OUR SUMMER ART COURSE

Thanks for your booking! Here’s a bit more info for you about the course, and what to expect.

We believe that everyone is born creative, but that artistic skill can be developed through great teaching and plenty of encouragement. Each child has a unique personality and will have their own way of expressing themselves artistically. So there is no one particular goal that we will be pointing them towards. Instead, we'll be equipping them with the tools they need to create the art they want to produce: a knowledge of how to use different mediums, an understanding of different artists' styles and process, and the confidence to experiment and use their imagination. We don't grade their work and we don't judge one artwork against another - we celebrate progress, expression, and individuality. Above all, we believe art should be fun and enrich your life!

The Course: 3 sessions, two and a half hours a day, for 3 days

We start each session by teaching the children a skill, introducing them to the work of a famous artist, or giving them some tips on using a particular medium. They will then put what they've learnt into practice in their first activity. After that we'll have a short break for a drink and snack. Then we'll demonstrate a second art or craft activity that they'll be able to enjoy for the rest of the session. Our team will be on hand throughout the afternoon to help your child with their artwork and anything else they need. We find the time passes very quickly and not everyone finishes their work, but they can take it home or carry on the next day.

In our Summer half term course, we're going to have lots of fun drawing, painting and sculpting, all on the theme of Earth & Space. Here are a few of the things your child will be doing:

Day 1: Taking a look at Van Gogh’s famous painting ‘A Starry Night’, to inspire a diorama made using oil pastels. This will be followed by a lesson in basic origami when we will teach the children how to make an origami sunburst and star.

Day 2: We’ll teach them how to use watercolour to paint a night time scene of some hills and mountains, with oil pastel details to create a mixed media piece. Then we’ll get them to think in 3-dimensions to create a moonscape using air drying clay. If your child is coming back tomorrow they can leave it with us to dry, or take it home to paint a few days’ later once it’s fully dry.

Day 3: On our final day the children will be shown how to paint the Northern lights using acrylic paint. They will finish by making a planet mobile to hang in their bedroom. We can’t wait to see their creativity flow!

Your child will return home full of new skills and ideas that they can continue using for the rest of half term and beyond.

Meet the Team

Alison

Creative Director & Safeguarding Lead
Alison has been running art classes for over 10 years, and just loves it! She’s full of ideas and enjoys planning our courses and events. She also teaches in some of our adult classes and workshops, and has worked with children and young people for many years as a volunteer in churches and youth camps. Alison will be overseeing the Art Academy, managing bookings and popping in to see how it’s all going on a regular basis!
Favourite things: Live music, filmmaking, ready salted crisps and post-it notes.
Favourite colour: Oh I can’t pick just one! All of them!
Favourite artists: Modigliani, Münter and Banksy
Diane

Tutor
Diane has 30 years of experience teaching young people and adults with special needs. A specialist in mosaics, one of her larger pieces can be found in the reception of NESCOT College. She spends many hours with her grandchildren making a glorious creative mess! She’s also run her own cake making business and has dabbled in stained glass, willow weaving, and blacksmithing! She loves cooking for other people and spending time in her garden.
Favourite things : Bruce Springsteen, red wine, wild open spaces, abstract art, a basket of yarn.
Favourite colour: Black
Favourie artists: Rothko, Barbara Hepworth and Andy Goldsworthy
Ginny

Tutor & First Aider
Ginny's artistic journey began with her childhood in India and continues to be enriched by travels abroad. Drawing inspiration from diverse experiences, she uses art as a medium for expressing gratitude. Ginny is dedicated to fostering artistic engagement in the future generations, with a wealth of experience running workshops in local schools and the wider commuity. In 2020 she was also shortlisted among the top 20 artists for Surrey Artist of the Year.
Favourite things : Long meditative walks, cooking and gardening.
Favourite colour: Peach
Favourite artists: Singh Twins and Inkquisitive
Louisa

Tutor and First Aider
Louisa has 20 years of experience teaching young people and adults. She has experience as a teacher, professional face painter and has run private workshops. Having taught computers and media studies encouraging learners to be creative - she is a firm believer we can all be artists.
Favourite things – Elvis, dancing, time with her grandchild & being outside in nature.
Chantal

Tutor
Chantal got into resin art over lockdown and her enthusiasm for art knows no bounds! She takes so much pleasure in teaching art and experimenting with all mediums. Chantal gets real joy out of helping children discover art and is also an Assistant Swimming Teacher, helping children learn to swim. Her particular specialty is helping children who might be anxious to feel comfortable to join in.
Favourite things: her young family, the beach, summer, travel, synchronised swimming.
Vicky

Tutor
Vicky specialises in textile design and loves contemporary art. By day, she works as an art technician in a prestigious secondary school and in her spare time is studying Art Therapy. She is fantastically efficient, a lovely human being, and a talented artist.
Favourite things: Prosecco and Gustav Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’.
Julie

Tutor
Julie has a background in interior design and soft furnishings. After enjoying our adult classes for six years she is excited to now be passing on the techniques she has mastered to students in our adult classes as well as at the Art For Life Academy.
Her own work, in acrylics and watercolour, leans towards Surrealism. She’s a talented singer, incredibly imaginative and great fun to be around!
Favourite things: Singing and my bed!
Favourite colour: Turquoise
Favourite artists: Grayson Perry and Jonas Peterson

Your Child's Safety and Wellbeing

Every member of our team is experienced in working with children and teaching art. They have been carefully selected for their friendly and supportive approach, as well as their artistic ability. We have been working together for over a year to develop our curriculums and projects. Each member of the team has had at least a basic DBS check, and has a good knowledge of our safeguarding procedures.

However it's important for you to know that as we only run sessions in school holidays, we are not permitted to request Enhanced DBS checks for any team members who don't already have one. So your child's participation is on the understanding that you consent to their attendance knowing that the provision of these classes is an informal arrangement and some team members have not been formally assessed for their suitability to work with children. Your child’s safety and wellbeing is of the utmost importance to us and we are confident that our team is trustworthy - we're just not able to register as an official childcare provider at the moment, due to the 'occasional' nature of our courses.

All staff are familiar with our safeguarding policy, and have been trained by our Art For Life Head Tutor, who is a qualified teacher.

We adhere to the recommended adult:child ratios.

We have a signing in and out policy, and will ask you for the names of people who are permitted to take your child home.

We will send you a ‘Student Information’ form prior to the start of the course, so that you can tell us anything we need to know about medical issues, allergies, care needs, SEN details etc. This information will be kept confidential among the team members, in accordance with our GDPR policy.

We have public and employers liability insurance, and trained first aiders on site.

The venue has been risk assessed to ensure the team are aware of possible hazards and how to mitigate them. The venue has step free access and individual toilets, including a disabled toilet.

The children will not be permitted to use mobile phones in class, but they can leave them with us at the door for safekeeping until the end of the session.

If you have any concerns, please speak to Alison Carpenter, our Safeguarding Lead.

What to Bring and What to Wear

All art materials and refreshments are included in the cost of the course, so your child does not have to bring anything. However, if they have any food allergies they may prefer to bring their own snack and/or drink. They might like to have their own water bottle to sip throughout the session, but please make sure it’s labelled with their name.

* Please do not send your child with fizzy drinks or glass bottles. *

Your child can wear whatever they are comfortable in, but please make sure they don't wear or bring anything they wouldn't want to get paint on. Charcoals, pastels and inks can stain a bit, and acrylic paint dries as an insoluble plastic, so it's virtually impossible to remove from fabric. We have aprons they can wear, but there is still a chance their clothes will get damaged with paint, glue or inks. We cannot take responsibility for damage to clothing or personal property... art is a messy business!

I’d like one of those please!

If your child would like some fun Art For Life Academy merchandise, we have a selection of items you might find useful, including aprons, stickers, water bottles, caps and drawstring bags. Please order those from our shop below. Orders can take up to 14 days to arrive, and will be delivered to your home address.

Academy Shop

Behaviour

Our classes are designed to be enjoyable and fun for everyone. We outline our expectations and safety rules at the start of the course, and remind the children of these should the need arise. If, in the unlikely event it becomes clear that we cannot safely care for your child or ensure the safety or wellbeing of the other students as a result of your child's behaviour, we reserve the right to contact you for immediate collection of your child. In extreme cases, they will not be permitted to attend the remainder of the course, and we will refund you for the remaining days that they will miss. However, we believe they will be so engaged in making wonderful artworks that this is unlikely to be an issue!

Cancellation Policy

You may cancel your child's place and receive a full refund up to 14 days prior to attendance. Unfortunately we are unable to offer refunds for cancellations within 14 days of the course. However, in the event of illness we can transfer your booking to a future course if you wish.