World of Wonder Young Explorers tour and creative writing workshop

As part of Brisbane Children’s Writers Festival, Museum of Brisbane welcomes students in grades 7–12 to participate in this pre-Festival event as part of World of Wonder: Margot McKinney. Inspired by the Festival theme of “dream”, young writers will be transported to a dreamy wonderland when they take part in this very special tour at Museum of Brisbane!

Participants will embark on an adventure as they explore the magic of opals, pearls and other amazing miracles of nature in this 45 minute deep dive into the World of Wonder: Margot McKinney. The exhibition unearths stories about jewellery designer Margot McKinney’s illustrious career and the miracles of nature that make up her designs.

From the coral reef in our own backyard to the rich palette of colours found in Tanzania, this exhibition is a mesmerising celebration of the complex and profoundly beautiful environments and materials that have inspired her designs. Here are opulent opals, lustrous pearls and rare gems like the intensely blue tanzanite, lilac amethyst and pink tourmalines.

This tour will allow young writers to get hands on with real life gems.

Immediately following the tour, young writers will be able to put pen to paper in an on-site creative writing workshop. Participants will write stories and/or poems inspired by the treasures to be found in dreamy, underwater environments and subterranean caverns. In the workshop, young writers will be guided in exercises that support them to find form for their own tour experiences and sparkling imaginings.

The Brisbane Children’s Writers Festival will take place on Saturday 8 October, presented by Queensland Writers Centre. This one-day festival will be jam-packed with awesome workshops, competitions, prizes, and loads of fun and creative activities to inspire the creativity of young writers and readers. Find out the full event program here.

NOTE: Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult for this experience.