1676 Arts courses

You've always wanted to try macramé, and now's your chance! We're offering a beginners' workshop where you'll learn a variety of knots and styles, and then you can choose from a range of macramé products to make. Starting with the basics and moving onto more complex knots and products. The workshop will be held at our studio in the beautiful Shropshire Hills. When you leave the workshop, you'll have beautiful macramé products that you'll be proud of—and more importantly, you'll be able to turn your new skills into a new hobby or craft business.

Sacred Kakaw Ceremony and Sound Journey You are warmly invited to join us for this autumnal gathering in the Sunhouse, guided by Annabelle and Arjuna. We will begin by sharing a kakaw ritual together before flowing into a long sound medicine journey to deeply relax, release, rejuvenate on a cellular level and experience a vaster state of awareness. Instruments include a Chiron gong, crystal singing bowls, drums, flutes, voice, kora, handpan, chimes, rattles and more. KAKAW RITUAL We will share a ceremonial brew of the plant Kakaw (a Mayan spelling of Cacao), with honour to traditions Toltec and Mayan. Kakaw opens the heart, connecting us to the ancestral wisdom in our blood, to our sensuous creativity and inspiration, and to the unseen realms. She is a grandmother plant for bringing about equilibrium and elemental connection, for supporting emotional expression, illuminating the shadows, and celebrating the bliss of existence. The Kakaw we will be communing with comes from an ecological plantation in the ancient Lacandona jungle of Chiapas, Mexico, where it is lovingly tended by a Mayan family and prepared with the intention for it to be shared ceremonially. SOUND MEDICINE A deep meditative journey, vibrating the material of our being to bring us into a more harmonious flow. Amongst other things, it supports our bodies in relaxation and stress release, circulation, detoxification, and cellular rejuvention. Meditatively, it can guide us into waking dream states whereby we can reconcile subconscious memories, receive clarity and guidance, and journey into the unseen. YOUR HOSTS ANNABELLE CHARANBANI My path is devoted to the healing and creative arts, supporting people to come into greater presence and to engage with life with more passion, ease, curiosity and confidence. For this, we work towards optimising physical health, creative flow, connecting with spirit, and allowing the heart and soul to lead with greater clarity. I primarily serve with kundalini yoga and meditation, sound medicine, intuitive storytelling, ritual and holistic massage, accompanied by various plants. This line of work is ultimately about finding balance. Of solar and lunar, personal and impersonal, infinity and finity consciousness, earth-water-wind-fire-ether. It includes detoxing physically and emotionally, reconciling and releasing tired memories, finding greater flow with creative energy and joy, and stimulating sensuality. We develop our relationship with the soul, and we become more awake to the ways in which wisdom and guidance is being transmitted in each moment. I’m in deep gratitude to my many teachers and guides – human, plant, animal, mineral, angel and other – with whose perspective and company I’ve had the fortune to be gifted. ARJUNA MAGEE I am a multi-instrumentalist with over 20 years of experience in music performance, recording, and teaching drums across the UK and abroad, and was raised in Glastonbury. From an early age I developed a passion for music and rhythm. I was born into a bhakti tradition, and whilst on a family holiday to India at the age of 10 I fell in love with the ecstatic heartfelt folk music, kirtan. This began my journey of music education, receiving lessons on the Mridanga, the Harmonium, the drum kit, the African djembe, Indian, Irish and Japanese flutes, guitar, hand pan, kora and singing. Since the age of 14 I’ve been performing with bands around Europe, playing and exploring many styles including Funk, Jazz, Reggae, Rock, Soul, Folk and World music. As well as making music, a lot of my focus is now directed toward studying music and rhythm therapy and offering this in care homes, hospitals and hospices.

Mosaic Summer School

If you’re a beginner bag maker, this Retreat is perfect for you. A whole weekend to immerse yourself in fabrics, stabiliser, professional techniques and tips to boost your confidence and your skills. Hopefully, there’ll be a lot of chat and laughter too! **This retreat is a little different from many others in that making a bag isn’t the point of the weekend, although you will indeed make one. The focus is on learning new transferable techniques and skills that you will be able to use on so many bags you make in the future. We have our own ‘Retreat Suite’ of rooms, including a spacious, light and airy sewing room which is equipped with a display screen so everyone can easily see demonstrations from a working viewpoint. We also have our own bathroom and kitchen facilities. If you wish, you are free to continue work after dinner and until as late (or early!) as you like. You will need to bring your own sewing machine, fabric scissors and any other favourite sewing tools, but everything else is provided. Come and join us in the exclusive Facebook group Bag Makers Retreat at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bagmakersretreat/ for all the latest retreat info, chat, gossip and more, plus a chance to meet other like-minded folks.  If you have dietary requirements, please tell me before you book, so I can be sure we can meet your needs. All meal main courses are included in the retreat fee, as are Saturday and Sunday lunches and breakfasts. Starters, desserts and drinks with meals are not included but the meals are so huge you probably won’t want starters and desserts anyway!! Tea and coffee is available whenever you need, but you do have to make it yourself!  If you’d like to stay an extra night or two, maybe to arrive on Thursday or leave on Monday if you have a long drive, let me know and I’ll check availability with our host. If you’d prefer to travel by train, we are happy to ferry you to and from the station, just ask. Please aim to arrive no later than 2pm as we have a lot of pattern cutting and fabric choosing to get through on Friday! Friday The fun starts here as you arrive at your weekend home-from-home – a beautifully refurbished, 4-star 18th century coaching inn with all the comforts you would expect. You’ll have time to settle into your own delightfully comfortable en-suite room which has all the anticipated little luxuries, before an introductory get-together with me and your companions in the sewing room at 2pm. You’ll be given your own copy of the bag pattern, which is very beginner- and domestic machine-friendly but which will incorporate a lot of features and techniques that are also in much more complex designs, making this an excellent springboard to any bag you want to make. Then you can wallow in the plentiful stash of fabrics to choose from, including some of my exclusive feature panel prints which aren’t available anywhere else. All the materials, interfacing, stabiliser, threads and bag hardware you need are supplied. As soon as you’re ready, you can start preparing and cutting out your pattern and some of the bag pieces so we can hit the ground running in the morning. After a superbly-cooked and substantial evening meal at around 6pm or so, you are welcome to continue working in the sewing room or to simply relax and chat there before bed. Saturday After an excellent breakfast, we can really start work adding to and adapting your bag pattern. You’ll work at your own pace from around 9am with no pressure – I want your weekend to be fun and not stressful! We will walk through the techniques together and I will be there the whole time to answer questions and troubleshoot any tricky bits. You’ll also have the chance to try sewing with faux leather , if you haven’t already, and we’ll explore ways and techniques to use and apply rivets.  Refreshments are freely available all day and you can take a break whenever you wish. A light lunch (with homemade cake!!) is also provided and we’ll have a short break in the middle of the day. The rest of the day will be similar to Friday – sewing, dinner at 6ish and more sewing if you wish to before bed. Do feel free to have a walk or just sit outside for a breather if the weather is kind. Sunday How can it be Sunday already?? Breakfast over, we’ll get back to work. You will need to allow a few minutes to pack and check out of your room, as it has to be made ready for Monday’s guests. Apart from that, it’s uninterrupted sewing (with refreshments and lunch breaks!) until your bag is finished. We’ll be heading off for lunch at 12.30pm or so. We have the sewing room for the rest of the day. If you don’t quite get done, there’s absolutely no need to worry as you’ll easily be able to complete your bag at home. If you finish earlier feel free to head home whenever you’re ready. Amongst loads of other hints and tips, you’ll learn – Interfacings – what to use and not to use Using stabilisers – which is best and why How to create a zipped pocket the pro way Adding a recessed zipper main closure to almost any bag Installing hardware Incorporating a built-in key fob Installing a rectangular base Sewing the bag together and topstitching A sneaky way of getting your bag right-sides-out without ugly seams! An easy way to add a zipper pull without tools Working with different types of rivet machine Faux leather on a domestic machine You’ll have handouts on all the techniques to take home. And I hope you have a lot of fun and make new friends while you learn!!  I never abandon my students at the end of the course so if you get stuck on anything at home, you are welcome to give me a shout on Messenger and we’ll sort out your problem together. The not-so-small print Book your place using the simple booking system below – just click on your choice of dates and go from there. The full price is £395.00. The deposit of £60 is non-refundable if you cancel but can, however, be credited towards a future retreat booked within the next 6 months. It is completely refundable if I or the venue cancel. The booking page only shows the Friday, but the course is running until Sunday. The balance of £335.00 is payable by approx 6 weeks before the retreat date and payment instructions will be sent to you in good time. Cancellations 4 weeks or less before the retreat date can only be refunded if someone on the waiting list can come instead. *Don’t worry that your booking confirmation may be headed Unicorn Studios – it’s just the site that I’ve run my booking system from for years… it’s not a scam!! *

This one day course is your chance to make the classic Adirondack chair, the chair is made in spruce softwood, which will be supplied.  The course will introduce some basic woodworking skills on mainly power tools, saws, routers etc. At the end of the day you will have a sanded chair, which you will not finish at the workshop, we will advise on finishes you can apply, due to the varying types and colours available. The chair can be transported in two pieces, and will take 5 minutes to set up at home. This is a chance to have a great day out making your own chair and learning some skills along the way!!! What's included in the price? wood, tea and coffee included. Cancellation policy Easy - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 2 weeks before the course starts

With Acting Coach Sarah Hannah Introduction Are you a wannabe actor? You can prepare for the limelight with a 2 Day Beginners Crash Course at the World Famous Pinewood Studios. Targeting those with little or no experience (17 yrs +), the 2 day course offers a practical syllabus setting a strong and broad base for you to discover the basic technical skills that a screen actor needs to master. Meet Your Tutor Sarah Hannah Actress, Acting and Audition Coach Sarah Hannah is a highly experienced Professional Actress, Acting and Audition Coach. Bringing her extensive experience of working on stage and on screen, Sarah will focus on enhancing your presence on camera and cover the technical skills required of a professional screen actor. Course Outline Covering a variety of scripts, you will be taught etiquette on the set, how to warm up your body and voice, and how to bring scripts to life on screen through basic script and scene analysis. You will shoot a scene with your experienced tutor who will share knowledge on hitting marks, shot sizes, continuity and eye lines before providing an insight into the audition process and the business of being a screen actor. Your scene will be edited and delivered to you online. Additional Information Features Learn the basics of acting and performance for screen Film a scene with a Director Work together in a supportive atmosphere Held at the World Famous Pinewood Studios Suitable if you are (17 yrs+) looking to take your first step into screen acting Attracts a varied age range from 17 yrs+. International Students Welcome The course is taught in English, so it is important that you have proficient English language skills Small Class Size Learning Outcomes Working in groups you will examine screenplays from an actor’s perspective Gain insight into the narrative structure Learn how to prepare yourself for screen Have a clear understanding of the technical requirement of acting on screen Course Location Actors Studio, Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Road, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, SL0 0NH Free parking available at Pinewood Studios Nearest Train Stations: Uxbridge Tube Station, Slough and Gerrards Cross. Transfer from station to Pinewood Studios – 10 minutes Coffee shop on site (may not be open at weekends) Excellent transport links from London

Come and have some fun with clay in the peaceful setting of my studio located in the cottage garden of our home on the Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.

Theatre in Schools Scotland brings bold, inspiring, live theatre and dance productions into Scotland's primary schools and nurseries.  The year-round programme of touring performances offers schools and teachers the opportunity to present acclaimed shows, created especially for younger audiences, for pupils at school. Performances take place in the school hall or in classrooms and are available to book anywhere in Scotland. This year, Theatre in Schools Scotland is thrilled to welcome the return of Cloud Man and Going for Gold: Me and Linford Christie to the programme plus MESS made especially for ASN pupils and The Last Forecast, a brand new dance theatre performance. The new Theatre in Schools Scotland 2023 - 24 programme of performances for nursery, primary and ASN schools is now on sale and available to book. Please get in touch with Julian Almeida to book! tiss@imaginate.org.uk The standard cost is £500 + VAT per day, for 2x performances (for around 100 children each). The cost and structure will vary for productions like MESS (for ASN audiences). Get in touch for more details. BOOKING NOW MESS (Tenterhooks/Scottish Theatre Producers) is a bold, playful and emotionally engaging theatre performance made especially for young audiences with complex additional support needs, featuring comedy, surprise, celebration and mild peril! Touring Sep - Oct 2023. For ASN pupils THE LAST FORECAST (Bridie Gane/Catherine Wheels ) is a dance theatre production for younger audiences about Gail, a gecko-like creature who lives alone on an island. When a stranger arrives to set up home the forecast is for rising water levels, and soon there won’t be space for either of them. Touring Oct - Nov 2023. For P2 - P4 CLOUD MAN (Constellation Points/Scottish Theatre Producers) is a cleverly staged show with puppets, storytelling and lots of clouds. The show encourages a school audience to notice the beauty and wonder found in everyday life.Touring Oct - Nov 2023 & Jan - Feb 2024. For Nursery - P3 GOING FOR GOLD: ME AND LINFORD CHRISTIE (Victoria Beesley/Catherine Wheels) is a show about one girl’s journey to Olympic success. Inspired by Victoria Beesley’s childhood obsession with athletics this is a story about loving failure and dreaming big.Touring Jan - Mar 2024. For P5 - P7 pupils We can work with you to plan your visit, help you to choose a show, and answer any questions. If you are interested in making a booking for your school or would like more information about how we can work together please contact TISS@imaginate.org.ukTheatre in Schools Scotland is managed by Imaginate and National Theatre of Scotland  

The perfect festive embroidery workshop! Organise something a little different for your Christmas party this year!

A private beginner embroidery workshop from Hoop & Fred tailored just for you!