OYAP

8) Running workshops with Oxfordshire Youth Arts Partnership (OYAP) (3 days)

OYAP is an organisation that helps provide activities for young people in my area. They run arts and performance programs that volunteers and professionals work together to make happen. For this placement I had to have a valid DBS check (which I had already from working at a holiday camp) so this was no issue. As I have done work with OYAP before, they already had my details which made this work experience very easy to organise, the organisers sent out an email asking for volunteers over the holidays which I replied to.

I helped to run arts workshops on the theme of Time Travel; one day was two printing workshops using lino and the next was a two day project making a large installation time machine sculpture with digital media and illustrations. I was working with a few professional artists and children aged 7-14. On the first day we ran sessions encouraging the children to think about how their time machine would look and work by working collaboratively on drawings before designing their print to be made in styrofoam for the younger ones and lino for the older ones. The children were enthusiastic which made the workshop easier and more fun for everyone and at the end of the day we made the extra prints into a small exhibition on the studio wall for parents to see. The second two-day workshop had everyone making their own projects and collaborating to join them into one large machine, using cardboard, bubblewrap and other recycled materials.

As I have an illustrative background, I was asked to make some drawings to decorate the interior of the machine and by doing this, other children were inspired to draw as well. Helping everyone to create what they wanted instead of being told what to do created a hardworking and focused atmosphere, meaning we got a lot done in a short amount of time. The relationship between all the helpers was very relaxed which worked well in that environment, as we were able to make our own things to go in the time machine and join in with the activities. 

Some issues that came up were that a few of the children we were working with had learning difficulties, meaning it was sometimes difficult to get them to focus on the tasks or join in with the group, however, they both enjoyed participating in their own projects. There was also an issue where one person cut themselves using a lino tool but luckily one of the leaders helped to get that sorted out quickly. I do have some medical training but if I wanted to work with children and using possibly dangerous items, it would be wise to have a qualification in it so I could help.

One career option I might look into is being a technician in a school as I think I could help with classes in a studio environment while still having time to pursue my own art outside of this environment. Working as a helper for these workshops gives me a good idea of what is required to be a technician and what skills I therefore need to improve: communication with other people, in both a teaching and social aspect.