Families are being invited to a fun-filled day based around the theme of rocks and stones in Norwich this Sunday – and youngsters are being encouraged to bring their own 'pet stone' to the event.

Rock On! – the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts' family fun day – has this year been inspired by a rare flint in the centre's art collections known as the 'eccentric flint' and it is thought to have been shaped more than 1,000 years ago in what is now Guatemala,

Veronica Sekules, head of education and research at the Sainsbury Centre, based at the University of East Anglia, said: 'Flint has been a bit of a theme for this year. We've run some fantastically successful and engaging community projects and events over the past year throughout East Anglia.

'For this year's fun day we wanted to bring some of that back to the Sainsbury Centre with our theme of rocks and stones and introduce our visitors to the fascinating and ancient 'eccentric flint' in our permanent collection.'

Throughout the day there will be a whole range of activities based around the rock and stone theme, including games, crafts, storytelling and a treasure hunt.

Children are being encouraged to bring 'pet stones' to the day. GEO East will be on hand to identify stones and rocks while youngsters will have the chance to make a display stand for their 'pet stone' and a bag for collecting stones.Families can find out more about the 'eccentric flint' and flint-knapper John Lord will be giving demonstrations on how flint is shaped. There will also be the chance to take part in a stone treasure hunt. Community Music East will also be running workshops where people will have the chance to play instruments made from stones, and families will be able to enjoy the sounds of a different type of rock music, with live performances from 50s-style rock-a-billy band Big Black Cadillacs.

Children can take part in playground games with a twist with artists Townley and Bradby, and every half-hour throughout the fun day there will be the opportunity to hear ancient Mayan stories.

The family fun day, which is supported by the Evening News and Radio Norfolk, is from midday until 4pm on Sunday. Admission is free and during the event there will also be free entry to the Sainsbury Centre's two special exhibitions.

For more details visit www.scva.ac.uk or email scva@uea.ac.uk

Are you organising a community event? Call Emma Knights on 01603 772428 or email emma.knights@archant.co.uk