Team Building Days

Ideal for businesses and teams – our artist-led days will leave a lasting impression.

We have run team events and corporate experiences for over a decade with a wide range of clients, from blue-chip companies and major charities, to government departments and universities. We believe creating art can have a tangible, positive social impact; art is a valuable tool for personal development, wellbeing and fulfilment, and allows people to gain new perspectives on business challenges – learning leadership skills, improving creative thinking and problem- solving skills and encouraging teamwork.

Our team members are not only talented, practising artists but also fully trained to:

  • set clear objectives so that everyone understands the aims and structure of the day
  • manage the group ensuring that everyone enjoys the session and feels involved and valued
  • run feedback sessions highlighting issues raised in the course of the activities, promoting constructive discussion, and looking at ways for the team to apply their learning in the workplace.

You can choose from our range of ready-made packages, including half-day and whole-day sessions, and ‘Drink and Draw’ sessions. Alternatively we can work with you to create a bespoke session specific to your team and company goals – whether you’re looking for a tailored Team Away Day or an ongoing programme over an extended period of time.

Our popular team building exercises are fantastic for developing or reinforcing team cohesion and suitable for:

  • Getting Acquainted: Strengthen relationships and get to know each other better.
  • Team Bonding: Have a blast as a team and create memorable experiences together.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Foster more cohesive teamwork and improve communication.
  • Unleash Creativity: Encourage creative collaboration within your team.

Get in touch with us at [email protected]

Our happy clients include

Painting (Half-Day) from £975

Available as a 2 hour, Half-Day or Full-Day session. Drink & Paint optional!

Our Team Building Painting sessions explore a range of different themes and techniques.

These include:

  • Abstract Painting
  • Still Life
  • Life Model

Each Painting session begins with a fun and engaging warm up, followed by a creative painting exercise that will result in either small individual painting, or large group artworks which will be available to collect from the Academy.

The warm-up exercises serve as icebreakers that bring the team together by encouraging them to be creative in pairs and groups without worrying about achieving ‘perfect’ results.

During your main activity, you will learn about your requested technique and begin with some simple exercises to familiarise yourself with this method. You will then be guided through the creation of your own painting, or joint artwork, based on your desired theme. The results are always amazingly creative and can be exhibited in the office or at home with great pride!

Our staff members are more than happy to help you create a unique or bespoke Team Building session based on a specific theme you would like to explore, ensuring that you and your team get the most out of your Team Building Day.

This exercise is perfect for team bonding and for developing a growing understanding and appreciation of each other. The exercise also works very well in exploring the underlying qualities of the team, core values, a strategy or whichever subject is chosen as the general theme.

Download printable version

Sculpture (Half-Day) from £1,000

Available as a Half-Day and Full-Day session. Extra costs for hollowing & firing clay from £30 per piece. 

Our Sculpture sessions allow you to get creative with clay and explore your desired theme through this fun and expressive medium! Dependent on the length of your session, we offer two different techniques for you and your team to explore:

Abstract Sculpture (Half-Day & Full-Day)

  • During your Abstract Sculpture session, you will start by learning about creative sculpture, before trying some simple exercises using clay, wire and coloured paper. As a group, you’ll then create your own abstract sculpture based on a theme – it can be work-related or you can draw inspiration from music, poetry or literature. This exercise encourages everyone to communicate and work together to make the final piece

Life Sculpture (Full-Day)

  • During your Life Sculpture session, you will start by learning about life sculpture and be taught some essential exercises that will assist you in your main activity. You will then be introduced to the life model and learn how to measure and and proportion your work before beginning your own small sculpture. This activity provides a relaxing yet engaging environment for your team where the disciplines of focus and creative expression are channeled into your work.

Each Sculpture session begins with warm-up exercises that serve as icebreakers, bringing the team together by encouraging them to be creative in pairs and groups without worrying about achieving ‘perfect’ results. This is a great way to help individuals get to know each other better for improved team bonding.

Our staff members are more than happy to help you create a unique or bespoke Team Building session based on a specific theme you would like to explore, ensuring that you and your team get the most out of your Team Building Day.

This exercise is perfect for team bonding and for developing a growing understanding and appreciation of each other. The exercise also works very well in exploring the underlying qualities of the team, core values, a strategy or whichever subject is chosen as the general theme.

Download printable version

Drawing from £950

Available as a 2 hour or Half-Day session. Drink & Draw optional!

Our Team Building Drawing sessions are designed to be fun, informative, social and engaging in a relaxed and inspiring environment! At Art Academy London we give you the opportunity to explore two different drawing practices:

Still Life Drawing

  • You will be introduced to the techniques of line, tone and measurement using pencil and charcoal. Using still life objects, you will practice what you have learned through a series of drawing exercises. You will then draw a portrait blindfolded, relying on a partner to instruct you! You can choose to extend this session to follow on with a self-portrait drawing.

Life Drawing

  • You will be introduced to the techniques of line, tone and measurement using pencil and charcoal. You will then complete a series of life drawings from a model in shorter and longer poses.

Each Drawing session begins with warm-up exercises that serve as icebreakers, bringing the team together by encouraging them to be creative in pairs and groups without worrying about achieving ‘perfect’ results. This is a great way to help individuals get to know each other better for improved team bonding.

Our staff members are more than happy to help you create a unique or bespoke Team Building session based on a specific theme you would like to explore, ensuring that you and your team get the most out of your Team Building Day.

This exercise is perfect for team bonding and for developing a growing understanding and appreciation of each other. The exercise also works very well in exploring the underlying qualities of the team, core values, a strategy or whichever subject is chosen as the general theme.

Download printable version

What people say about our Team Building Days

“Thank you so much for today. The team were really impressed and we had an amazing time – they couldn’t thank the facilitators enough. The sessions were excellent, the standard and quality of presentations, delivery, content and design of everything was extremely high. It was fun, educational, we learnt loads of tips and new skills and produced amazing pieces. The team building exercises were brilliant and we got to learn more about each other. Loved the positivity, energy and enthusiasm of the facilitators. Outstanding on all levels. Thank you!” Colliers International

“Many of the team have commented how it was the best team event they’ve participated in and I fully share that view. Both facilitators were superb…The event was highly successful in that it brought together disparate teams to work towards common goals, and the evidence of strong team working that took place and the success it delivered was motivating for all of us. A truly original way to encourage teamwork and creativity, the event delivered far more than our original objectives stated.”
Department of Trade and Industry

“The feedback I have received from my team has been amazing. On the walk back, the energy was very high and there was not one person who did not enjoy the morning (even the people not from a design background). I also got feedback that the barriers/divide that we normally have with our teams was not noticeable for the first time in our away­-day history…It was the perfect medicine for us to remind us why we chose design as a career, as it’s easy to forget with all the technology/computers we are working with.” BBC

“We have definitely instilled the learning that came out in the workshop into the workplace. We are proud of what we created together and feel closer as a team because of the day we spent together. We definitely seek other’s opinions more (this was one of the things that came out of doing the frieze (exercise) – getting other people’s opinions in the team). We now have put weekly team meetings in place and are doing more social events outside of work together.” AOL

“Most felt that the event met and exceeded our objectives and that the second part – creating the frieze – worked best. I have asked around as to whether anything should have been done differently and the majority felt that the format used was ideal.” Anthos

“Most of the division were apprehensive about the idea of using a creative approach but the morning’s activities really helped us to relax and start to think in different ways. It was particularly positive that individuals from different teams were able to use the opportunity to collaborate and, ultimately, produce something together…All those who made it on the day felt that we had made some real progress in working together and had a lot of fun in doing so.” Department of Work and Pensions

“It was great for us to get out of the office and work together as a team it was very clear that everyone enjoyed the collaborative process so we will try to find more ways of doing that going forward. We really enjoyed the way that the session was structured starting with warm up games that everyone a chance to relax and the way that the activities built up culminating in our final creative piece. Your patient manner and encouragement made us all feel very comfortable. It was all over to soon!” SWD

“I wanted to say a huge thank you for the brilliant creative session last Monday at Lane End! It was really well organised and presented and was exactly what we were looking for – in fact it surpassed expectations! The team really enjoyed it and have provided really positive feedback. The arts race was loads of fun and got the team really energised and the abstract session, presentation and the weaving in of Heathrow’s purpose and values was excellent. I would absolutely recommend the Art Academy for any colleagues looking for a similar creative session in future.” Heathrow Airport Ltd

“The team thoroughly enjoyed our day at the Art Academy and relished the opportunity to explore a world full of creativity and colour through a variety of art forms and team games. Using Abstract Art as a central theme provided a new and challenging basis from which to develop team connectivity in a way that enabled all members of a diverse and multi­level team to participate and enjoy in equal measure. Most importantly, sessions were planned and facilitated in such a way that kept our business objectives at the forefront of thinking and as a result, experiences and learnings have been easily translated back to everyday challenges faced in the working environment.” Unilever

“I just wanted to reiterate the great time that we all had on Tuesday, and how much that really was down to you putting us all at ease and creating an environment where everyone felt comfortable enough to get involved and express themselves. The consensus from everyone was what a great day it was and how relaxed everyone had felt, even those of us who had scepticism (myself included)!! I really think that you played a huge part in that, so thank you ever so much. I know there are a couple of people who have picked up art academy leaflets off the back of the day so perhaps you will create some true artists yet!” Royal Society of Public Health, Institute of Healthcare Management

PAST CLIENTS
Allies and Morris – Arts Council – Anglia Ruskin University – AOL – BBC – BT – Convatec – Crown Office of Information – Defra – Deloitte and Touche – Department of Trade and Industry – Department for Work and Pensions – Dynamic Logic – Environment Agency – Fortune Group – HSBC – Ixico – The Forster Company – Freshmind – Iris – John Lewis – The Leading Edge – Lexis Nexis – Moody’s Shared Services– Oxfam – Random Media – Royal Sun Alliance – Shell – Trowers and Hamlins – Unilever – University of Chicago – Colliers International

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