At the independent arts space Lostprints Studio in Kuala Lumpur, you can create your own Christmas prints and more this month. Photo: Lostprints
School holidays can be tricky when it comes to keeping young minds busy. The good news? Kuala Lumpur has plenty of fun, creative and meaningful ways to fill the days.
From hands-on festive season printmaking and community arts gatherings to a restored heritage museum and family-friendly gallery programmes, there’s something for everyone – and every budget.
Some activities are free, others require a small fee – but all promise a chance to learn, make, and explore. Here’s a quick guide to where the art adventures are happening this holiday season.
The newly restored Seri Negara building in Kuala Lumpur now houses a museum tracing Malaysia’s journey to nationhood. Photo: Bernama
Stepping back in time
Merdeka history shouldn’t live only in textbooks. A trip to Seri Negara offers a more vivid way to connect with the past.
In this very building, in 1957, the Federation of Malaya Independence Agreement was signed – a defining moment on Malaysia’s path to independence.
Looking for a weekend plan? The historic Seri Negara reopens this Saturday (Dec 20) after a 10-month government-led restoration.
Inside, the Seri Negara gallery (spread across two floors) is showing Charting The Course Of Merdeka, a four-part exhibition tracing Malaysia’s journey to nationhood.
It begins with "The Walls Speak", a cinematic short bringing the building’s history to life, followed by "People, Power, and Place", exploring the social and political forces of pre-independence Malaya.
"Witness to History" showcases key artefacts, including replicas of the Constitution of Malaya, while "Merdeka and Nationhood" celebrates independence and the milestones that shaped modern Malaysia.
The contemporary, cool exhibition also features immersive corners, a photo booth, a listening pod, and more – a fun, engaging way to dive into history.
Visitors must book a tour slot by selecting a preferred time. The guided walkthrough lasts 90 minutes, and admission is free during the introductory period.
The Lost Prints Studio has nurtured an all-ages community that reignites printmaking and letterpress for contemporary times. Photo: Lostprints Studio
Hands-on printmaking fun
Nothing beats a handmade Christmas card to make the holiday season extra special.
Lostprints Studio, at the Lostgens Contemporary Art Space in Jalan Panggong, Kuala Lumpur, is hosting a DIY session this month where you can create your own Christmas cards with family and friends.
Under the guidance of the studio’s printmaking team, visitors can choose between the Lino Carving Experience (RM40) or the Block Printing Experience (RM25).
Both offer hands-on fun while connecting you to traditional, old-world printmaking techniques – feeling the weight of the tools, the texture of the ink, and the satisfying press of each impression.
It’s a playful yet immersive way to experience a craft that has been cherished for generations.
Lostprints Studio is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm.
A young visitor peers at a display of different types of sushi at the 'I Love Sushi' exhibition in KL. Photo: The Star/Daryl Goh
‘I Love Sushi’ exhibition
Children and sushi are a natural match. For young fans of Japanese culture – and their parents – the Japan Foundation’s I Love Sushi exhibition is well worth a visit.
Currently showing at The Project Room (Level 4), Ur-Mu @ The Toffee in Kuala Lumpur, it runs until Dec 31.
Organised by The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur (JFKL), this exhibition celebrates Japan’s most recognisable dish, sushi as both a work of art and as a window into the nation’s history and cultural life.
The free exhibition takes visitors on an immersive, interactive journey through sushi’s evolution – from its ancient origins to the global phenomenon it is today. Across five sections, explore early sushi, the Edo-period rise of nigiri, and modern sushi culture.
Highlights include a VR “sushi shop,” educational videos, and displays showcasing the skill and artistry behind Japan’s iconic cuisine.
On Jan 5–7, gamelan group Gangsapura welcomes children (aged 7–12) to discover the sounds of traditional Malay gamelan in its 'Cuti-Cuti Ketuk' programme at the GMBB creative mall in KL. Photo: The Star/Filepic
'Cuti-cuti ketuk' time!
Here’s something fun to plan ahead! Contemporary gamelan group Gangsapura is inviting children aged seven to 12 to explore the enchanting sounds of traditional Malay gamelan through its "Cuti-Cuti Ketuk" programme.
Running over three half-days from Jan 5–7, 2026, 9am to noon, the sessions mix hands-on music-making with playful, interactive activities that introduce children to rhythm, teamwork, and cultural heritage.
Held at Gangsapura Studio, Level 8, GMBB creative mall in KL, it’s a lively and educational way for children to spend their mornings during the school break.
By the end of the programme, participants will have learned the basics of gamelan instruments, played patterns together, and even performed a short showcase for parents on the final day - a wonderful way to share their new skills!
This month, Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery’s (BNM MAG) Children’s Festival celebrates Asean culture. Photo: The Star/Low Lay Phon
BNM MAG Children's Festival
Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery's (BNM MAG) Children's Festival returns this year with the theme "Exploring Asean", a nod to Malaysia’s Asean Chairmanship.
Open until Dec 31, the free exhibition offers children and families the opportunity to explore the beauty, traditions and economic diversity of Asean nations through a series of activities.
With a "play passport", participants "travel" through Asean stations, completing challenges and collecting stamps.
From interactive games to hands-on activities, participants can explore Asean cultures while learning key financial concepts like currency exchange, cross-border payments, and market dynamics.
The programme includes mini-market roleplay, storytelling, upcycling workshops, craft-making, and interactive stations, offering a fun, immersive journey that blends learning, creativity, and cultural discovery.
Lam is celebrating his MyNengajyo Project with a month-long workshop at Ilham Gallery’s Gift Shop in KL, featuring a lively nengajyo activity corner. Photo: The Star/Daryl Goh
A lovely festive card tradition
Travel writer Lam Ching Fu, known for his My Journey By Bus series, first discovered "nengajyo" while studying Japanese in Osaka in 2002.
In Japan, sending New Year’s greeting cards – called “nengajyo” – to friends and family is a tradition dating back to the Heian era (794–1185).
Inspired by this, Lam – also known as Fufu – launched the MyNengajyo Project in 2021, inviting people to design their own nengajyo, which he would mail out.
Five years on, he’s celebrating the milestone with a month-long workshop at Ilham Gallery’s Gift Shop (on level 5 of the Ilham Tower in KL), where a dedicated corner has been transformed into a lively celebration of nengajyo.
It’s the perfect place for kids and the young at heart, with plenty of card-making, stamping activities, and cute accordion journals, postcards, and notebooks to design your own cards.
Lam’s nengajyo wonderland is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am–7 pm, and Sunday, 11 am–5 pm.
Located in downtown KL, MoSAIC is a hands-on wonderland where kids explore, create and learn through play. Photo: Low Lay Phon/The Star
Learning through play
Dubbed “KL’s most playful museum” by Warisan KL, MoSAIC (Museum of Science, Arts and Innovation for Children) is a hands-on wonderland where kids can explore, create, and discover the joy of learning through play. Located on Jalan Tun Perak, KL, it’s Malaysia’s first museum dedicated to children, offering affordable programmes for ages four to 12, with some activities extending to teens.
Across its four floors, MoSAIC caters to all kinds of interests. The Play Area lets younger children enjoy sensory-rich exploration and active play, while the Junior Makerspace is a hub for tinkering, building, and inventing. Young ones can also visit the Toy Clinic to learn how to repair and recycle toys.
The Literacy Zone sparks a love for reading, writing, and storytelling, and the STEM Activities corner introduces science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in a playful way.
At the Children’s Art Gallery and Performing Arts space, young visitors can showcase their artworks and photographs, making MoSAIC a full-on creative adventure for the school holidays.
A visitor viewing the 'Fragmented-Connected' exhibition at Forest Learning Centre, Perdana Botanical Gardens in KL. Photo: Forest Learning Centre
‘Fragmented-Connected’ exhibition
Get your kids to put down their electronic devices and connect to nature instead at the Fragmented-Connected exhibition at the Forest Learning Centre, Perdana Botanical Gardens in Kuala Lumpur, which runs until Dec 30.
Organised together with Rantaian Urban Green Spaces (RUGS) with support from CIMB Islamic Bank in collaboration with Malaysian Nature Society, the free exhibition reflects on the evolving relationship between humans and nature in the Klang Valley.
If you and your kids collect stamps, be sure to bring your journal and drop by the exhibition's stamp corner, where there are exclusive stamps and stamp cards.
In conjunction with the exhibition, there will also be a special talk series exploring Malaysia’s biodiversity through the lenses of science, art and urban ecology. While the talks are free, registration is required, as space is limited.
Also, don't miss the satellite events! On Dec 21 at Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden, Universiti Malaya, catch two hour-long talks: Dr Amira Aqilah explores how habitat, food, and human activity shape which species thrive in "Forest Vs Urban Grasshoppers" (9.30am).
Then, Syuhada Sapno shares how botanical gardens boost learning through arts and nature in "Science, Art & Nature at Malaysia’s Botanic Garden" (11.30am).
The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur is a wonderful place for families to explore history and culture together. Photo: The Star/Filepic
Storytelling at the museum
In December, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) is hosting weekend activities at its Children’s Library, with storytelling sessions, arts and crafts, and movie screenings in a relaxed, welcoming space for families.
Taking place every weekend from 3pm onwards, the free programme is designed to spark curiosity and creativity among young visitors, who can also spend time browsing the shelves and picking out interesting books to read.
Families can also come early to explore IAMM's permanent galleris - filled laden with rich histories - or round off the outing with a visit to the museum’s new exhibition, Busana: Traditional Costumes of the Malay World, which adds a colourful cultural highlight to the day.
