Secondary student workshops

General Points & Materials

Students: Up to 30 students can participate in each workshop providing adequate space is available (see below). The workshop is a day-long experience, open to the same group of students for the duration of the day

Space: Students will be working on the floor on large sheets of paper with the model in the centre and therefore ideally require a school hall or drama studio with a good natural light source. Art rooms are too small. A good indicator is to provide sufficient space for each participating student to stretch out in every direction without touching another person. Often teachers look outside the school for a space for example in a local arts centre or gallery, but pleases remember to let us know if this is the case. If adequate space cannot be found it is advisable to tailor the size of the group to the space available in the school. If an art room has to be used then it is important to clear it of all furniture. Easels, drawing boards, tables and chairs are not necessary

Photo: Karl Attard

Privacy: This is an important aspect if the model is nude. It might be necessary to cover windows and doors

Temperature: A number of blow heaters or similar with extension leads that reach to the centre of the room are required. A warm room is essential even when the model is clothed and particularly in the colder months. If the model is cold it is likely that they will keep their clothes on

Duration: Secondary school workshops, including lunch and breaks, normally last around six hours. The day usually begins at 9.30am and finished around 3.30pm. Primary school workshops are slightly shorter in length and run from 10am until 2.30pm. Workshops will incorporate the school’s normal mid-morning break and lunch time

Equipment:
* A thin mattress or gym mat for model to use
* A number of blow heaters and with extension leads as above
* Easels, drawing boards, tables and chairs are not necessary. If the floor surface is very uneven it might useful to have some large sheets of cardboard for students to work on. Participants may wish to bring in an old cushion to kneel on.

Models: When the workshop is booked it is important to let us know if you have a preference regarding the sex of the model - subject to availability. It is possible for the model to be clothed if absolutely necessary. Please let us know if this is the case. Clothed models normally wear a leotard/trunks. Models will remain clothed for primary school workshops. A warm, private area, close to the workshop space, is required for the models to change in. Our models are at liberty to remain clothed if they are cold

Teachers: Teachers are very welcome to take part providing there is space to do so. It is essential that there are teachers available at primary school workshops

Photo © Steve Hopper 2008

Clothing: Old track suit bottoms and a T shirt if possible - participants will be working hard on the floor of a warm room all day and will get very dirty with the use of charcoal

Materials:
* PLENTY of thick charcoal as well as some medium charcoal
* PLENTY of paper - cartridge, cheaper white or sugar paper but NOT newsprint. Each secondary school pupil is likely to use approximately 15 large sheets. Primary school pupils use slightly less than this
* A small selection of coloured chalks or pastels
* Plenty of masking tape for taping sheets of paper together
* Pencils/biros for writing
* Blue tack and wall space for displaying work, if possible

Evaluation:
An evaluation pack will be sent to secondary schools prior to the workshop taking place. We really value your feedback and would appreciate you and your pupils taking the time to complete our questionnaires as soon as possible after the workshop.