Kids' Art Activities for Cafés, Play Centres and Studios: Ready-Made Sessions, No Extra Instructor

Many cafés, play centres, bookshops, studios and after-school clubs would like to offer children's art sessions: a reason for families to come in, stay longer and come back. The usual obstacles are the same: who will run them, where the ideas come from, and whether it's allowed to use printed activities in a paid event. These are the questions venues ask most, with honest answers.

Children's activities for your venue

How can I use children's activities to bring more families to my café or venue?

A regular, recognisable moment works better than one-off events: for example a weekly kids' art hour on the same afternoon, or a five-week themed club. Families plan around it, and children ask to come back. We can't promise numbers, but a session that is easy to run every week is what makes this sustainable.

Are there ready-made art activities I can run with children at my venue?

Yes. Barti missions are printable art activities for children aged 6–12, designed for groups: each one comes with the children's sheet, a guide for the adult and a 45-minute session plan with group variations. Children listen to the mission through a QR code, then make something entirely their own.

Can I run kids' art sessions without hiring an art instructor?

Yes. The missions are built so that the adult doesn't need art training: the session plan explains how to start, how to organise the table and what to look for, and Barti "tells" the mission out loud through the QR code. A member of your team prepares the materials, starts the session and supervises. Children always need an adult present, especially with scissors or paint.

Do I need a qualified teacher to run these sessions?

Barti doesn't require one: the missions and session plan are designed so that a member of your team can run them. The rules on running children's activities, however, depend on your country and on whether parents stay during the session or leave their children with you. Check with your local authority and your insurer before you start.

Do the children need to be good at drawing?

No. There is no model to copy and no right answer, so every child succeeds in their own way. That also makes the sessions easier to run: nobody is "behind".

Running the sessions

What ages are the activities for? Can I mix ages?

Ages 6–12. Mixed ages work well: younger children make simpler choices and older ones go further with the same starting point. The guide also suggests an easier and a harder version.

How long is a session?

Between 25 and 50 minutes, depending on the mission. The session plan is built around 45 minutes: introduction, warm-up, main activity and a short "gallery" where children show their work.

What materials do I need, and how much mess will there be?

Simple materials: paper, colours, scissors and glue, plus a few everyday objects; a few missions use paint or clay. Each mission lists its materials on its page, which you can read before buying: that way you choose the activities that suit your venue and prepare the space in advance. The sheets also work printed in black and white.

Can I run a weekly club or a themed series?

Yes. The Artists Pack is a ready-made five-week series: Kandinsky, Matisse, Van Gogh, Degas and Arcimboldo, one artist a week, each telling their mission through the QR code. Children don't copy the famous painting: they borrow the artist's idea.

Licence and prices

Can I charge for sessions that use Barti missions?

Yes, with the Workshop licence. The Family and Classroom licences don't cover paid activities; the Workshop licence covers your paid workshops, classes, parties and clubs.

What exactly does the Workshop licence cover?

One month of use at one address of your business. During that month you can print the mission as many times as you need, only for the children taking part in your sessions there. A second venue needs its own licence, and the PDF may not be shared with anyone else, online or offline.

Can I print a copy for every child? Can they take it home?

Yes. Prints are unlimited while the licence is valid, and each child can take their own sheet home, QR code included, to show their family what they made.

What happens when the licence ends?

You can no longer print new copies or run the mission in your sessions. Sheets already handed to children stay theirs; printed copies you haven't used yet can't be used after the licence ends, unless you renew it.

How much does it cost?

£9.99 per mission, or £34.99 for a pack of five, for one month. A few days before the licence ends, we send a reminder to renew. You can buy it on every mission and pack page, next to the other licences.

Can I try a mission before buying?

Yes. The Bizarre Characters is free to try, so you can see exactly what you would be working with. For a paid session, you then need the Workshop licence.

Can you create a programme especially for my venue?

Yes. If you'd like something made for your venue (a themed series, seasonal events, sessions for several locations or a longer programme), write to us at contact@playbarti.com and we'll put it together with you.

Is there anything else I should know?

The PDFs may not be shared online or resold, and each licence belongs to the venue that buys it.

See all missions · Artists Pack