At the Workshop Arts Centre, Around the world in 80 plays currently runs 3 art classes.

• Saturday 10am – 12pm – Around the world in 80 Plays – for children 6 – 12 years.
• Thursday 4.00pm – 5.30pm – After School Art ‘Explore & More’ – for children 6 – 12 years – more info click here
• Holiday Workshop – Thursday 7th & Friday 8th October 9.00am – 3.00pm – ‘Recycle Art’    - more info click here

The Aim of the Workshops:

The aim of the Around the world in 80 plays workshops is to embrace contemporary art and performance providing a new, fun and exciting method of discovery for the children. Using the 5 senses we create layers of exploration and discovery that collectively result in a unique and rewarding journey of self expression.

Around the world in 80 plays will provide a perfect introduction into Contemporary / Performance Art and allow children the space and freedom to embrace their creative side. Around the world in 80 plays will explore a new country and its culture in each session through a carefully planned workshop, using a variety of contemporary and traditional art techniques and mediums.

Around the world in 80 plays uses and develops a range of children’s skills during the workshops;

• Fine and gross motor skills

• Cognitive learning - the development of imagination and interpretation.

• Hand and eye coordination.

• Colour, pattern and design knowledge.

• Social and personal skills like sharing, listening, cooperation and focus.

Art is a fantastic and fun form of expression and will allow children the opportunity to explore their own imagination and ideas. Using different cultures from around the world as a resource will not only provide a sense of inspiration for the art, it will also contribute to a sense of purpose and structure. Potentially it may also challenge any existing perceptions and help educate racial awareness in a positive and rewarding way.

Why around the world?

Teaching children about other countries and cultures helps to harness a sense of pride and connection to their own heritage, it helps them to embrace difference and appreciate diversity. Acceptance and knowledge will help the children to understand Multiculturalism and thus empower children, enhances their self-esteem and build their global awareness.

Each week in a term of workshops the children will ‘land in a new country’ and through a variety of mixed media art and drama the children will explore and learn about that culture.

Workshop objectives

• Stimulate the child’s imagination & creativity

• Probe and explore different cultures from around the world using arts and crafts.

• Use the cultural references and learning’s to inspire the children’s own work.

• Combine a variety of mediums and art techniques (Age appropriate) for the children

to create 2D / 3D and ‘Live Art’ / Performance installations.

• Develop an understanding and appreciation that multi and mixed media art can provide

and allow a different form of artistic expression.

• Deliver high-quality, innovative art and cultural activities to children

• Provide new and challenging arts experiences for children

• Strive to motivate children and encourage a sense of global awareness and responsibility through their art.

• Engage with and celebrate their culture which will help to nurture the children and encourage

tolerance, humanity and stimulate imagination.

• Have lots of fun!

Workshop Itinerary

After registering for the Around the world in 80 plays workshop a ‘Passport’ will be sent to each child. They will bring this with them tothe  first class and it will be their ‘gateway’ to discovering the world. Each session they will receive a stamp for attendance.

On arrival they will be greeted by the workshop coordinator Philippa Frog and they will all be handed their explorer aprons to protect their clothes. On arrival the children are immediately immersed into the country and culture of that day; relevant cultural music playing and images abundant. They are asked to sit on a rug and whilst on the Map the children will be given the overview of the day and health and safety induction.

The main body of the session will then commence and typically 3 different art activities are explored in any one session (See example lesson plan)

A variety of art and drama skills and techniques will be used relevant to explore the topic and ‘sense’ of the day; drawing, painting, building and construction, paper Mache, stamping, etc these all set at age appropriate levels.

Each child will go home having experienced and shared a memorable day. Using the 5 senses we will allow the children to ‘touch’ the real essence of artistic discovery. They will be able to take home the art work they have created to their families and share with pride.

The idea over the 8 week term will be;

The aim is to explore the countries through art and make relevant to the modern world…. and HAVE LOTS OF FUN

Week 1 – Australia – Aboriginal Painting on mixed media, wood, slate, paper, fabric

Week 2 – South Africa – Lino Printing, Zulu & Animal print pattern work

Week 3 – France – Painting on Canvas, Impressionism in 2010

Week 4 – England – Painting & 3-d Collage, Lowry Matchstick Men

Week 5 – USA – Large scale painting outside, Jackson Pollock style

Week 6 – China – 3-D Ceramics, Make our own Terracotta Army

Week 7 – Thailand – Watercolour Painting & Collage make a Krathong Basket & Live Art spectacle

Week 8 – India – Colour play, Natural Dies on Fabric, papers and recycled materials. Paint and Play

Each week we will focus on a different skill and medium including, 2-D / 3-D / Paint / Collage / Pastel / Live Art etc