Tinkering Tank: Fish Tank by Hayley Gillespie
Dates: Sun 17 May
Times: 9.00am - 2.00pm
Location: Tank 4 Gallery
Cost: Free
Fish Tank is a hands-on, imagination-powered tinkering space where children dive into the colourful underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef - right here on the doorstep of Cairns.
Using open-ended tinkering and simple craft materials, young creators sculpt and build their very own reef habitats to contribute to the larger, ever-growing collaborative installation!
From shaping colourful coral structures to crafting imaginative marine life, every piece helps tell the story of how the Reef thrives and why it’s so important - all while letting their creativity swim free.
AFTER SCHOOL WORKSHOPS
Want to get involved early? Try this Pre-Festival experience!
Our after-school Fish Tank workshops are the perfect way to jump into the Cairns Children’s Festival spirit before the big weekend. Led by local artist Hayley Gillespie, these guided tinkering sessions let kids experiment, explore ideas in more detail and start building parts of the reef that will come alive on Sunday 17 May.
No registrations - dive in, make a splash, and leave your mark on our reef before Cairns Children's Festival even begins!
| Start | Finish | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 May | 3.30pm | 5.00pm |
| 12 May | 3.30pm | 5.00pm |
| 13 May | 3.30pm | 5.00pm |
| 14 May | 3.30pm | 5.00pm |
| 15 May | 3.30pm | 5.00pm |
About the Artist
Arriving in Cairns on a warm, balmy summer’s day in 1996, Hayley Gillespie was instantly inspired by the vibrant colours of Far North Queensland.
Her artistic journey began working in tourism, capturing the beauty of the region, and soon led to a deep love of the Great Barrier Reef. Over the years, Hayley’s work has grown to include gallery exhibitions, facilitating art classes, theatre design, public art, and private commissions.
She is especially passionate about sharing creativity through workshops with children, young people and grown-ups with an inner child, whose imagination and curiosity continually inspire her own artistic practice.
Hayley looks forward to creating magical, under-the-sea worlds with everyone during Tinkering Tank.
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Tanks Venue Map
Save this map to your phone ahead of the festival.
Keep exploring...
More from Cairns Children's Festival
Program: Sun 17 May
Sunday is our famous free family fun day at Tanks Arts Centre and the Cairns Botanic Gardens!
Program: Sat 16 May
Saturday presents a day of free and ticketed entertainment across Cairns Performing Arts Centre and Cairns City Library!
A Quieter Journey
We're excited to offer an inclusive experience, designed to accommodate audiences who may need quieter spaces, less crowds, or alternative ways to enjoy the shows.
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A huge thank you to our generous sponsors Pacific Toyota and Inspired Signs for their incredible support! Your contributions help make Cairns Children's Festival possible.
Sat 17 May | Sun 18 May |
Last Updated: 24 April 2026
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