Opening Doors 2015 is a specialist course aimed at professionals working in a range of settings; including education, community, probation, health, social services and youth work. The course will introduce participants to modern and contemporary art and empower them to work in new ways with groups and individuals.
The course will use Tate Liverpool’s exhibitions and Collection Displays as stimuli to explore themes around creativity, health and wellbeing.
Over seven sessions, you will explore a different theme such as “Arts and Health” and “Diversity and Identity”. You will partake in group discussions, lectures from care and health professionals, workshops in the galleries, assisted research and supportive, individual tutorials.
Course content:
Each week we will explore a different theme, examining the spectrum of arts in health practice – from ‘arts on prescription’ to the arts therapies. We will introduce participants to a great range of exercises and techniques which they can adapt for their professional practice. We will work both in the studio and in the galleries, drawing particularly from Natalie Rogers’ Expressive Arts Therapies to illustrate how modern art can serve as a gateway for personal exploration and expression. We will also investigate the connection between creativity and mindfulness, exploring the evocative nature of art work and discussing questions regarding professional boundaries and emotional safety in the expressive arts process.
Sessions will include group discussions, lectures, creative activities in the studio and galleries, and individual and group tutorials.
Weekly Themes
Week 1: Spectrum of ‘Arts in Health’ practice, introduction to Expressive Arts, conditions for expressive creative practice
Week 2: Creativity & mindfulness, bringing creative practice into the workplace, the 5 Ways to Wellbeing
Week 3: The ‘creative connection’ & the therapeutic relationship, creativity & the body as gateway to exploration
Week 4: Music in health with a musician from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, secondary trauma and how to manage it
Week 5: Diversity and identity, examples of professional practice
Week 6: Presentations and evaluation of TATE visits
Week 7: Integrating practice – group reflections on personal and professional practice
Participants will be eligible for the Open Awards accreditation (Level 3) as part of the course.The Open Awards accreditation is a nationally recognised qualification and is part of the Open College Network (OCN); the UK's foremost provider of accreditation services for adult learning. Open Awards offer a range of qualifications designed to meet the aspirations of learners who are seeking a stepping stone to their career or wishing to progress and build their skills and experience.
Course Tutors:
Sandy D’ Silva, Independent Consultant in Child centred training
Dr. Jessica Bockler, Applied Theatre Practitioner and Transpersonal Psychologist
There are no formal entry requirements or experience required to attend Opening Doors 2015 just an interest in art.