Ruthin Craft Centre
The Centre for the Applied Arts

Talks, Events & Workshops

We provide a host of talks, events & workshops to accompany our gallery exhibitions. Click through the arrows to view What’s on.

Simeon Jones: Meet the maker – Sundays

Pencil in Sundays with

Open your eyes to the architecture of Ruthin

During Open Doors month, every Sunday afternoon from 2.00pm to 4.00pm, join artist Jane McCormack to look at architecture in Ruthin. Informal and fun, you will learn to look at the details of the rich heritage of Ruthin’s buildings and put marks on paper. Over the four weeks the oldest buildings in Ruthin will feature including St Peter’s Church, St Meugan’s Llanrhydd, and St Mwrog and St Mary’s Llanfwrog. Sketchbook and some materials will be provided, you are also welcome to bring your own, meet at the Craft Centre and walk into town. If raining meet at St Peter’s Church.

Book your place now 01824 704774

Sponsored by Graham Holland Associates, Architects and Historic Buildings Consultants.

‘Taste of Craft’ afternoon sessions

Why not come and join us for a couple of hours on a Friday afternoon from 1.00pm until 3.00pm throughout the autumn season, as we will be offering a wide range of hands-on making activities with different local makers, helped along with a nice cup of tea or coffee.

These are age friendly sessions and no previous experience in the arts is necessary – just a willingness to take part!

Why not try your hand at something new this autumn with our wide variety of ‘Taste of Craft’ sessions – Join us for one, or as many sessions as you like.

The sessions are £5 each, book on to 4 or more sessions and receive a discount of 50% ‘Taste of Craft’ afternoon sessions of making for people aged 60+

If you would like further information contact Sioned Phillips, Education Officer by e-mail sioned.phillips@denbighshire.gov.uk or tel 01824 704774

30 September: Maker: Wendy Lawrence
Ceramics – Slab building, coiling, pinching & sculpting

7 October: Maker: Wendy Lawrence
Ceramics – Surface and decoration

14 October: Maker: Wendy Lawrence
Ceramics – Glazing & finishing

21 October: Maker: Rhi Moxon
Printmaking

4 November: Maker: Ticky Lowe
Feltmaking

11 November: Maker: Mandy Coates
Making structures in willow

18 November: Maker: Karen Williams
Texture in metal

25 November: Maker: Donna Jones
Handmade card in time for Christmas

2 December: Maker: Kate Jordan
Christmas wreaths

This project has been made possible by Paul Hamlyn Foundation as part of our What is Craft? programme.

In conversation: Metalsmith Simone ten Hompel

Artist and Curator will together explore the exhibition and discuss the artist’s ‘life with metal’.

2-day metal workshop with Andy Hazell:

An intensive workshop involving all the techniques necessary to create figures, fish, animals, insects, flowers and buildings out of recycled tinplate (cutting, folding, pleating and soldering) as well as decoration with wire. A rare opportunity to work over two days to explore the possibilities of using an overlooked material. Turning a biscuit tin into something less useful, but prettier…

Remember to bring a biscuit tin!

Suitable for all levels.

Creative workshop for practitioners: applied arts

This is a professional development opportunity for practitioners and producers involved in making work and designing activities for families.

Using the family engagement programme at the British Ceramics Biennial as a case-study,

Dena Bagi will enable participants to this creative workshop to explore and develop innovative ideas for family interactivity.

In this workshop you’ll hear about the creative development process utilised within British Ceramics Biennial’s engagement department. The critical process of making is at the heart of British Ceramic Biennial’s engagement and refers to research and best practice in the area of family learning. Through the workshop you’ll consider this development structure and create tailored family workshop activity.

To find out more about the engagement programme at British Ceramics Biennial go to the website or learning blog.

The workshop will be participatory and is designed to offer practitioners time and space and stimulus to explore ideas and share experiences with peers.

This is a free workshop for a limited number of creative practitioners. It is supported by the Arts Council of Wales and managed by the Family Arts Campaign in Wales. Priority will be given to practitioners who are either based in or have a professional relationship with organisations in Wales.

Please submit the attached expression of interest form and send it to familyarts@fieldworking.co.uk by Thursday 6 October if you would like to join Dena on Tuesday 18 October.

“Wrap it up” Activity inspired by the

An exploration of colour and textures, we will wrap objects, big and small in colourful wools and fabric.

Messy Play with artist Emma Jayne Holmes: A unique creative play session for toddlers / babies and their parents / carers. This relaxed session welcomes young families to our education room for 1 or 2 creative activities linked to the gallery exhibition. It can get messy, but that’s all part of the fun (and Emma-J clears up).

Family friendly workshop

Come and fill our kitchen draws and cupboards with cups, plates, teapots, spoons…

To kick start the half term we’ve invited artists Luned Rhys Parri and Nerys Jones to help us make 3D functional objects for our kitchen out of everyday materials. Inspired by Micki Schloessingk table ware collection in Gallery 2 and our NEW activity in the What is Craft? space.

Lots of crazy invention, building and creative chaos guaranteed with this workshop.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Portfolio: Slow light – Pinhole photography

Workshops for 14-18 year olds

Artist Vivienne Rickman-Poole will transform the education room into a darkroom and will show you how to construct a working camera from recycled materials, and to take and develop your own prints.

Understand the basis of photography; how light, subject and composition effects your work and the chemical process of darkroom printing.

In a world where we are used to taking fast phone snaps, the pinhole camera is a complete contrast, producing haunting, ethereal images with it’s long slow exposures.

For more information about Vivienne Rickman-Poole please visit her website www.viviennerickmanpoole.co.uk

Please bring a packed lunch with you on the day

Draw it, Print it Masterclass

Enjoy a fun weekend taking part in a drawing and screen-printing master class with Rachael Howard.

Discover the art of stencil screen printing. Take part in ‘fear free’ drawing and mark making exercises and learn how to translate your sketches into simple multi coloured screen printed designs; producing work suitable to be made into cushion covers or framed artwork.

You will have the opportunity to explore paper cut stencil screen printing process. Rachael will provide the subject matter for you to make drawings, you will then cut out paper stencils, mix dyes, paint with a squeegee and produce a series of prints onto fabric. There will be a small amount of hand stitching too.

Feedback from previous workshops: “laughter, casual and friendly atmosphere and freedom with exploration”.

All materials will be provided including subject matter to draw from. Suitable for all levels.

HALLOWEEN Craft Clubs

Lots of creepy crawly crafty Halloween activities guaranteed with this workshop, in time for your spooky celebrations!

All children must be accompanied by an adult

Professional Development Day

engage Cymru: 1-day training and sharing event
at Ruthin Craft Centre ‘Meaningful Communities’

Aimed at: arts and education professionals; community leaders; artist / makers; local authorities

Meaningful Communities is a one day training and sharing event which will explore how we develop meaningful, intentional and sustainable relationships with our communities, including:- Ideas People and Places projects across Wales; The inspirational reflections of Professor Paul Haywood and his ‘creative swarming’, Ruthin Craft Centre – 2 year audience development and outreach programme What is Craft? and more.

The event will include a mix of presentation styles, including participatory panel discussions, provocations and practical activity.

We will explore a diverse range approaches each with their own approach to imaginative integration with communities and recognition of the complex inter-relationships that connect individuals, families and communities.

www.engage.org/engage-cymru

Micki Schloessingk: Talk and Demonstrations

11.00am: Micki in conversation with Alex McErlain, followed by a walk around the exhibition, looking at and discussing individual pieces.

12.30pm: lunch

1.30pm–3.30pm: Micki will demonstrate making, turning and slipping, various different vessels from which to drink tea. She is known for her faceted tea bowls, yunomis; will discuss the winter and summer chawan and will demonstrate the making of her dimpled cupping bowls.

For more information about Micki’s processes in clay please visit her website: www.mickischloessingk.co.uk

Hand crafted Christmas decoration

Come and join us at Ruthin Craft Centre this festive season.

Christmas themed activity

Further embellish your tree with a decoration made by you and your child. A memory / moment to keep for every Christmas.

Messy Play with artist Emma Jayne Holmes: A unique creative play session for toddlers / babies and their parents / carers. This relaxed session welcomes young families to our education room for 1 or 2 creative activities linked to the gallery exhibition. It can get messy, but that’s all part of the fun (and Emma-J clears up).

Christmas wreath workshop

Get festive in our step by step Christmas wreath workshop with floral architect Kate Jordan. Learn about different traditional floristry techniques used to make your wreath such as massing, banding, binding, wiring and taping to name a few.

Using seasonal materials, dried fruits and ribbons you will be able to let your creativity run wild and make something special to take home with you.

All materials will be provided but feel free to bring any of your own which you would like to incorporate into your design.

Alternative wreath making workshop

Come and join us at Ruthin Craft Centre this festive season.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Two 1-day willow workshops

Workshop 1: Sculptural Willow Cats Saturday 4 February

Workshop 2: Sculptural Willow Hares Sunday 5 February

On each day make a large sitting cat or hare out of willow. All materials will be provided.

A good pair of secateurs and an apron would be good to bring. Juliette will talk you through the preparation of the willow and then take you step by step through the construction of the sculpture.

Be prepared for a physical day of working and to go home with a very impressive sculpture!

Suitable for all levels, some experience of working with willow would be of an advantage.

2-day Papier-mâché

Day 1: Sculpting and Papier-mâché-ing Day 1 will start with a demonstration of some of the techniques you can use to sculpt your animal heads, which require various levels of skill, so there’s something achievable for every ability level.

The animal heads that Abigail creates are mostly stylized pieces and done in her own style, rather than close studies of the animals themselves. So you may wish to play around with your own style, making sketches of stylized animals or you might wish to go for a realistic study. Either way it’s best to come prepared with your ideas, sketches and images so you’re ready to get making once Abigail has demonstrated the techniques.

You’ll spend the whole day creating your animal pieces in order to allow the papier-mâché to dry overnight.

Day 2: Painting and Finishing With your pieces now dry, day 2 will start with a demonstration of different painting techniques which you will have time to test out first if you’re not a confident painter.

Once you’re happy with the techniques you’ll spend the rest of the day painting your animal heads and finish with a quick last demonstration of how to attach a ring to the back so it can be hung as soon as you get it home.

Suitable for all levels.

To book your place please call 01824 704774

Come and learn at Ruthin Craft Centre with wonderful, knowledgeable tutors in a relaxed learning atmosphere.
With lunches available from Café R with courtyard terrace and plenty of free on-site parking – it really is a wonderful environment to meet like-minded people and study. Courses are non-residential however excellent accommodation abounds in Ruthin and nearby. View the Visit Wales website for details. www.visitwales.co.uk

Unless otherwise stated, all talks, events and workshops must be
booked in advance. Fees are required to be paid in full at the time
 of booking. Cancellation of a place by a course member does not
 automatically qualify for a refund. Some courses may be altered
or cancelled if there are insufficient enrolments.