Advise on selecting adult art or craft classes: click here
Created: 10 November 2012
Updated: 11 Feb 2016
Updated: 31 August 2020
Updated: 11 Feb 2016
Updated: 31 August 2020
Mini Tea set. One of my daughter's creations.
ADVICE FOR PARENTS SELECTING CHILDREN'S CLASSES
Dear fellow parent
Please do not ask if your children or teenager can attend my adult classes, even with you (parents can attend my studio classes with their adult children).
.
This is because some of my adult students are treasuring their classes as a short child-free break from their own families! Besides children thrive best within classes of similar aged students, not adults.
However, I provide the follow suggestions and venues for you, and your child, to think about:
1. At your child's school
A lot of schools are beginning to now offer "art and clay clubs".
These occur either after school or sometimes during lunch time.
Ask your school, art teacher, P&C if they can run or organise these with artists, casual school or relief teachers.
Saves you making more parent taxi trips! Plus you can be assured of a quality and safe environment for your child.
While I do not teach children within my studio classes, I am frequently invited to and teach within schools and community holiday programs. This happens when parents asks for clay classes. Remember to ask at least 6 weeks in advance of holidays, to allow time for documentation, printing and advertising to be organised.
Alternatively, the Creative Kids Art Club is offering after school art clubs in an increasing number of inner city primary schools and local arts centres. Coordinated by Jane McKay (trained and experienced as both an artist and primary teacher), all tutors are trained teachers, with small groups and blended ages, so siblings can attend together. Currently they don't use pottery clay, but this will change soon, if you ask.
2. Local government / community holiday programs
Contact your local council Arts Officer, eg Stirling / Nedlands / Fremantle / Vincent / etc, to find their children art and craft classes at their local community arts centre.
Examples:
Fremantle Arts Centre. My child has attended a few short courses through them. Usually run by enthusiastic ceramic artists. See www.fac.org.au Ages 5-8, 9-12, 13-18. Update 2020: due to COVID 19, some of their program has been scaled back.
Tresillian Arts Centre see See www.nedlands.wa.gov.au. I've taught their school holiday pottery and sculpture classes a few times and it's a great setup.
City of Wanneroo runs a holiday program and once a month half a day weekend art workshops during school terms. See www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au.
Loftus Community Centre in City of Vincent, used to have a 3-12 years holiday program (not clay very often). Unfortunately in early 2020 the centre closed down. The City of Vincent has now taken over the management of all programs. Currently there is no online details, so please ring the City to find out what is available on 9273 6000 (Monday to Friday between 8.30am - 5pm) or drop in to the Centre or Council Offices, both on Loftus Street.
Others?
Do let me know by email if you hear of others, and I'll add them here for other parents looking for classes.
3. Selected TAFEs
Northbridge CMC TAFE has 11-15 years children's art classes during school terms see www.gallerycentral.com.au/kids-art-class/ Sometimes hard to find, better to phone on 9427 1318 or email at: [email protected] for details.
4. Independent tutors/teachers
There are more and more of theses appearing. Note 6. Advise below.
South of the River:
Willemina Foemen: http://members.iinet.net.au/~w.foeken/classes/index.html a highly trained art teacher and skilled artist (the best combination) and has run small children classes for ages 7–17 for many years.
Victoria Park Arts Centre very ocassionally will run pottery classes for children see http://vicparkarts.org.au (ignore popup windows).
North of the River
mother - daughter team, Andrea & Emma Vinkovic. Opened in 2018. www.claymakestudio.com.au/school-holidays.html
Karen Frankel
Galleria Art Studio are building a name for themselves in Morley. Sometimes teach clay. Ages 5-7, 8-13, 14 - 17.
Jodie Davidson
See jodiedavidson.com.au/workshops-classes/. Runs after school and holiday workshops for young children, subject to demand. Also works within gifted art program at Balcatta Senior High School, and Artist in Residence with Awesome Arts (both good signs-I've done this in the past).
5. Clubs / Groups
These range from the formal incorporated non-profit organisations through to informal groups. Quality of the tuition is less easy to assess, as many do not have, or provide details of formal ceramic and teacher training, or experience. See 6. Advise below.
South of the River:
Canning Arts Group: 6-9 years, 9+ years.
North of the River
Guildford Village Potters' Club: Children's School Holiday Pottery Classes during winter.
6. Advise
if class terms have started, still contact them and ask if there is a gap/or someone drops out. More classes during holidays, but often booked out weeks before, so contact and ask to be put on email list.
Always check that the tutors have professional training as teachers and artists, are experienced, undergo ongoing professional development, plus have a current WWC (Working With Children Check) Card, and the classes are well resourced and not too large. Look for independent reviews. Word of mouth from other parents is also another way to assess classes.
I got the "art bug" when I was young, and after a few detours, I now do it full time and get paid to travel the world!
It's a lot of fun when you are young (and not so young), then is a lot of hard work after university, but then it becomes a lot of fun again after that. Go for it!!!
Cheers
Graham Hay
BA (Arts)(Hon) Curtin
BA (Visual Arts) Edith Cowan
Trained Teacher Cert. Dunedin
Teachers College Dipl (WADET)
WA College of Teaching (current)
WA Working with Children Check (current)
Have your children attended any other great clay classes? Do email and let me know, so I can update this page and let other parents know too. more detail, on selecting adult art class / tutors
Please do not ask if your children or teenager can attend my adult classes, even with you (parents can attend my studio classes with their adult children).
.
This is because some of my adult students are treasuring their classes as a short child-free break from their own families! Besides children thrive best within classes of similar aged students, not adults.
However, I provide the follow suggestions and venues for you, and your child, to think about:
1. At your child's school
A lot of schools are beginning to now offer "art and clay clubs".
These occur either after school or sometimes during lunch time.
Ask your school, art teacher, P&C if they can run or organise these with artists, casual school or relief teachers.
Saves you making more parent taxi trips! Plus you can be assured of a quality and safe environment for your child.
While I do not teach children within my studio classes, I am frequently invited to and teach within schools and community holiday programs. This happens when parents asks for clay classes. Remember to ask at least 6 weeks in advance of holidays, to allow time for documentation, printing and advertising to be organised.
Alternatively, the Creative Kids Art Club is offering after school art clubs in an increasing number of inner city primary schools and local arts centres. Coordinated by Jane McKay (trained and experienced as both an artist and primary teacher), all tutors are trained teachers, with small groups and blended ages, so siblings can attend together. Currently they don't use pottery clay, but this will change soon, if you ask.
2. Local government / community holiday programs
Contact your local council Arts Officer, eg Stirling / Nedlands / Fremantle / Vincent / etc, to find their children art and craft classes at their local community arts centre.
Examples:
Fremantle Arts Centre. My child has attended a few short courses through them. Usually run by enthusiastic ceramic artists. See www.fac.org.au Ages 5-8, 9-12, 13-18. Update 2020: due to COVID 19, some of their program has been scaled back.
Tresillian Arts Centre see See www.nedlands.wa.gov.au. I've taught their school holiday pottery and sculpture classes a few times and it's a great setup.
City of Wanneroo runs a holiday program and once a month half a day weekend art workshops during school terms. See www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au.
Loftus Community Centre in City of Vincent, used to have a 3-12 years holiday program (not clay very often). Unfortunately in early 2020 the centre closed down. The City of Vincent has now taken over the management of all programs. Currently there is no online details, so please ring the City to find out what is available on 9273 6000 (Monday to Friday between 8.30am - 5pm) or drop in to the Centre or Council Offices, both on Loftus Street.
Others?
Do let me know by email if you hear of others, and I'll add them here for other parents looking for classes.
3. Selected TAFEs
Northbridge CMC TAFE has 11-15 years children's art classes during school terms see www.gallerycentral.com.au/kids-art-class/ Sometimes hard to find, better to phone on 9427 1318 or email at: [email protected] for details.
4. Independent tutors/teachers
There are more and more of theses appearing. Note 6. Advise below.
South of the River:
Willemina Foemen: http://members.iinet.net.au/~w.foeken/classes/index.html a highly trained art teacher and skilled artist (the best combination) and has run small children classes for ages 7–17 for many years.
Victoria Park Arts Centre very ocassionally will run pottery classes for children see http://vicparkarts.org.au (ignore popup windows).
North of the River
mother - daughter team, Andrea & Emma Vinkovic. Opened in 2018. www.claymakestudio.com.au/school-holidays.html
Karen Frankel
Galleria Art Studio are building a name for themselves in Morley. Sometimes teach clay. Ages 5-7, 8-13, 14 - 17.
Jodie Davidson
See jodiedavidson.com.au/workshops-classes/. Runs after school and holiday workshops for young children, subject to demand. Also works within gifted art program at Balcatta Senior High School, and Artist in Residence with Awesome Arts (both good signs-I've done this in the past).
5. Clubs / Groups
These range from the formal incorporated non-profit organisations through to informal groups. Quality of the tuition is less easy to assess, as many do not have, or provide details of formal ceramic and teacher training, or experience. See 6. Advise below.
South of the River:
Canning Arts Group: 6-9 years, 9+ years.
North of the River
Guildford Village Potters' Club: Children's School Holiday Pottery Classes during winter.
6. Advise
if class terms have started, still contact them and ask if there is a gap/or someone drops out. More classes during holidays, but often booked out weeks before, so contact and ask to be put on email list.
Always check that the tutors have professional training as teachers and artists, are experienced, undergo ongoing professional development, plus have a current WWC (Working With Children Check) Card, and the classes are well resourced and not too large. Look for independent reviews. Word of mouth from other parents is also another way to assess classes.
I got the "art bug" when I was young, and after a few detours, I now do it full time and get paid to travel the world!
It's a lot of fun when you are young (and not so young), then is a lot of hard work after university, but then it becomes a lot of fun again after that. Go for it!!!
Cheers
Graham Hay
BA (Arts)(Hon) Curtin
BA (Visual Arts) Edith Cowan
Trained Teacher Cert. Dunedin
Teachers College Dipl (WADET)
WA College of Teaching (current)
WA Working with Children Check (current)
Have your children attended any other great clay classes? Do email and let me know, so I can update this page and let other parents know too. more detail, on selecting adult art class / tutors
Webpage created: 10 November 2012
Updated: 11 Feb 2016
Updated: 31 August 2020
Updated: 11 Feb 2016
Updated: 31 August 2020
