Free Arts Courses in Southend

Open Arts; are offering free visual art and drama courses for anyone experiencing mental ill health or their carers seeking respite, places are available on courses starting in October.

Visual art course: Weekly, two hour sessions for six weeks giving you the chance to try your hand at printmaking, clay work, drawing, bookmaking, mixed media and more.
Date: Starts Wednesday 7 October 2015
Time and Duration: 13:00-15:00 for 6 weeks
Venue: Ambleside college, Ambleside Drive, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 2UP.

Drama course – Weekly, three hour sessions for seven weeks introducing participants to playwriting, acting and directing. The course will have an emphasis on comedy in theatre; helping to develop improvisation skills, and will explore all aspects of comedy in theatre from the page to the performance.
Date: Starts Thursday 1 October 2015
Time and Duration: 11:30-14:30 for 7 weeks
Venue: The Unitarian Hall Southchurch, Grange Gardens, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 2LL.

Evidence shows that creative arts groups can improve mental health, social inclusion and overall wellbeing.  In a survey of recent open arts course attendees all respondents reported enjoying their course, over 90% reported increased motivation to do art work and other activities and over 80% reported improved confidence, feeling more positive about things, and improved relationships.

Both courses provide an opportunity to learn new skills, meet people and improve self-confidence and self-esteem.

No experience is necessary for either course, but if participants of the creative arts course have experience in a particular art form our creative practitioners offer support to develop skills and interest.

Places are limited and must be booked in advance: to enrol, or find out more information about the course, please email Open Arts at open.arts@sept.nhs.uk or call 07903 188 673