Dragons and Unicorns, Clay Sculpture Holiday Art Class

* Artist-led

* Family friendly–parents/carers can book a place to create alongside children. Adults must be accompanied by children. Both adults and children need to pay for a place as places are limited

* Suitable for 6 years and above (children of 5 years can register for clay classes, if a paying adult is attending)

A practising artist and arts educator for fifteen years in the UK, Sophie has led hundreds of art projects for children as well as running training sessions for teachers working with children. Her artwork has been exhibited in a range of art galleries, with one series of sculpture housed in a permanent collection at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

Through her workshops and classes, Sophie aims to inspire creativity, sparking imagination, curiosity and awe, while at the same time teaching practical art techniques, processes and knowledge.

Sophie also works in the world of nonverbal communication, her second life-long passion. Occasionally she teaches combined nonverbal communication and art workshops. You can read more on our sister website My Alcomy.

By enroling yourself or participants in a workshop/class/course, you agree to the following terms and conditions.

1. Participants are expected to behave and be nice to one another. Disruptive behaviours and bullying will not be tolerated. Design Cite reserves the right to terminate enrolment if unacceptable behaviour is not resolved.

2. Parents and carers are required to drop off and collect participants from the classroom or from the front door of the venue.

3. Parents and carers are required to arrive on time to collect participants. Please call/message Sophie 0477 182 555, if running late.

4. Parents or carers must be contactable during the session.

5. Participants must be able to take themselves to the toilet, which is located at the other end of the building, and use it without the need for assistance or must bring a parent/carer to take them/assist.

6. Participants are required to wear enclosed footwear during the session.

7. Participants are required to wear old clothes and footwear during the session as we use materials which do not wash out. Aprons do not adequately cover clothing. Design Cite holds no responsibility for materials getting on clothing and footwear.

8. Participants are required to bring a water bottle with a closable lid.

9. Food is not permitted in class.

10. Participants with additional needs are welcome to attend with a parent or carer. Some of our venues have access limitations, please contact us, before you enrol.

11. Participants are expected to clean up after themselves at the end of the session, leaving their space and equipment as they found it.

12. Design Cite must be notified if participants have any existing medical or behavioural conditions and allergies. In some cases, it may be necessary for parents or carers to attend the session.

13. In the event of an emergency or perceived emergency, costs incurred for calling an ambulance for a participant are to be payable by their parent or carer.

14. For workshops and classes for children under the age of five years, parents or carers are required to attend.

15. Design Cite will offer a refund or transfer if a course is cancelled due to insufficient numbers.

16. To keep the cost of our workshops affordable, work made in clay will not be fired, unless specified.

“Creatively talented children, often, don’t get the recognition they deserve or the support they need to develop their full potential. Yet, recognising and nurturing artistic talent can have a profound impact on improving skills, knowledge–and emotional wellbeing.

In the fifteen years I’ve been working in the arts with children, what I’ve found, time and time again is creative talent often goes unnoticed or is disregarded. It’s not the fault of teachers or parents–children simply haven’t been observed in an environment where their true talents shine.

I’ve realised many children who underachieve academically, thrive creatively–if given the right environment and opportunity. Oftentimes, the child hasn’t realised their talent either, simply because they haven’t experienced variety in art.

I’ve seen underachieving children, and their teachers, light-up on discovering outstanding artistic talent. I’ve seen parents and teachers emotionally touched to see their children performing well at something–achieving a high standard. I’ve seen children find their ‘why’ and discover their motivation for the future...seeing these responses is my ‘why’!

I’ve seen a lot of this because my aim was always to inspire creativity, sparking imagination, curiosity and awe, while teaching practical art techniques, processes and knowledge, that otherwise would remain out of reach.

When we nurture creativity in children, we set the foundations for a positive future. We not only develop art skills but create opportunities for new ways of thinking, improving problem-solving skills.

When we nurture creativity in children, we also encourage self-expression, providing opportunities for children to experience and express feelings and emotion. And to create art, which in turn, evokes emotion.

We celebrate uniqueness and diversity and introduce new cultural experiences and traditions–learning through art.

We create opportunities for children to be mindful and fully immersed in a flow state, through meaningful projects.

We create their future!”

— Sophie

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Midland Junction Arts Centre, 276 Great Eastern Highway, Midland, Australia