Education 2026

#Kids Take Over Festival 2026

Now Open for Schools!

Dates: 14 - 18 Sept
Where: HOTA, Home of the Arts

In 2026, we’re inviting schools to be part of Kids Take Over, a week-long festival where students can engage with performances, music, immersive experiences, and hands-on creative adventures that spark curiosity and imagination.

With shows and activities tailored for all ages, this is the perfect opportunity to bring your class for a full day of arts immersion.

Festival Highlights:

  • The Box Show – a high-energy performance that turns ordinary objects into extraordinary sound.
  • The Bee Story – a buzzing eco-adventure with important messages about our environment.
  • Hot Potato Band – join the fun with workshops and performance opportunities alongside this unforgettable innovative brass band.
  • Seasons | Understory – an interactive performance installation where students are invited underground into the mycelium network amongst the tree roots, caves, tunnels and buried trapdoors exploring the ecology of the forest. The installation is created with the students in the lead up to the festival creating a space for kids by kids.
  • Gallery Tours, First Nations Experiences & More! Browse the school program 

Browse the school program schedule below and book your shows and workshops early to avoid missing out.

*Please note: Entry to Seasons Understory is free but requires a reservation, as spaces are limited.

View Timetable

#Explore the program

Wulabora
Education
Wed 25 Mar - Mon 14 Sep 2026

Wulabora

Ballun Gawrehma: Story by the River

A Bee Story
Education
Tue 15 - Sat 19 Sep 2026

A Bee Story

HOTA and ARC Circus present A Bee Story

The Box Show
Education
Wed 16 Sep 2026

The Box Show

HOTA and Junkyard Beats Presents, The Box Show

Hot Potato Band Workshop
All Ages
Education
Thu 17 - Sat 19 Sep 2026

Hot Potato Band Workshop

HOTA presents Hot Potato Band

Hot Potato Band
All Ages
Sat 19 Sep 2026

Hot Potato Band

HOTA presents Hot Potato Band


#K-6 Performances & Workshops

Wulabora
Education
Wed 25 Mar - Mon 14 Sep 2026

Wulabora

Ballun Gawrehma: Story by the River

The Bookbinder
Education
Wed 6 - Sat 9 May 2026

The Bookbinder

Presented by HOTA and Trick of the Light

30 Seconds to Sell
Education
Thu 30 Jul 2026

30 Seconds to Sell

HOTA Engages, IMPERFECT CREATIVES

A Bee Story
Education
Tue 15 - Sat 19 Sep 2026

A Bee Story

HOTA and ARC Circus present A Bee Story

The Box Show
Education
Wed 16 Sep 2026

The Box Show

HOTA and Junkyard Beats Presents, The Box Show

Hot Potato Band
All Ages
Sat 19 Sep 2026

Hot Potato Band

HOTA presents Hot Potato Band

Hot Potato Band Workshop
All Ages
Education
Thu 17 - Sat 19 Sep 2026

Hot Potato Band Workshop

HOTA presents Hot Potato Band


#7-12 Performances & Workshops

Songcraft Studio
Education
Mon 9 Mar - Mon 12 Oct 2026

Songcraft Studio

HOTA Engages Hayden Andrews

Class Clowns 2026
Education
Thu 12 Mar 2026

Class Clowns 2026

HOTA and Melbourne International Comedy Festival presents

Wulabora
Education
Wed 25 Mar - Mon 14 Sep 2026

Wulabora

Ballun Gawrehma: Story by the River

QSO Spirit of the Violin
All Ages
Music
Thu 30 Apr 2026

QSO Spirit of the Violin

Queensland Symphony Orchestra

QSO SidebySide Program
Education
Thu 30 Apr 2026

QSO SidebySide Program

HOTA Engages the Queensland Symphony Orchestra Connect Program

The Bookbinder
Education
Wed 6 - Sat 9 May 2026

The Bookbinder

Presented by HOTA and Trick of the Light

FREELANCE FILMM4KERS
Education
Thu 21 May 2026

FREELANCE FILMM4KERS

HOTA Engages, IMPERFECT CREATIVES

KOAL
Education
Thu 11 - Fri 12 Jun 2026

KOAL

HOTA presents Jacinta Yelland

KOAL Workshop | From Creature to Character
Education
Thu 11 Jun 2026

KOAL Workshop | From Creature to Character

Physical Transformation through Animal Work

30 Seconds to Sell
Education
Thu 30 Jul 2026

30 Seconds to Sell

HOTA Engages, IMPERFECT CREATIVES

The Scene Project
Education
Mon 7 - Tue 8 Sep 2026

The Scene Project

HOTA Engages in Partnership with Queensland Theatre

Hot Potato Band Workshop
All Ages
Education
Thu 17 - Sat 19 Sep 2026

Hot Potato Band Workshop

HOTA presents Hot Potato Band

Hot Potato Band
All Ages
Sat 19 Sep 2026

Hot Potato Band

HOTA presents Hot Potato Band


#Current exhibitions

A Bigger View
Free
Sat 22 Jun 2024 - Sun 21 Jun 2026

A Bigger View

Anna Carey’s Magic + Memory: make me a home
Free
All Ages
HOTA Collects: Metamorphosis
Free
Sat 30 Aug 2025 - Sun 11 Jan 2026

HOTA Collects: Metamorphosis

ENERGIES 25
Free
Sat 13 Sep - Sun 9 Nov

ENERGIES 25

Celebrating the next generation of artists


#Education Events

HOTA Educators’ End-of-Term Social

Learn. Create. Advocate.

Join the HOTA Education Team for a well-earned twilight event of drinks, nibbles, connection, and celebration—with a fun twist! This series brings educators together to relax, share successes, and foster collaboration.

  • Term 1: Fri 27 March 2026
  • Term 2: Fri 26 Jun 2026
  • Term 3: Fri 18 Sept 2026
  • Term 4: Fri 20 Nov 2026

Registrations are open to current teaching staff in early learning centres, primary, secondary, tertiary, and pre-service education. It is essential for each attendee to register in advance to ensure accommodation of dietary requirements, catering needs, and event requirements.

Where: HOTA Central

Duration: 4pm-6pm

Tickets: Free for teachers, registrations required.

Register

#HOTA Teacher's Membership Pass

We love our teachers and want you to feel at home here.

Our Education Memberships for teachers provide opportunities for teachers to engage with our Gallery and Theatre spaces to feel inspired, and continue to develop your specialist skills, and make coming to HOTA more affordable.

Join now

#HOTA Performing Arts Education Reference Group

#School Visits & Bookings

HOTA Gallery and Central are free to visit.

Performance bookings

Performance bookings

Teachers can reserve tickets for students to visit a performing arts show and/or take part in a performance-related workshops/Q&A.

Gallery bookings

Gallery bookings

Teachers can reserve tickets for students to visit an exhibition and/or take part in visual art workshops.

#Resources

Our free online resources complement the exhibitions at HOTA Gallery and our Performing Arts Program and align with the Australian Curriculum documents. Our resources also include accessibility and cross curriculum priorities.

View all

HOTA proudly acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout South East Queensland.

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