Little Inventors at Sunderland Arts Festival
We’re so excited to be part of the Sunderland Art Festival on Sunday 31 August, bringing imagination, invention, and playful creativity back to our hometown! This free, family-friendly event at Sheepfolds Stables runs from 10am to 4pm, with hands-on creative sessions for all ages - and we’ll be right at the heart of it.
✨ The Little Inventors Workshop
Join us as we dream up big ideas for Sunderland’s brand new footbridge, the Keel Crossing. Using a giant cardboard model, young inventors will get the chance to shape a vision for the city’s future with craft, colour, and creativity.
The session will be led by our brilliant cardboard artist Lottie Smith, who transforms recyclable materials into playful works of art. Together, we’ll encourage wild and wonderful ideas that show just how inventive Sunderland can be.
This workshop connects back to why Little Inventors began here in Sunderland in 2016 - to give children’s creativity the value it deserves, and to help turn their imaginative ideas into reality with the support of artists, makers, and designers.
More to Discover
Alongside our workshop, you can step into The Lost and Found Office of Oddities, a playful street theatre experience created in partnership with Atlas Theatre Company CIC. Expect curious objects, roaming performers, and surreal surprises — all designed to spark storytelling and imaginative adventures.
A Homecoming for Little Inventors
Our founder, internationally acclaimed artist and inventor Dominic Wilcox, is delighted to return to Sunderland for this special event:
Sunderland is where the original Inventors! project began in 2016, and it’s wonderful to come back and celebrate the creativity of the city that inspired us. This event is a chance to engage local communities, spark imaginations, and maybe even uncover the next great thinkers and inventors. Whether you’re seven or 70, we want to show that your ideas matter and deserve to be celebrated — and to have fun along the way!
About the Festival
The Sunderland Art Festival, led by artist Su Devine and supported by Sunderland BID, is a joyful celebration of the city’s vibrant arts and culture. With exhibitions, workshops, and creative encounters across the Sheepfolds, it’s the perfect playground for imagination, storytelling, and artistic adventure.
We can’t wait to welcome you - bring your curiosity, your creativity, and your biggest ideas. Let’s make something amazing together!
- Sunday 31 August
- Sheepfolds Stables, Sunderland
- 10am – 4pm
- Free entry