Creative Thinking and Nature Appreciation Group Workshop

Novel timeout to tune in to your creativity and your nature connection



3 hours Class size 25 to 200 guests     $115


Brought to you by the Founder of Art Hut in London's Battersea Park, a creative expression and nature appreciation experience for professional groups and adult social groups.
Taking time out for creativity and nature, in any form, can help to alter our pace or provide a fresh perspective. Creative pursuits can help to spark self-improvement, original ideas, or innovation.
This experience encourages individual and/or collaborative creativity, and is ideal for those who feel they are not very creative but nonetheless willing to take some creative steps in a non-competitive environment.
Perhaps enjoy it as a wellbeing or client event, or as a work social with colleagues from a range of departments or your immediate team?
Past participants have described their experience as freeing, exciting, relaxing, challenging, fun, empowering, and a creative stretch.
"The creative fun of Mel's workshop got my subconscious rummaging around a favourite attic in the back of my mind. It inspired me to write a brief to inject playfulness into a current work project, which also led to a valuable reconnection with a former colleague". Dr Ken Hudson, PhD Organisational Creativity.
Class outline:
Main session (min. 2 hours)
The first part is a warm-up, involving a number of short tasks to help get you into a creative mode. You will experiment with broad creative expression concepts and broad nature connection themes. An eclectic mix of basic arts and crafts materials (additional cost) will provide inspiration. The second part is more self-guided and contemplative, during which you can continue experimenting or develop a concept further. Go at your own pace, or perhaps collaborate if someone has a similar creative interest.
Following the main session:
Following the conclusion of the main session, opt to continue working on your mini creation or mingle and chat with others about your concepts and creations. There is a good-size kitchen within the main workshop room, plus a kitchenette with a comfy, small lounge area just outside the main room. Alcohol is not permitted anywhere at this venue.
Other details: The entrance to Building 15 is from Harris Street. The main workshop room is fully accessible. The workshop at this venue is entirely indoors, but at your request can be adapted to include some weather-dependent outdoor tasks nearby. In keeping with the timeout theme, everyone will be asked to switch off all phones and other devices.
Note before booking: Please do not contact the venue. Please first email Mel Barry to arrange to meet her for a Pre-Booking Meeting at UTSS Building 15. Please include in that email a short request for any reasonable adjustments that may be required. Please do not proceed with a workshop booking without having attended a Pre-Booking Meeting at UTSS Building 15. Also do not proceed with a workshop booking unless all of your required reasonable adjustments are pre-agreed and confirmed by Mel via email.
If your group is larger than 25 participants, note before booking: Please first email Mel Barry to discuss the room layout, and whether you are willing to book and pay for a venue elsewhere that might be more suitable. Depending on your group size, the venue, and your needs you may need to make two bookings on the same date. Mel's time and travel costs related to any venue that you book (i.e anywhere other than at UTSS Building 15) may be charged in addition to the per-head price.

Knowledge required
No experience is necessary. This is a general creative expression and general nature appreciation session, for beginners. Mel is neither art teacher nor art therapist.
 
What you'll get
Take your creations with you to display in the office or at home.
The per-head price also includes:
  • Flexible hours within reason to fit your preferred timing and location, noting that Mel's indicative availability provided herein is subject to change from week to week.
  • One 30 minutes Pre-Booking Meeting at UTSS Building 15 with Mel Barry, to be attended prior to making your workshop booking;
  • One planning meeting - online or by phone - for up to an hour, after your workshop booking is confirmed and your payment is received in full;
  • Up to a total of three hours for workshop set-up and clean-up.
EXCLUDED:
  • Arts and crafts materials. After your workshop booking is confirmed and your payment received in full, you will receive a list of suggested materials to source and purchase, and to bring with you two hours prior to the workshop start time. For example, materials for sketching, painting, collage, sculpture, clay, display etc;
  • Storage before and after the booking times;
  • Access to UTSS Building 15 before and after the booking times (other than for one Pre-Booking Meeting as mentioned above).
What to bring
  • An open mind and friendly, positive attitude.
  • Consider bringing an apron to protect your clothes, thin gloves, and a mask.
Location

UTS Startups. Building 15 (CB15). - 15/622-632 Harris St, Ultimo NSW

This venue is within walking distance from Central station (700m).

Your teacher can also travel within 20 kms of Ultimo, to a venue of your choice for a private class

Creative Thinking and Nature Appreciation Group Workshop location
More about this class

This class is new, and is covered by ClassBento's money-back guarantee.

Your teacher

Mel Barry
Mel Barry

female Women-owned

I enjoy facilitating novel ways for organisations and individuals to seek fresh perspectives. A creative breakthrough is powerful, and creative pursuits can help to spark self-improvement, original ideas, or innovation.
Mostly self-taught as a workshop facilitator, with some formal training as a creativity facilitator in England, since 2012 I have delivered many hundreds of hours of adult creative expression sessions for a range of public and private organisations, festivals, and community groups in London and Sydney.
As an independent curator in London I produced public exhibitions to showcase professional and aspiring artists alike. These featured a range of collaborative projects across sculpture, painting, drawing, cartooning, printmaking, dance, and poetry. I enjoyed a five year collaboration with a therapeutic gardening charity serving the London public. In their lovely English garden I delivered public exhibitions, and creativity sessions for individuals, pairs, and groups.
Delivering workshops is one of a number of ways that I practise and stretch my own creative expression and curiosity. My inspiration is mostly found in dancing, bird song and other natural beauty, music and singing, societal themes such as citizenship and social action, devised theatre and other performance, and political art.
As a sustainability professional I specialise in a range of soft skills across external communications, engagement, and creativity. I have developed these throughout my career with a focus on environmental and community-based initiatives.
2024-11-15 15:00:00
V48I01Z33L 34c052b7f77f35dccea660a6ce51910d production Sydney NSW AU sydney