Open Play is an early years programme dedicated to open ended child-led play in museums, galleries and cultural spaces for children aged 4 and under based at Leicester Gallery.
Let your family’s creative curiosities wonder!
Upcoming Sessions:
Tiny Play
Tiny Play for tiny babies! A multi-sensory session for our littlest creative beings including material exploration and soft play.
FREE – Sun 23rd February 10am – 11am at Leicester Gallery
Aimed at 0-12 month olds / not yet walking babies.
Material and sensory led open-ended play sessions, including soft play, where children lead the way.
FREE – Sun 23rd February 11am – 12pm at Leicester Gallery
£ Pay What You Can – Sun 23rd February 12.30 pm – 1.30pm at Leicester Gallery. Sparkly Mark Making! Please wear something you don’t mind getting a little messy in.
To celebrate DMU Pride 2025, Rainbow Families will be taking over Leicester Gallery for an LGBTQ+ family workshop facilitated by Open Play. Morgan and Tia will be on hand to support children and their grown-ups to get creative exploring contemporary art, as well as giving people a chance to meet other LGBTQ+ families in a relaxed and friendly setting. The event is free and open to all LGBTQ+ families, friends and allies.
FREE – Sun 26th February 11am – 1pm at Leicester Gallery
The Children’s Clothes Swap is available to all at every session at Leicester Gallery. You can take as much as you want or need and drop something off in the future when your little one has outgrown it. You DO NOT have to donate to take things.
We’re coming together as a community to share clothes and the memories they hold, supporting each other to save money by not buying brand new whilst building a sustainable sharing practice. This is one small way we are helping families through the cost-of-living crisis.
Need clothing / equipment support? Click here.
We have partnered with Baby Basics Leicester. They are a volunteer-led charity aiming to support families who are struggling to meet the financial and practical needs of looking after a new baby or young child. They provide much needed essentials and equipment for free on a referral basis, such as:
Moses basket starter pack
Starter pack – NO basket
Clothing bundle
Mum/ Baby / child toiletries bundle
Nappies
Baby bath
Toys & books bundle
Maternity clothes
Pram / buggy / double buggy
Sling / carrier
Bouncy chair / play mat
High chair and weaning kit
Feeding cushion
Bottle bundle
Cot, mattress and bedding
If you need help, please contact our friendly, caring and non-judgemental team and Open Play can make a referral for you. Email Morgan.
Want to try cloth nappies? Click here.
Are you interested in trying cloth nappies but haven’t found an affordable way to try it out to see if it suits you and your baby? We have our own long-term mini cloth nappy kit available for families to loan directly from us for FREE thanks Leicester Cloth Nappy Library. Get in touch if you’d like more info.
