breakfast and a boogie in Front Room available every morning Wednesday to Sunday during the school holidays.
Swap & Share Books
10:00-17:00
Front Room
All ages / Free, drop in
Come in & swap or give away your preloved books. These Swap & Shares are all about re-using and passing on books that you are ready to share with others to take home.
