There’s so much to do at The Model on our anniversary this May Day for families and culture vultures we recommend getting a good night’s sleep the night before to stay the distance (that or indulging in a lot of coffee from our lovely new cafe, Slice @ the Model!).

First up at noon is a special Art Trap for Kids workshop for little ones aged 4-6, while the grown ups are invited to take a peek at The Model’s resident artists who’ll be having an Artist Studios Open Day, both events from 12-5pm. See the array of work being made by the diverse artists working from this dynamic space by visiting the studios of Michael Wann, legendary Waterboys fiddle player and artist Steve Wickham,
Conor Gallagher, Sue Morris, Sarah Stephens, John Lane, John Cullen and Clea van der Grijn.

There’s a chance to grab a place on the FREE TOUR of the wonderful Jack B. Yeats exhibition, while the Model Explorers children’s workshop promises an “exhilarating visual feast of live performance and pageantry” in The Model galleries. This marks the culmination of a series of workshops with the Model Explorers (aged between 10 and 13 years) led by County Sligo Youth Theatre director Marie De La Guéronniére in collboration with visual artist Lisa Cannon.

Film aficionados are treated to a special programme of Short Films from 3pm, including two Irish offerings – Michael Creagh’s Oscar nominated short The Crush, and the inventive mockumentary The Chronoscope directed by Andrew Legge and starring Jeremy Irons. Last up is the wonderful Oscar-winning Australian animation, The Lost Thing, directed by Andrew Rhuemann and Shaun Tann – supposedly for kids, it’s not to be missed no matter what your age.

The Model is delighted to be hosting Bealtaine Festivalevents for (their words) “older creative” types, in the shape of the 5pm Fox trot, cha cha and swing Dance Class, which is followed by a chance to show off your moves at 7.30pm’s Ruby Blue Tea Dance featuring the swinging sounds of local outfit, the Jazz Ladds.

Rounding off the day of art, music and celebration, DJ extraordinaire Donal Dineen takes to the decks with support from Congolese guitarist Niwel Tsumbu and percussionist Peter Crann. It’s FREE but ticketed, so don’t miss out and book yours here.