Hands on Democracy encourages children and their families to connect the concept of democracy to real experiences that relate to their world. This exhibition asks questions, inspires creativity, invites you to join in, take turns, share your ideas and listen to others.

Come along and discover that democracy is not just something we have; it is something we do every day!

There are two areas of Hands on Democracy to explore - Play:Act:Be and Make:Say:Do.

Play:Act:Be—History and Heritage

History is all about people. In Play:Act:Be some important moments from the story of Australian democracy are recreated so that children and families have an opportunity to see the world from someone else’s perspective.

Would you like to go back in time to 500BC, ride in a chariot and meet Pericles? Maybe you’d prefer to dress up and feel what life might have been like for the miners and their families on the Victorian goldfields; capture a picture with the Queen on her Royal Visit in 1954 or exercise your democratic right to demonstrate and place yourself in the People’s Walk for Reconciliation across Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2000. You can do that here!

Make:Say:Do—Activity and Discovery

In this space families are invited to have fun discovering how democracy relates to them. How can you make your voice heard? Can you make a difference? We have some clever ways to start you thinking! Perhaps you’d like to design a city, find out what other children are doing around the world, listen to a story as old as time or make something to take home. It’s your choice!

Hands on Democracy is a space for families to share. Parental supervision is required at all times.