21 Creativity courses in High Wycombe

Stone Carving made a return to the Phoenix last year when we welcomed Mark Stonestreet to come teach us the joys of creating free-standing abstract sculpture. It was an absolutely fantastic course! This year Mark is coming back for more and this time we’re giving the students more stone to create with and more time – 5 days to be precise! The dusty nature of stone means that we will be working under a marquee set within the studio’s beautiful meadow – what better way to spend your summer – especially when none of us can go abroad? Outside of a global pandemic, Mark spends half the year creating sculpture in the South Downs and the other half in Mamallapuram in India – a village of over 200 stone carving workshops. His life is in stone and I liked him the instant we met. He is everything you would expect a stone carver to be – sturdy, weathered (meant in the nicest possible way, I promise Mark!) with a warm, no-nonsense personality that immediately puts you at ease. Our students are in safe hands working with him and I cannot wait to see what they will achieve this year! 23/08/2021 - 27/08/2021 10:00 am - 4:30 pm Location: The Phoenix Studio This fun course includes: Informal, relaxed & attentive guidance for every student, provided by Mark Stonestreet Step-by-step demonstrations covering… How to work with the tools and stone safely, How to create an abstract design that will look good and have structural integrity, How to transfer your design to the stone and carve into it efficiently to create the basic shape, How to add detail and refine the carved form, How to finish and present the form (looking at finishes, treatment, and mounting). This course is for you if: You want to realise drawings and 2D designs into 3D or have an introduction to visualizing your ideas in 3D You want to explore your creativity but lack the confidence to do so on your own You want to learn how to work safely and competently in stone You want to get away from it all and immerse yourself in a fun, creative environment Suitable for? Anyone, but please note that you will be using a chisel and mallet throughout the three days and this will take it’s toll on your arms and body. We generally limit the age to 16 years old+ though exceptions can be made where appropriate. Please contact James Orts and ask. What is included in the price? Five full days tuition (10 am-4.30 pm) Materials, including a piece of Portland stone (approximately 55cm x 25cm x 22cm), safety gear, and the tools you will need for when on the course You could consider making a simple printed course handout outlining the technique’s main principles and useful links/suppliers – Totally your choice though! Tea, coffee, biscuits/cakes Use of a beautiful, purpose-built art studio with all the equipment & materials you will need Beautiful countryside setting Pre-course prep It would be useful to gather, sketch out or think about what abstract shapes you are drawn to. Mark will be able to provide ideas as well and advise you on which of your ideas may work best so having some ideas to work from would be useful. You will be working outdoors so come prepared for the forecasted weather and all students must work in sturdy shoes. You will be sent an automated email on booking which prompts you towards documents that help you prepare for your time here. If this does not happen then please email James before the course.   Beyond The Course Having completed a Phoenix Studio course many of our students choose to explore the medium further. They may come on another weekend course, start coming to our Phoenix Art Club Sessions or our Creative Monday Sessions, or carry on independently at home. We are more than happy to help and advise you in taking those first creative steps! Need accommodation? If you are travelling from further afield and would like to stay in the area for your visit then have a look at our recommend B&Bs and hotels. Click here for the list.

With James Larkin Boost Your Career & Confidence On Camera Do you find auditions terrifying? Are you not getting the bookings from your self tapes? Do you wonder why, when you make it onto set, what you thought was your best performance doesn’t make the cut? This exciting new course with Director and actor James Larkin will give both emerging talent and established actors an insight into what works on screen, both small and big. Having worked with Dame Judi Dench, Mark Rylance, Emma Thompson, Sam Mendes and Sir Michael Gambon, James is giving you a unique opportunity to develop your craft and shoot two fresh cinematic scenes for your showreel. Meet Your Tutor James Larkin Director As a Director and Actor James has sat through hundreds of hours of live auditions, self tapes, and worked on many film sets in front of and behind the camera. Everything from big budget movies, to low budget independent films, TV Films, short films, TV soap opera, Serial TV, music ads and commercials and Theatre. James has develop a unique method which addresses this missing link in performance, and has been honing it over the last 30 years and taught it at leading London drama schools – RADA, Guildhall, LAMDA. Course Outline Bring depth, humanity and watchability into your performance, making it far less likely you’ll be overlooked by the Execs employing you, or end up on the cutting room floor. It will give you a comfortable sense of relaxation on set when performing – a knowing that ‘you’ve got this’: an inbuilt confidence and ease, allowing you to step out of your own anxious performance thinking, and bask in a boundless pool of free flowing creativity. This course will enable you to create a performance that is free, hugely watchable, intriguing and undeniably human. Additional Information Features Intensive course Shoot footage for your acting showreel ( 2 scenes) Small Class Size Attracts a varied age range from 17 yrs + Led by Award-Winning Industry Professionals Learning Outcomes Increase your chances of getting work Improved knowledge and confidence in front of camera Learn rehearsal techniques and processes Develop natural immersive acting skills Experience with a professional crew and Director Course Location Actors Studio Pinewood Studios Pinewood Road Iver Heath Buckinghamshire SL0 0NH

Woodland Christmas Wreath Making Workshop Henley on Thames with a difference. A hands on experience foraging and creating a sustainable Christmas wreath from scratch in Nettlebed Woodland

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

Is your lifestyle too sedentary? Do you feel sluggish by the end of the day? Wrecked by the end of the week? You need to vary your regime at work. You need to work with, rather than against, your physicality in order to boost your energy levels in a sustainable way - without recourse to coffee, sugar or other stimulants. Take away: Four quick and easy ways to make you feel good and re-energised. You will have the opportunity to: Explore how even just small amounts of physical activity can impact your mental and general health and wellbeing, creativity and productivity. Learn what to do about a sedentary lifestyle Get some tips on what to do about your posture Deskercise - try out some easy stretches and exercises you can do at your desk

This one-day programme explores the role of intellectual property (IP) in relation to innovation and creativity. It examines the different forms as well as the key processes, together with some of the oddities and idiosyncrasies of the legal regime that protects IP. It delves into the various IP models you should be aware of as well as key IP facts and figures and current IP trends across the global economy. This session is designed to give you a deeper understanding of: The main forms of intellectual property The importance of IP - both to your organisation and to the wider economy The key processes in the creation, commercial exploitation, and legal protection of IP The different models for the use of IP Some more advanced concepts for reviewing, valuing and managing IP 1 Main forms of intellectual property (IP) Patents Trademarks Copyright Design Trade secrets 2 Global IP business context Global IP facts and figures Figures for key jurisdictions Analysis of a company using IP data IP trends Overview of the key entities in the IP sector 3 Key IP processes IP creation IP portfolio management IP enforcement IP exploitation IP risk management 4 IP models IP models explained IP licensing IP litigation 5 IP concepts The IP maturity ladder Relative IP value and risk Axis of control 6 IP as an asset class Costs Valuation Financial perspective

Official workshops for West-End shows and bespoke masterclasses tailored to any show.

Project management can seem scary and rather intimidating. The whole aim of this programme is to give people a simple and straightforward way of dealing with projects without having to use complex and confusing systems. This two-day course is designed to introduce the apparently complex world of project management in a simple and practical manner. The programme is for anybody who has to run a project of any nature. It has been attended by people from as diverse fields as events management, fashion, charities, oil companies and so on. The programme is run without using any IT project management systems although an introduction can be given if required. At the end of the programme participants will leave understanding: What a project is and why projects are so important today The roles of a project manager Some key language and concepts A simple 5-step model for organising projects How to make sure you understand what your 'client' really wants A set of three simple tools to plan the project How to make decisions What to monitor when the project is running How to close the project 1 Introduction What is the aim of this programme? 2 Background thinking What is a project? The project manager's eternal triangle (cost-quality-time) What are the characteristics of successful projects? Who are the key characters in a project? What are the roles of a project manager? 3 The project process Why have one? 4 Project initiation What is the aim? Identifying key information Key skill: mission analysis Initial risk analysis Document and sign-off 5 Decision-making - 'Stop, Think, Act!' The 'Stop, Think, Act!' technique Recognise the opportunity to make a decision The 3 Cs - making sure we understand the decisions we have to make Identifying options Making your decision Taking it to action 6 Creativity 7 The planning stage Identify all discrete tasks Sequence and dependencies Time line - critical path Resources Project base-line 8 Execution stage - delivering the result Monitor Evaluate Adapt Control Review 9 The project close Review Documentation Have we delivered? What have we learned?

The main aim of this workshop is to encourage and enable delegates to present their sales messages stylishly and persuasively to expert buying audiences and improve their conversion rates. The focus is placed firmly on performance and creativity in top level presenting. It is aimed at experienced sales professionals who are expert at selling but need to be able to present and pitch for business at high skill levels in order to land major accounts. Delegate numbers will be restricted to 4 people. Delegates should be willing and be prepared to give video-recorded presentations as part of the course. Course Syllabus The syllabus of the Sales Presenting course is comprised of two modules, covering the following: Module One Components of Top Presenting Preparation and performance in presenting Being stylish and compelling Differentiation, risk-taking and presenting Connecting with your audience Achieving impact and drama Creating a buying emotion Getting out of a comfort zone First delegate presentations Module Two Pitching in Teams Getting your act together - the plan Looking and sounding like a team The buyer's perspective Getting your moves right - choreography Dealing successfully with questions Rehearsing to succeed Second delegate presentations Dragon's Den Exercise The delegation is split into two groups, each with a specific product or service to win the Dragons' investment. They have to also present to the Dragon's Den their business case for feedback and negotiate with the Dragons to gain either an "I'm in" or an "I'm out" reply. A full debrief is then conducted covering: Planning Commercial consequences Putting forward a business case Critical thinking Negotiating Selling skills Presentation skills Profile building Scheduled Courses This course is not one that is currently scheduled as an open course, and is only available on an in-house basis. For more information please contact us.

Join us for a round table discussion with Ginger Gregory, CHRO. Think Broadly: How do we create time and space for White Space thinking? As part of the UKI Wellbeing day we’re inviting everyone to participate in one of a series of roundtable focus groups hosted by HR and Ginger Gregory, our CHRO. These sessions are current organisational challenges designed to foster open dialogue, enhance collaboration, and gather your valuable insights. This is an opportunity to connect, share experiences, and contribute meaningfully to our organisation.