Hopetown Darlington opens 2026 with Brilli-ANT! – an Interactive Climate Adventure for Curious Young Minds
Hopetown Darlington is buzzing with excitement as it announces its first major exhibition of 2026: Brilli-ANT!, an interactive, family-friendly climate adventure inspired by Aesop’s timeless fable The Ant and the Grasshopper.
Opening on January 17th inside the Exhibition Hall and running until 10th March, Brilli-ANT! invites children and families to step into a playful, thought-provoking world where tiny creatures tackle a giant mission.
There’s big trouble in a little anthill. Winter hasn’t left, and the ants need your help! Inside a beautifully sculpted anthill made entirely from recycled materials, young explorers can crawl, play, and problem-solve their way through a world turned upside down by climate change. Along the way, they’ll meet a dung beetle with recycling tips, a community-minded bumblebee, and other larger-than-life meadow creatures – all sharing lessons in adaptation, teamwork, and hope.
Brilli-ANT! is more than an exhibition; it’s a joyful journey through sustainability, storytelling, and imagination. Designed especially for children aged 1 to 10 and their families, it blends hands-on activities, creative play, and positive climate ideas that empower even the smallest visitors to make a big difference.
Mike Crawshaw, Head of Heritage and Culture at Darlington Borough Council said: “Brilli-ANT! is a fun, feel-good experience that helps families explore big issues in a gentle, hopeful way. It’s about showing how teamwork, creativity and small changes – just like in an anthill – can make the world a better place. Very much an ethos the whole team at Hopetown Darlington has carried since day one.”
Because the exhibition is entirely indoors, visitors can enjoy every moment without worrying about the winter weather. The Exhibition Hall’s spacious, climate-controlled setting makes it the perfect place for families to learn, laugh, and play together, whatever’s happening outside.
In keeping with Hopetown Darlington’s sustainability pledge, Brilli-ANT! has been created using eco-conscious materials, energy-efficient lighting, and recycled design elements, making it as kind to the planet as it is inspiring to its visitors.
Tickets are free of charge and are now available to book at hopetowndarlington.co.uk/brilli-ant
