Description
Mermaid Arts Centre is a vibrant contemporary cultural hub located in the heart of Bray, establishing itself as one of the best things to do with kids in East Coast / County Wicklow for families seeking an interactive community workshop, cinema, and live performance art venue category. Positioned right by the civic town square, this purpose-built creative powerhouse features a magnificent public theater auditorium and a dedicated visual exhibition space. It provides a completely safe, indoor environment where children can experience their first live stage shows, participate in creative workshops, and discover contemporary illustrations in a friendly local neighborhood setting.
Ticket prices for independent family activities remain incredibly accessible to suit all household budgets. While the main visual arts gallery space upstairs offers completely free standard entry for the general public, individual tickets for scheduled family theater shows, live music acts, and morning children's cinema screenings typically start from around £6.50 (€8.00) per child. All advance ticket transactions booked for the auditorium include a mandatory £0.80 (€1.00) facility upkeep fee built transparently into the advertised price.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids to escape a rainy afternoon, inspire a young mind, and enjoy premium children's entertainment, this thriving artistic venue is an exceptional option. The complex combines high-tech acoustic design with a highly welcoming, relaxed community atmosphere that is excellent for children. It delivers an educational, highly scannable day out where families can talk about modern artwork, watch world-class touring puppetry, and enjoy delicious locally sourced treats from the on-site sustainable cafe.
Features
- Paid
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
Key Features
- Sensory Play & Wild Elements: Young children can explore varied artistic textures, vibrant lighting styles, and full acoustic surround sound layouts during dedicated youth productions.
- Interactive Exhibits & Nature Spotting: The upstairs gallery hall frequently shifts its focus to display tactile child-friendly sculptures and local landscape interpretations.
- Educational Day Out: Families can attend curated school matinees, seasonal workshops, and historical biographical retrospectives that link art to global social history.
What makes Mermaid Arts Centre unique?
- The Intimate 242-Seat Auditorium: Featuring comfortable, steeply raked seating rows that ensure even the smallest toddlers get an unobstructed view of the stage.
- The Bright First-Floor Gallery: A spacious, sun-lit visual exhibition hall that presents 8 to 10 distinct professional fine art showcases every year.
- Fully Flexible Raked Seating: The main theater features an advanced retractable seating frame that can convert the space into a completely open hall for community events.
- The Eco-Conscious Críoch Café: An award-nominated, highly sustainable on-site food hub prioritizing regional Wicklow farm ingredients and ethical dining.
- State-of-the-Art Digital Projector: Equipped with professional surround sound systems to broadcast major international theater screenings and child-friendly films.
Core Named Attractions & Collections
- The Main Stage Auditorium: The primary hub hosting over 300 annual events, from children's dance recitals to high-energy touring family concerts.
- The First Floor Gallery Hall: A quiet, welcoming room dedicated to visual arts exhibitions accessible via stairs or an accessible elevator lift.
- The Multi-Purpose Workshop Suite: A dedicated upstairs breakout room utilized for local youth drama clubs, painting classes, and rehearsal meetings.
- The Críoch Café Dining Area: A vibrant ground-floor community space focused on sustainable local produce and pre-show family gatherings.
- The Digital Cinema Screenings: Regular afternoon schedules presenting classic family animations, independent world cinema, and national theater streams.
- The Kíla Family Show: A celebrated, high-energy live traditional music performance designed specifically for dancing kids and parents.
- The National Theatre Live Broadcasts: Large-screen, high-definition captures of premier international theater plays suitable for older teenagers.
- The Special 'Pay What You Can' Nights: A seasonal community initiative allowing local families to select their own ticket prices to ensure arts access for all.
9.69 miles
