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Everything you need to know about Get Creative Weekend

A glorious celebration of creativity across the United Kingdom

Hundreds of activities are taking place across the UK on Friday 7, Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 April 2017 aimed at getting everyone to try something new and creative. A mass-participation dance up one of Wales' highest mountains kick-started this year's Get Creative Weekend - a bumper three-day fiesta of arts, crafts and creativity.

Pottery studios across the UK are throwing open their doors for Hey Clay!, giving would be potters a chance to get fired up behind a pottery wheel, while other highlights include steam-bending furniture making in Manchester, learning circus skills in Northern Ireland, an interactive workshop mixing Shakespeare and dance in Dundee, and an audio tour of historic King's Cross in London to name just a few.

The 650 events - many of them free - are being held by arts organisations big and small including the British Museum, Derby Theatre and a host of others from Orkney to Cornwall, Brecon to Belfast.

Get Creative Live

Pen Y Fan - Moving a Mountain

Pen Y Fan - Moving a Mountain

Installation artist Phil Williams transforms the dramatic slopes of the Brecon Beacons

Award-winning dance and installation artist Phil Williams transformed the dramatic peaks of Pen Y Fan into a living art installation called Heart of Wales on Friday April 7. Teams of volunteers from across the country got involved in the project, which was masterminded by Theatr Brycheiniog with Brecon Beacons National Park, The National Trust, BBC Wales and Arts Council of Wales.

The dance up Pen Y Fan is just one of 200 events in Wales. On Sunday, Cardiff Pottery will be holding free taster sessions, these will include both hand-building and throwing while award winning artist and illustrator Beth Giles is using found and abandoned objects to create mark making tools and paint brushes to create an abstract acrylic paint and ink landscape in Pontyclun.

There are also a host of free exhibitions from Anglesey to Aberystwyth. Find out what's happening in Wales by clicking on this interactive map.

Your chance for a glaze of glory

Want to witness the drama of raku firing and have a go at throwing on a wheel, pinching, slab building, coiling and much more? Among the exciting Hey Clay! events across the country you can create pinch pot egg cups in West Yorkshire, make a clay figure at the Leach Pottery in Cornwall, create terracotta pots at Ruthin Craft Centre in Wales or have a go on a wheel in Bristol’s mobile pottery studio.

The Great Pottery Throw Down has once again fired up interest in working with clay

Plus the home of the Great Pottery Throw Down – Middleport Pottery - host a whole weekend of fun activities. “Hey Clay! is a fantastic opportunity to roll up your sleeves and have fun with clay - the most responsive of materials," said Kate Malone, ceramic artist and judge on The Great Pottery Throw Down.

Find a pottery studio taking part near you.

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In Northern Ireland, there were Creatathons in Belfast and at various locations in Londonderry. There were demonstrations of patchwork techniques as well as storytelling and South Asian dance, amongst others, at Ulster Museum in the capital. While there was kite-making, flamenco dance classes and circus skills to juggle in Derry. Events were also held in Ballymoney, Portstewart and Bangor.

Arts Ekta South Asian Dance at Ulster Museum

Events being held on Sunday include:

* An afternoon of storytelling at the Horniman Museum in London

* A special extended version of Mix It Up to encourage young and old to take part in some fun arts and craft at Z Arts in Manchester

* A day of singing, theatre, painting, crafts, printmaking, dancing, textiles and circus at the West Dean Parish Centre in the Forest of Dean.

Activities are not organised by the BBC and parents should check that events are family friendly.

Weaving at Fiona Daly Textiles in Clerkenwell London
Throwing shapes at Eastnor Pottery

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Find an event near you

There are hundreds of creative workshops and taster sessions being held around the UK from origami to jewellery making. If you're in England, Northern Ireland or Scotland use this interactive map from Voluntary Arts to find your nearest event, and if you're in Wales use this one. Activities are not organised by the BBC. Neither is the BBC responsible for the accuracy of the information provided. If you are under 18, ask your parent/guardian before taking part in any activity.

A celebration of creativity across the UK

Quilters' Guild has got it covered

If you have always wanted to learn more about patchwork and quilting then Get Creative Weekend has got you covered. The Quilters' Guild of Great Britain is working with a variety of BBC local radio stations across England to run taster sessions and workshops in libraries.

The Quilters’ Guild is the national organisation for people involved in patchwork and quilting, whether you are a beginner, an experienced quilter or someone interested in the history and development of patchwork and quilting find out more at these fun and informative sessions. Details of where to find the events will follow.

Get Creative Weekend: 7-9 April 2017