CREATIVE
DAYS
Creative Days for Businesses, Groups & Students
At the Art Academy, we think that Art is one of the most important joys in life, and we think that everyone should experience the fun of making and creatively expressing themselves. Here we specialise in training artists and as such understand the power of unlocking creativity for both individuals and teams. For businesses this can be hugely valuable, both to strengthen your team’s communications or to re-ignite your vision and ability to innovate.
Creativity can meet a range of needs. If you want to have fun and a chance to be creative, where better than to learn and be inspired through art? But creative practice can also address more challenging objectives, examining particular issues or even effecting change. We are in a unique position – our teachers are not only talented artists but also trained facilitators who offer a rare depth of genuine creative thinking and excellence of delivery.
How a session could help your team:
Communication…increase effectiveness, build trust, create unity
Values and vision…explore and express your organisation’s core values
Creativity…develop creative thinking, individually and as a group
Team cohesion…working together towards a common goal
Fun days…unwind, motivate, inspire and reward
What We Offer
What we offer:
– Creative, art based sessions developed and facilitated by practicing artists.
– Creative exercises that can be combined into everything from fun days to in-depth team coaching and executive development programmes.
– We can work with people in their own workplace, in another venue or in our studios.
– Choose from pre-designed sessions or a bespoke session specifically relevant to you and your team.
– Our sessions can last from 1 1 ⁄ 2 hours to a day, or can take the form of an ongoing programme over an extended period of time.
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
What People Say
“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 that 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
Choose Your Session
Our popular Creative Days are fantastic for developing or reinforcing team cohesion. The team at the Art Academy has developed a range of enjoyable, constructive and effective exercises and activities that can suit all sorts of training needs or just provide a motivating, rewarding fun day for your team. The below packages can run as half or full day events.
Alternatively we can create a bespoke package developed for your specific needs, please click the bespoke button to contact us about this.
Bespoke Sessions
If you have specific objectives relating to you your team’s values, vision, strategy, planning, cohesion, communication etc please contact us and we are delighted to work with you to create a session specifically to meet your objectives.
Prices below are typically on a max of 15 people, we can take numbers up to 60 on some dates, but the price increases dependent on the number of people
Option 1 Half Day up to 15 people: £750
Choose 1 option from Warm Up Games & Exercises
Choose 1 option from Main Exercises
Option 2 Whole Day up to 15 people: £1050
Choose 2 options from Warm Up Games & Exercises
Choose 2 options from Main Exercises
See below tab for a list of example Exercises
Example Exercises
Below are a list of the type of exercises that we can run or you can chose from for a bespoke session:
Arts Race
A 3D guessing game – the group will race against the clock to complete the cards, which have to be drawn, sculpted or mimed. This icebreaker is great fun and gets people being creative without worrying about achieving ‘perfect’ results.
The Newspaper Game
Using a huge pile of newspapers, scissors and Sellotape, each team chooses a film to depict and has 20 minutes to create a 3D sculpture as big and crazy as they want, from dinosaurs and flying alien spaceships to towering infernos (not actually alight!); this is a wonderfully creative way to have a lot of fun
Giant clay sculpture
This exercise is immense fun and very creative, as everyone is working together. The group is given lots of clay, wire and paper and a large amount of floor or table space. They are given a theme: a farmyard, London in 3000AD the seabed, an alien planet, or a work related theme if appropriate. They then literally get on with it, all together, in a very spontaneous, creative way. They are encouraged to use the whole space to create one large sculpture and be as imaginative as they like. It is wonderful watching everyone interacting and the sculpture emerging
Tottering Towers
In teams, it is a race to build the tallest tower out of the same amount of clay per team. Ingenuity, teamwork and strategy are put to the test in this fun game.
A great (and messfree) variant of this game involves building towers out of newspaper and rubber bands.
Shaggy dog
A hugely entertaining warmup that will get everyone going both visually and verbally. Everyone has to draw an image – anything will do, and no conferring is allowed. The images are then spread out on the floor and from this seemingly random group of pictures a story must emerge. Hilarious and surreal, but also an excellent way to start a team session. Particularly good for large groups.
Make An Impression
A really original warmup, ideal for getting people to open up and communicate within the team. The team get to quickly create small sculptures that express their feelings about each other in a positive way, working their way from colleague to colleague.
Reconstruction
The group has to create a coherent story from a set of sequential pictures. The pictures are randomly shuffled and handed out (if there are more pictures than people, some or all may get more than one). People can not show their picture to others, but must work together to make sense of the original story. This requires a lot of patience, communication, and an effort to understand things from another’s point of view.
Beauty Pageant
Each team will have a heap of paper, material, scissors and tape. It’s a contest to see who can dress their contestant in the most creative costume based on the theme of the day.
The Memory Game
How much can you remember about a set of images or a tray of objects…and how accurately can youdraw, paint or sculpt them in a few minutes?
The Adverts Game
Each team is given the name of a film, book, play or event and has 20 minutes to create a collage that best advertises it, using words and images from a pile of newspapers and magazines. People’s powers of imagination are extraordinary, and the results are often hilarious. You could even have a prize for the best effort.
Main Exercises:
Abstract Painting
The team starts by learning about abstract painting, they then learn techniques themselves by doing some simple exercises based on abstract painting principles. The tutor takes them through the exercise step by step, so no previous experience or aptitude is required. Each person or group then goes on to create their own ‘abstract painting’ based on a given theme, such as ‘ the values of the organization’ or ‘qualities of the team’ or it could be something lighter and unwork related such a story, poem, music. The final works can be designed to show in the office or taken home to exhibit. The results are always amazingly creative and can be exhibited with great pride! This exercise is perfect for team bonding and for the team to develop 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 theme.
Abstract Sculpture (ONSITE only)
The team starts by learning about creative abstract sculpture, taking inspiration from past and contemporary artists. They then learn techniques themselves by doing some simple exercises based on these principles using clay, wire, coloured paper. No previous experience or aptitude is required as each step is guided by the tutor. The group then goes on to create their own ‘abstract sculpture’ based on a given theme, such as ‘the values of the organization,’ ‘underlying qualities of the team’, ‘core values’, ‘a strategy’ or inspiration can be drawn from something unwork related such as music, poetry or literature. This exercise is huge fun and very creative as everyone is working together and has to communicate with each other to make the final piece. At the end the work can be photographed to exhibit back at the office. The results are always amazingly creative! This exercise is very creative as every one is working together and has to communicate with each other to make the final piece. It is perfect for team bonding and for the team to develop a growing understanding and appreciation of each other for improved team cohesion.
Face to Face (ONSITE only)
Fun, get your hands dirty, and very funny. It is amazing what people can achieve in a short time. The session starts with learning about different approaches to portraiture, inspired by great artists of the past and present. Participants pair up, talk to each other, find out about each other and then sculpt each other’s portraits realistic, abstract, or with a little imagination – it’s up to them. At the end they share what they have found out about each other with the group. A photographic record can be made of each piece. Or more straightforward portraiture can be done using a model.
Frieze
This exercise encourages participants to explore their creative imagination whilst being able to have fun working together and getting to know each other. The team starts by learning about abstract painting and collage, they then learn techniques themselves by doing some simple exercises based on abstract principles. The tutor takes them through the exercise step by step, so no previous experience or aptitude is required. The group is then given a story, poem or piece of music, which they have to depict in one complete frieze on paper around the walls, or on the floor of the room. The group is divided into teams, each responsible for portraying one chapter of the story. Participants will have a wide array of instruments (brushes, sponges, inks, found objects and collage materials).
Art United
Ideal for exploring and improving communication, time management and team cohesion. Many teams have to develop strategies for working in subgroups and adhoc working parties, and this exercise encourages effective collaborative working. The overall aim is to create a large picture based on a theme or poem that is given to the whole group at the start. The exercise relies entirely on everyone communicating clearly and consistently, and is therefore a great exercise in getting everyone to mix, communicate and unite towards a common goal. Participants will have a wide array of instruments (brushes, sponges, bamboo etc), paints, inks, found objects and collage materials.
Transmission
Creative objective: The team is divided into groups, with each group responsible for drawing part of an overall image onto the wall. At first this may sound easy, but the team members who are drawing are blindfolded, taking instruction from a communicator…who is told what to do by their team leader… who is the only one with the image!
Training objectives: The aim is to complete the task and ensure that each member feels empowered and valued as part of the team. Participants’ skills of communication, listening and awareness are put to the test in this challenging exercise, which reflects the piecemeal nature of much communication in organisations and offers participants an opportunity to explore more effective and positive approaches.
Contact Us
To make contact, please email: creativedays@artacademy.org.uk or call +44 020 7701 2880
Location
Minutes from London Bridge, The Art Academy is a vibrant artist community and school, comprising of over 4 floors of studio space and workshops. The event will take place in one of the large studios. The Academy is also only a short walk from the Tate and the cultural hub of the South Bank, if your team would like to extend the day.
Health and Safety
All participants will be provided with a sheet on basic health and safety requirements. All exercises are essentially safe, provided participants take care of what they are doing. If specific tools are involved, tutors will clearly advise on any areas to be particularly careful about. Tutors are highly experienced and will be there throughout to instruct, encourage and challenge. All participants should be aware that having fun with sculpture and paint will result in getting their clothes dirty, so we recommend they bring old clothes and closed shoes to change into.