NIGAT Summer School 201810-12 AUGUST, ULSTER UNIVERSITY, BELFAST

Reframing

PresentationsRE-FRAMING & REMAININGNIGAT 2018 with Eileen McCourt, Honorary President of NIGAT

NIGAT was founded by Rita Simon in 1976. In this 10th anniversary year of her death, this presentation will mark her lasting legacy: her belief in the vital activity of art-making and her urgent instruction to ‘Pass it on!’The presentation will feature a ‘tableau’ of symbolic objects charting NIGAT’s origins, activities and development from its founding until the present. It will acquaint participants with NIGAT’s historical context and provide a foundation for the Summer School experience. Archival material – photographs, writings, tidbits of interesting information and personal memories – will be drawn upon to communicate the essence of Rita’s practice and theory. The tableau will be available for participants’ perusal until Saturday evening. Eileen McCourt is a retired Art Therapist and Honorary President of NIGAT.

RE-FRAMING THE ROLE OF THERAPY & EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF THE ARTS AS A TOOLwith Leora Sotto

Is Anna’s therapist doing a good job? Or, does Frank, her calm and friendly taxi driver, help her more by his sensible manner? Or, is it more accurate to say that the, “womb-like”, safe space, created by the taxi itself, where the protective window shields Anna from the chaotic world outside, is actually more valuable to her than her interactions with either Frank or the therapist? Or, do the images and stories that Anna creates in her mind, as she travels to and from therapy, offer her more therapeutic potential? Different angles to therapy and to art-making will be reframed through a chapter from Leora’s latest book.

RE-FRAMING & INTEGRATIVE PRACTICEOr, to look at it another way… with Dr Caryl Sibbett

In this presentation, we will wonder together about some different ways of re-looking at, re-framing, art therapy. The HCPC states that art therapists must “understand that while art therapy has a number of frames of reference, they must adopt a coherent approach to their therapy, including the relationship between theory, research and practice…” We’ll explore one contemporary coherent approach that offers an integrative framework in art therapy. This emphasises values-based caring relational practice as the armature around which the therapist and client collaboratively sculpt and tailor the therapy. We’ll share art and art therapy examples of mentalization, symbols and metaphors promoting re-framing – seeing different perspectives.

WHO'S THE KING OF THE CASTLE? with Leora Sotto

Let's reframe our minds as children do, and go, each one, on a magical journey, a therapeutic one, and become a King or Queen. We will build our personal castle, tiny or huge, from clay, sand, sticks and stones. Maybe we will prepare for war or defend our Kingdoms. Alternatively we might indulge ourselves in decadence and pleasure. We might need a crown or dagger, which we can all make from the myriad materials provided to please the Kings' and Queens' tastes!It is only after allowing the subconscious to emerge, from a playful act, that one can reflect on the outcome, and, hopefully, accept this as part of oneself.This closed workshop will run across two days.

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER...with Maebh Ivers

Combining her background in street theatre, drama and movement therapy with her interest in psychoanalytic ideas of free association and transitional space, Maebh will offer a playful and reflective session using art making, movement and dramatic elements, in service of exploring one to one work with the client. She will invite a discussion with those attending around their reflections on this approach, and consider the capacity to reframe art forms to suit the needs of clients in one to one therapy.

OUT OF ORDERwith Pamela Whitaker

Working collaboratively in outdoor studios participants will construct artworks from their surroundings. The forest of Belfast Castle will be the scene for our encounters with materials foraged and assembled into compositions from the landscape. Spoken word enactments, combined with physical expression, will complete the experience. For ideas and inspiration regarding working with nature-based materials and within outdoor landscapes please refer to thenatureofarttherapy.wordpress.comParticipants are asked to wear outdoor shoes suitable for uneven terrain, and clothing for all weather possibilities. Please bring along a sketch book, pencils and drawing materials for writing and documentation. Your fully charged phone or camera will be used for taking photographs of your artworks and outdoor studio. A snack and drink will provide welcome refreshment as you work outdoors.

ECSTATIC DANCE* IN REFRAMINGwith Julia Lyn Waters

An evening of movement to integrate into the body the offerings of the day.Set sail on a sea of world rhythms to evoke and express your uncharted terrain or less familiar territories, all at your own pace. In a shared space of non-judgment and self-compassion, participants will be encouraged to sink into their own body wisdom and move in freedom. There is no dance experience necessary, but a brilliant opportunity to playfully reframe the places we get stuck… or have judgments about how our body should look or behave. A memorable evening to dance into a new frame.Loose or flexible clothing, bare feet (or clean support shoes if required), a water bottle and willingness are all that is needed.

Workshops

Dr. Caryl Sibbett is an Art Psychotherapist, BACP Registered Senior Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist, supervisor, trainer and researcher. Her practice has included diverse contexts, e.g.: mental health, forensic, palliative, schools, community and private practice and she has led Master’s level art therapy and counselling training. Passionate about promoting art therapy, she also advocates eco-practice – fostering a more caring reciprocal relationship with the rest of nature. Caryl has been active in NIGAT for over 25 years.Meabh Ivers is a Drama and Movement Therapist and Clinical Supervisor based in Northern Ireland. Meabh has a background in street performance. She has worked as a therapist in school and community settings since 2004. She is currently studying with the Tavistock & Portman and University of Essex. Meabh delivered a workshop on her style of working at the BADth conference in 2017 and is interested in encouraging therapists to explore what happens when we unfix ourselves from form. Visit mindseyemovement.info for more information.Julia Lyn Waters grew up in California with a joy for ALL types of dance, from folk to formal. With a background in interpretive, sacred, belly and ethnic dances, Julia has a passion for circles of cultural creatives dancing IN their raw beauty, strength, and freedom. Since moving to Belfast, Julia has facilitated Ecstatic Dance*IN a conscious/alcohol-free/barefoot community dance space, every month since 2005. Consider yourself invited: facebook.com/EcstaticDanceINLeora Sotto has lived in Israel for most of her life, working at different organizations for the past 30 years as a professional art therapist. She has lectured on a number of M.A. courses and organizations, published a children’s book, a textbook on art therapy and a novel, and has made different kits of therapy cards. She is a mother to her daughter Amit, a partner to Jacob, sculpts and sometimes washes dishes.Pamela Whitaker is an art therapist interested in the nature of art therapy – it’s potential for generating habitats and evoking physicality, activism, and hospitality. She is also keen on promoting art therapy within public environments of festivity and conviviality.

BiosFRIDAY

3-5pm Registration & Welcome Reception5-6.30pm Re-framing and Remaining: NIGAT 2018 with Eileen McCourt7-8.30pm Street Art Walking Tour with Seedhead Arts

SATURDAY

9.30-10.30am Morning Art Making10.30-12pm Re-Framing &Integrative Practice – or, to look at it another way…

with Dr Caryl Sibbett12.30-1.30pm Lunch (Provided by L’Arche)2-5pm WORKSHOPS

Who's the King of the Castle? with Leora Sotto Out of Order with Pamela Whitaker

7-9pm Ecstatic Dance*IN Reframing with Julia Lyn Waters

SUNDAY

9.30-10.30am Morning art Making10.30-12pm Reframing the role of Therapy & Examining the

Impact of the Arts as a Tool with Leora Sotto12.30-1.30pm Lunch (Provided by L’Arche)2-5pm Who's the King of the Castle? with Leora Sotto

One way or another... with Maebh Ivers5-6pm Closing Gathering

PricingWhole weekend: £190/£170 Concession/NIGAT member Full day (Sat or Sun): £85/£75 Concession/NIGAT member

To book please complete the Registration form, which can be found at: www.nigat.org in the Summer school section. Alternatively you can email nigatuk@gmail.com to request a registration form.

(Concession prices valid for students, retired or unwaged. ID required.)

A non-refundable deposit of £50 (full weekend) or £15 (single day) is required by 6 July to secure your place at the Summer School. Full payment is due by 3 August. Cancellation refund policy: full refund (minus deposit) until 27 July; 50% refund up to 1 week prior; no refund less than 1 week prior.

There are 2 bursaries available to NIGAT members (of at least one year) at a cost of £80. Those who are interested in applying should send a letter of not more than 250 words stating the reasons that they feel they may qualify for the bursary and the benefits to NIGAT. These should be sent to nigatuk@gmail.com by 13 July 2018.

Please note: The summer school will neither qualify persons as Art Therapists, nor is it to be seen as personal therapy, rather it will provide an introduction and/or extend ideas and skills.

NIGAT is administered by a voluntary committee and has no office, but can be contacted by post at…

NIGAT Reading Room, Peace House, 224 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 6GE

or by emailing: nigatuk@gmail.com or telephone Julia: +44 (0)77 4585 0572

Timetable