Children’s author Michael Rosen’s writings inspire family experience like no other at Z-Arts.
Manchester’s Z-Arts is to host the premier of an exciting new interactive exhibition this September, inspired by the much-loved children’s author Michael Rosen’s writings.
Manchester families will be able to explore the fantastic stories and poems of former Children’s Laureate and bestselling writer Michael Rosen. Children and families can discover immersive environments inspired by We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake, The Book of Bad Things and Uncle Gobb and the DreadShed.
Younger children will be able to participate in a Bear Hunt trail whilst older children can go on a fun fact finding mission and create poems of their own to take away. Michael has collaborated on the project, and the exhibition will feature hidden rooms where clues can be found that reveal the inspiration behind Michael’s writing, including his Grandparents’ sitting room and his childhood classroom.
Award winning author Michael Rosen says: “This exhibition is one of the most exciting things to have happened in my writing career. I am someone who has found a way of writing that is often about digging up stuff to do with my past and here it is made into a giant exhibition that families and schools will be able to explore. Just as exciting for me, as someone who works with children and students, is the idea that this exhibition will act as a springboard for children, teachers and parents to talk together about things that they remember or think up, and this, I hope, will turn into writing and performing new poems and stories. I am so looking forward to it.”
In the lead up to the exhibition, Z-arts launched an online bear hunt competition with celebrities including Mr Bloom, Jack P Shepherd AKA David Platt from Coronation Street and Michelle Ackerley. Each month a photo of a celebrity bear is released online and the public are invited to guess the owner. The competition will conclude with a giant bear hunt around Manchester City Centre in October and a presentation to the competition winners with special guest Michael Rosen.
Michael Rosen’s Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake and Bad Things will be touring the country from summer 2016, beginning in Cornwall before travelling to Z-arts in Manchester on the 17 September, running until 17 December. The exhibition created, produced and designed by Discover, the creative literacy centre for children aged 0-11 years and their families, carers and teachers, runs Saturdays and every day during October Half Term at 10am, 11.15m, 1pm and 2.15pm. Tickets £7.
