The "Making of The Word Witch" exhibition, featuring children's stories by New Zealand author Margaret Mahy and illustrations by Dunedin-based artist David Elliot, is already on display at the gallery, alongside the "Templates for Fairy Tales" exhibition by Oamaru artist Trish Shirley.
Forrester Gallery exhibitions curator Alice Lake-Hammond said a schools' programme to accompany both exhibitions throughout the June holidays had already attracted a lot of interest.
Miss Lake-Hammond said the Word Witch programme would include a short talk and age-group-tailored activities run with the help of the Oamaru Public Library, while the Templates for Fairy Tales programme would include a fairy-story writing competition.
"The gallery is recommending that school groups combine their visit to encompass both exhibitions.
"One school wanted to bring a group of 120 through, so it's quite popular," Miss Lake-Hammond said.
While showing both exhibitions simultaneously meant the gallery had three floors of "children-focused exhibitions", there would still be plenty for adults to get enthused about, even if they might have to bend down more than they were used to, she said.
"We hung the exhibition quite low so kids can have access to it. Adults might have to crouch down a little though.
"The `Making of The Word Witch' exhibition is based on The Word Witch by Margaret Mahy, which basically covers 40 years of her work.
"A lot of adults will recognise and appreciate it, so hopefully it will take them back to their childhood in a good way."
Some of Margaret Mahy's childhood writings would also be on display, she said.
