Keeping children busy over the school summer holidays just got easier! This year families can pop into a new dedicated space for art and creativity in the Victoria Centre – the Summer Arts Pop-up - which is open to the public every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11am - 3pm until Saturday 30th August.

The Summer Arts Pop Up is a collaboration between Young Creatives Nottingham, ChalleNGe (Local Cultural Education Partnership), Arts Partners and is supported by Victoria Centre, Nottingham. It is part of the Child Friendly Creative City initiative, launched in June 2025. 

As well as engaging with fun activities, the Summer Arts Pop Up will be a one-stop shop for families to discover what is happening across the arts and cultural sector over the summer break. You can also share your own favourite places for creativity and inspiration in your community.

Hosted by our partners ChalleNGe and the Young Creative Awards the Pop-up Shop is situated in the Upper Mall of Victoria Centre, next to The Entertainer toy Shop, there will be a host of drop-in creative activities for all the family to enjoy together, all led by a Minister for Joy and suitable for early years to teenagers, including: 

• Regular features include a Lego corner and cardboard construction workshop, games and self-led crafting activities
• A changing programme of creative workshops, led by artists and local cultural organisations
• An interactive dance experience using VR Headsets
• Children and young people’s exhibitions: Young Creative Awards 2025 shortlist exhibition, RED from Lakeside Arts (Rufford and Crabtree Farm Schools) and HOME; an installation by the Nottingham Schools Trust.
• Chill out space for reading and quieter activities 
• A space for teenagers to create and connect
• Opportunities to listen to children and young people’s experiences of the city with Child Friendly Nottingham.

In addition, there is a series of Creative Futures workshops on Wednesdays between 4-6pm led by Young Creative Awards Alumni and Connecting Notts youth network to explore how young people can turn their creative talent into a career sessions from 4-6pm in the Pop Up space, aimed at those wanting to find out more about working in the arts and building a creative life and career.