258 Educators providing Museum courses

green man quilts

It had been strongly suggested at school that I didn’t continue with the sewing classes, after I cut my skirt along the fold line of the pattern, made a pigs ear of the french seams in the nightie and did who knows what damage to the domestic science apron (all we had to do was hem it and chain stitch our initials!). Those were the 3 projects for that year! Dismal! But I went home, told Auntie Mary about it and in a weekend she taught me more than I had learnt in the whole year. And inspired me to create things of beauty! I entered – and got first prize in the dressmaking competition at school the next year! My initial interest in quilts came from the Laura Ashley patchwork packs from the 1970s and 80s. Laura Ashley fed my passion for colour by selling me various bags of fabric – off-cuts, pre-cut hexagons – the lot, and with these I started my journey into quilt making. As a primary school teacher in the 80s I ran quilting clubs and worked with the children to create items for school fetes and the like. At this time I was a teacher member of the Quilters’ Guild and supported the Young Quilters team with a variety of workshops. I am no longer involved with Young Quilters though I have maintained my involvement with the Guild, serving as Festival of Quilts Officer from 2016 until 2021 and as a Trustee from 2021. I began to make quilts seriously in 1995 after I first attended a workshop taught by Judith Wilson in St Albans. Following this super introduction, I attended a number of courses taught by Judith over the next few years. I then successfully completed the City & Guilds Certificate in Craft and Design (Patchwork & Quilting) at Missenden Abbey taught by Barbara Weeks and, after a few years break, the City & Guilds Diploma in Craft and Design (Patchwork & Quilting) at Missenden Abbey taught by Janice Gunner. I have been influenced by the quilts exhibited at The American Museum, Bath and the V&A; and by many different quilters, a few of whom are referenced in my blog. My inspiration comes from the natural world, folk traditions, story and music and I am particularly drawn to Modern and Improv quilting. This adventure in craft and design, through quiltmaking, has led both directly and indirectly to some of the pieces on this website…. take a peek!

woodworks - hugh ridsdill-smith

Woodwork and design have been lifelong interests of mine. My introduction to woodwork was with my father in his workshop at home. I studied woodwork, together with metalwork with Ted Mills in Maidstone and had regular lessons from Chris Hoad our local village carpenter in Marden, Kent. Woodwork runs in the family, I inherited my great grandfather’s tools and the workbench – a number of which which I use. I draw inspiration from many sources: the Design Museum is a particular favourite, but skilled work is all around. Recently I took part in a ‘Build a Tiny House’ course at the Centre for Alternative Technology. Their commitment to sustainable living is particularly important for me.I attend courses, exhibitions and trade shows regularly to keep up with the latest trends and developments. I established WoodWorks in September 2016. Our approach is practical, and we put our clients’ priorities first – be they design, practicalilty, affordability, aesthetic or sustainability. Wood is a wonderful material, flexible, strong and incredibly versatile. Most things are possible. If you’ve got a project in mind and want to find out whether and how it will work, I’d be happy to talk it over with you. In September 2020 I established Woodworks Learn, the teaching arm of the business. This was long an ambition of mine, using my background in teaching, coaching and informal community learning. I find immense pleasure helping people to develop their skills and to complete projects.

ypmuseum.org

heritage skills academy

Founded by John Pitchforth in 2015 to meet a growing need for a younger generation in the Heritage Industry. We have worked with education and industry professionals to create and develop an apprenticeship standard which meets the needs of employers, and allows apprentices to develop the skills and attributes needed to thrive and succeed in a growing market. With the support of the Federation of Historic British Vehicle Clubs, the Galashan Foundation and the Starter Motor Charity, HSA has developed workshop and training facilities dedicated to Heritage Engineering mechanical, coachbuilding and trim apprenticeships. For apprentices lucky enough to become part of Heritage Skills Academy, our locations within Bicester Heritage and Brooklands Museum provide an exciting and vibrant environment which embeds them within the world of specialist engineers, historic engineering and cutting edge technology. We don't just deliver apprenticeship training; we have worked to develop a recruitment plan which helps free up the time and resource of employers. We work with you to make the recruitment and set up process as easy as possible and are always on the end of the phone to offer support and advice when needed. We believe that only by working together can we ensure the skills and knowledge of passionate professionals are not lost.

the mulberry dyer

Currently a Post graduate Researcher at the University of Leeds, researching the most efficient methods of mordanting fibres with the environment and sustainability in mind, Debbie is also an Associate of the Society of Dyers and Colourists*. Her brand, The Mulberry Dyer, was established in the early 1990’s following the completion of the City and Guilds Art and Design – Embroidery course, with a view to producing naturally dyed embroidery silks, which at that time were unavailable. Meticulous research into dyes and methods used in the 17th century resulted in the accurate reproduction of these silks. This research was then expanded to cover all periods in history and for other fibres. Examples of work can be found in the V & A Museum, Hampton Court Palace, the Globe Theatre and other Museums and Historic Houses across the UK and Europe. A specialist in the dyestuff madder, she runs courses and masterclasses and is the first dyer for many decades to successfully reproduce the Turkey Red process in Europe. Research and experimentation continue for both historical and Industrial purposes, she is currently a Post Graduate Researcher at the University of Leeds. Environmental impacts of natural dyes and mordants, colourfastness (light, wash and rub) are key to current research. For several years a consultant to Industrial Organisations wishing to add naturally dyed products to their range. A contributor to the Encyclopaedia of Medieval Dress and Textiles c450 – 1450** and with several articles published in The Journal (for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers) a book is the next step.

iva troj

A Balkan mountain child and a young arts protege who grew up to become a world renown contemporary artist with a PhD in art history. Iva Troj grew up in the outskirts of Bulgaria’s Romani slums in the last decade of communism – a world full of sexual predators, communist propaganda, censorship and no path to artistic livelihood other than what she could imagine in her wildest dreams. Today, she is a Gerety Award winner and 3 times Cannes Lions nominee for her Halo Masterpiece [biggest ever launch in the Halo franchise’s history, with more than 20M players, 520M reach], Towry Best of England Award winner, and 2 times Contemporary Art Excellence Artist of the Year award winner. She has exhibited both nationally and internationally and her work is in collections in the UK, France, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Germany, China, United States and Japan. In 2021, her epic painting Halo Infinite Masterpiece was exhibited at Saatchi Gallery and The Louvre. In 2020, her paintings were included in a number of permanent museum exhibitions in South Asia, among them Haegeumgang Museum 해금강테마박물관 in South Korea. And in Sept 2022, she was invited to exhibit a body of work at The Louvre in Paris. Troj obtained her first fine arts degree when she was just 17 years old. After completing two BA degrees and a master’s degree from the United States and Sweden, she was awarded an art history PhD title. She is widely known for her fine art pieces which seamlessly merge Renaissance aesthetics and techniques with postmodern praxis. Her intensely detailed oil paintings achieve astonishing tricks of light and shade, as practiced by the great masters. Exhausted by a society in which women often feel vulnerable, threatened, or powerless, Troj recasts the fairer sex as powerful creatures, freed from the oppressive male gaze and placed within Edenic settings where they can revel in their own beauty and potential. Blending abstraction with figuration, the natural world with the urban landscape, dream with reality, Troj’s breathtakingly beautiful artworks achieve something truly unique, both in terms of aesthetics and concept.” 22Blocks Agency Artist Statement As a child, I was taught to question one-dimensional narratives, which grew from a survival technique to a development technology of the artistic self. The foe I so often portray almost always represents the normalisation of one or more dysfunctional discourses. Like many artists, I discuss personal experiences. At the same time, I strive to escape the self, an urge that partially stems from crossing borders in the last years of the Cold War. Living through cultural starvation in my childhood’s Eastern Europe has made me restless and hungry for honest creativity. In that sense, nothing I discuss is strictly personal. Sexual abuse, violence, trauma… I may present an unusual perspective on these topics stemming from the self, but only as an outset. The work needs to keep changing, relive itself, challenge its own conformity. There is a point in every artist’s career when one is tempted to choose a tested and proven path. I’m constantly trying to resist this temptation by containing the “paths” in series where I can explore a motif or a theme without succumbing to the comforts of one visual style. The artists that I look up to for inspiration have one thing in common – constant renewal. Traditional elements are very central to my body of work. It’s not so much a need to keep it” traditional”, but rather the way I speak. I grew up in a communist country. We sang songs about machines being superior to man and praised modernity while destroying nature and killing creativity and the human spirit with it. At the same time, my summers were spent in the mountains with my grandmother who had hanging gardens, thousand stories and no TV. These two realities are inseparable in my mind. My style and inspiration come from the techniques of The Old Masters, not just Western but also Eastern European, Russian in particular. As a child I would often look at art books from the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and even Modernism and wonder why the women in them were so powerless and passive, always laying there nude like they lost the will to live, combing their hair and undressing, etc. I grew up wishing to become good at painting so I could change the stories in classical motifs. My technique resembles the Flemish method of layering thin veneers of paint between layers of varnish. Beautiful imperfection and constant renewal are themes that flow throughout my paintings. Awards: 3 x nominee for Cannes Lions Award for Halo Infinite Masterpiece 2022 Art Excellence Award 2020 해금강테마박물관] Haegeumgang Museum South Korea. CAF Artist Of The Year 2019 (2d) Contemporary Art Excellence Artist of The Year 2016 2016 Palm Award Winner 2013 Towry Best of England Award Winner

the london education & art foundation

Total 30 years of experience in management, of which half of this overlaps in the world of academia. He is experienced in managing multicultural teams and has delivered some high-level consultancy projects in the UK and overseas for the commercial and public sectors. Paul is on the Advisory Board of UK universities, UK social enterprises and charitable organisations. His interests are in the areas of Arts, he is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and has held numerous art exhibitions in London. Role: Chairman of Trustees, Head of Partnerships and Memberships. Mr Andrew Trustee FAIA, FCIPD, FRSA - Expert International Accountant and Legal Advisor Total 45 years in UK and International public practice as an accountant and legal services provider serving in the charitable, public and art sectors as a trustee, chairman, director and treasurer. A Liveryman of the City of London and past President of the Association of International Accountants (UK) and the Association de Brecourt (Belgium). A member of the International Bar Association and International Fiscal Association. Role: Trustee, Governance, Compliance and Financial Management. Degard RCA, FRSA Trustee International Artist, MA (Edin), Phd Research Fine Art Degard is a pioneering British 'Painter of Auras', writer, researcher, curator and founder of the genre Contemporary Visionary art. Degard has exhibited extensively in the UK and internationally: The Royal College of Art, Museum Alzubair, Oman, in New York, London and at Saatchi Art. Degard has written four books, is a committee member of The Colour Group, a property developer and a Fellow of The Galileo Commission for the Scientific and Medical Network. She has a Masters in Politics from Edinburgh University and is completing her doctorate in Fine Art in London. Role: Trustee, Head of Media and Events. Ambassadors of LEAF Miss Sophie Ambassador - Arts, Culture, Events. United Kingdom Oxford Graduate in Classics Sophie is a recent Oxford graduate of Classics. Having studied at Oxford for four years, she specialised in Greek and Roman art and archaeology, and has attended seminars, workshops, and focus groups on artwork from antiquity at the Ashmolean Museum, the British Museum and the British Academy. Sophie also has experience working in marketing and advertising and has worked as a gallery invigilator at galleries around London. Mr Ahmed Ambassador - Arts, Culture, Events. Middle East/North Africa (MENA) With more than 10 years of experience in the field of management and business, Ahmed has contributed in building professional teams, and developing strategies in one of the largest companies the Middle East. His interests relate to international and Islamic culture and the arts, and is looking forward to working with professional partners between overseas organisations and the LEAF Foundation. He is also a member of several institutions including: The Royal united services institute (RUSI) The Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) The British academy of management The Institute of Directors (IoD) The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Miss Emilia Ambassador - Culture, Education, Events. London & Eastern Europe With over 13 years of experience in sales, business and NLP, Emilia has provided high-level strategies for team building and management, excellent customer service and sales enhancement for UK enterprises and international multi-level marketing organisations. She is proficient in NLP and working with multicultural communities and has held self-development and mentoring workshops in various parts of London. Emilia is on the Governing and Advisory Board of London secondary schools to encourage and ensure children's learning and development. Her interests are in the areas of Arts and self-development with the aim to support individuals and sole entrepreneurs into their personal and business development journey. Miss Summer Ambassador - Arts, Fashion, Events. Shanghai & China Summer has an MBA in global Luxury management and graduated from Paris. She is in charge of the fashion department of Paris International Young Artists Association, and the key account manager of Chanel. During her stay in the UK, Summer won a number of national design competitions. As a winner of Chatsworth House design competition, she was chosen by the Douches of Devonshire. She has professional bespoke and fashion design background and luxury management experience. Mr Satoshi Ambassador - Arts, Culture, Events. L.A. USA Satoshi is the CEO of Life is Tech! USA. It is a Los Angeles-based EdTech startup best known as the creators of the acclaimed coding education program, Disney Codeillusion. With over 17 years of experience in international business, with a focus on the U.S., UK and Japan, delivering life-changing opportunities to as many people as possible, is what Satoshi lives for. He holds an MBA from Stanford University. He is a Mentor for BLAST School, an incubation program that supports high school students with ideas for solving social issues. Satoshi is also a Chartered Member of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan Miss Mika Ambassador - Education, Culture, Events. Osaka Japan Mika is a Business and

cultivating learning and nature cic

We are passionate about enaging people of all ages in ecological issues, natural history and wildlife. We run Community Events such as Moth Breakfasts (opposite) and Community Mothing and have run courses for schools, youth groups, community organisations and home schoolers. We have a multitude of illustrated talks which have gone down a storm at local gardening clubs and Women’s Institutes. We even appeared as a guest lecturer at Birmingham University – examples are listed here The Nomadic Museum of Natural History is a combination of street theatre and education tool. Formulated out of an idea of a ‘Cabinet of Curiosity’ and the plethora of natural history items in our house it slowly became a 1m long transportable natural history museum. We have since taken in all over the country to festivals, events and private functions. For more detail click here Environmental Consultancy Our resident ecologist Tim has carried out a wide number of projects over the years. Primarily a botanist he has developed skills as an all round naturalist. He has been commissioned on work involving Newt and reptile relocation and survey work at Moredon Park, Swindon Bat monitoring on the Bats in Churches project, Herefordshire Meadow restoration projects in Peterchurch, Herefordshire Badger mitigation work at Snodhill Castle, Herefordshire A summary of his skills is available here Teaching Trees For over 20 years, Teaching Trees been connecting schools with local woodlands across England and Wales. We have been employed to run the programme for Herefordshire and Worcestershire which we have done since 2017. It is funded by the Royal Forestry Society and aims to connect children to woodlands and get them to understand the trees, wildlife and production of timber that are essential for all our health. For more details please visit their website. Traditional Crafts We can offer a range of traditional and modern crafts. However we are experts at introducing people to Wool craft and tour the country as the Woolly Circus. All aspects of wool are covered: wet felting, needle felting, weaving, spinning and preperarion of fleeces. We also offer Green Woodworking courses which include Whittling to make spoons and other items from greenwood with axe, knife and crook knife. We are adept at many crafts and in the past have run workshops in knotwork, origami, willow weaving, pewter smithing with cuttlefish, sewing, leatherwork, stone age craft, decoupage and home made toileteries. We are available to run craft activities at festivals, events, parties and groups. Past events we have run workshops at have been: Green Man Festival Folk by the Oak Festival Larmer Tree Frestival Lakefest Spring Greens Hellens Manor The Big Skill Community Christmas Wreath Making in Peterchurch Christmas Fairs and school events Stag and Hen dos Gardening We take a holistic view to gardening with looking and observing wildlife being key to what we do. ClaN have helped to deliver gardening in schools as well as offering advice and design Our resident ecologist, Tim, can help you run a bioblitz in your garden or grounds to see what unexpected creatures you can find We also offer evening moth surveys or moth breakfasts. This is a fantastic opportunity to discover some of the wonderful moths we have in this country….prepare to be amazed!

alistair smith learning

UK’s leading trainer in modern learning methods. I am an independent learning consultant. My expertise is in the design and delivery of learning and development experiences for high-performing individuals, teams and organisations. Popularity, Purpose, Preparation. I have been described as the ‘UK’s leading trainer in modern learning methods.’ I’ve delivered well over 1,800 training and development events in a twenty-five-year career. I would place myself amongst the more experienced developers in the UK. Any popularity I may have earned has been as a consequence of lots and lots of preparation and treating each piece of work as unique. I’ve never done the same presentation twice. Now I’ve adapted as more and more of my deliveries are on-line. I’ve delivered to large audiences – 3,000 medics from around the world in the Congress Hall in Prague – and small. I became good at speaking to groups when, as a young man, I had to take museum tours for visitors day after day. Many had come just to get out of the rain. I had to understand their motivation in order to connect with them. Presenting I became very skilled at presenting. Along the way I built successes in facilitating groups and helping manage the learning process. I enjoy taking a project through to a conclusion. I’m very thorough and always practical. I bring an understanding of the ‘science’ of learning to the ‘art’ of teaching. I take pride in modelling the methods I promote. I do presentations to different audiences and on different topics. Here’s one I did for the Do Lectures in a steamy tent in West Wales!

sir john leman high school

Sir John Leman was a Suffolk man who went to London in the 1580s and made his fortune by dealing in dairy products. He became a leading citizen of London during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I, serving as Sheriff of London and later as Lord Mayor. He retained strong links with Beccles and, upon his death in 1631, he left a bequest to educate forty four students from Beccles, two from Ringsfield and two from Gillingham. Sir John Leman High School was established in 1632 at Leman House in Ballygate, a Seventeenth Century Grade 1 listed building which now houses the Beccles Museum. The wall of Leman House still bears the motto: ’Disce aut Discede’ (roughly translated as ’learn or go’). The school became the County Mixed Grammar School and moved to our present site in Ringsfield Road in 1914. The original school building still sits at the heart of the site, surrounded by the additional buildings and facilities which have been constructed and developed as the school has grown. In 1971, we became a Comprehensive High School and we converted to Academy status in August 2011. In 2014, an exciting major refurbishment programme was undertaken to welcome Year 7 and 8 students back to the site following the return in 2012 to a two tier education system and to ensure that our school continues to offer excellent facilities for many years to come. This included the creation of our Centenary Courtyard, a fitting celebration of 100 years of school life at Ringsfield Road. Sir John Leman High School has produced many generations of well-educated young people. A number of highly successful people have attended the school including Professor Dorothy Crowfoot-Hodgkin (Nobel Prize Winner), Sir John Mills (Actor) and Sir Stanley Rous (former FIFA President).