The free sessions, titled the Freestyle Friendship Art Project, was held at the Warrnambool Art Gallery.

About 17 children attended the first session on October 23 and more than 10 children attended on Saturday.

Warrnambool Art Gallery education officer Megan Nicolson said the Children's Week theme this year was that children had the right to choose their own friends and safely connect with others.

She said the gallery was a space where they could bring their friends which some did.

"Not only is it a safe space, but in terms of COVID it's one of the few places that people were required to be double vaccinated so it is a safe space in that sense, as well as being a safe space for children to connect and share stories," she said.

Ms Nicolson said it was lovely to see three generations, such as grandmother, mother and daughter, attend the gallery for the sessions.

"The activity's not as focused on the end product as it is about creating a drawing collaboratively," she said.

"There's no expectations on the outcome, it's just enjoying the process.

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"For a lot of families lockdown has been long and hard and children and families and parents have all been in the same space working. This project encourages families and children and friends to reconnect in another space and share the experience of drawing."

She said the children were told to focus on family and things they like for inspiration.

"It's nice and simple," she said.

"Sometimes it's the simple things that are the most important."

The doodling and free-style drawing done by each family group were taken home to be displayed.

Ms Nicolson said they'd had positive feedback from families that were grateful for the chance to reconnect.

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