Clearly demonstrating that art is not static, but a living, breathing process, the young people involved in the Masterworks' Arts for All 2009, manipulated paper pulp, manufactured beaded and silk bracelets and crafted mosaics in addition to creating two-dimensional art in paper and paint.

Sponsored by the Montelier Re Foundation, the two-day series of free workshops for all ages on December 29 and 30 and the family fun day on December 31 explored many different media, from watercolours to film. There were workshops on paper-making, mosaics, decoupage and beading, and demonstrations of basket making and rug making, quilting and flower arranging.

Many of the free workshops were over-subscribed, and director Tom Butterfield estimated a total of approximately 800 people visited the gallery and participated in the various activities over the three-day period.

The Arts for All programme has been held semi-annually in the spring and winter school breaks since Spring 2005, and Mr. Butterfield noted: "Every time we do Arts for All I'm rewarded by the variety of kids from the community who get involved, and the length of time they choose to stay and participate."

Even the fact that the paper-making was held outside on a blustery Wednesday morning did not dampen the enthusiasm of the youngsters who, under the direction of Ami Zanders, combined paper pulp, dried leaves and twigs, brightly coloured threads and glitter to create works of art. "Cold" was the word used most frequently to describe this particular workshop, but though the activity required dipping their hands in cold water, the children managed to produce interesting and varied pieces of art.

Elsewhere Raziya Swan led her young charges through the process of creating a collage, while Suzie Hooper showed her workshop participants how to turn plain brown boxes into jewelled containers fit for the treasures they would hold.

Zebedee Wakely explained of the box he was decorating with decoupage, that: "I'm making something to put all my electronics in – my games. I might even put my marbles in here."

Ten-year-old David Proctor was glad his mum had signed him up for the class: "Because now I have something to put my [Nintendo] DS in."

At a nearby table Tiara Simons described the workshop as: "Fantabulous because the decorated boxes look cool."

Seven-year-old Mia Currin concurred: "When it's dry it looks very shiny and pretty."

In the collage workshop, Rupert Lunn, aged five years, was enjoying himself because: "I usually like doing art stuff like this."

Masterworks continues to offer its after-school programme for the coming school term. Call 236-2950 for details and to register.