Unleashing Your Creativity

Artwork by David M LindermanReproduced with permission

A Guide to Creative Arts Workshops 2016

About Unleashing Your Creativity

(Free workshops for consumers, carers and service providers)

UnitingCare West, in conjunction with APM PHaMs, TMP (Creation in Mind) and RUAH is proud to launch the new “Unleashing Your Creativity” project, designed for people experiencing disability and mental health challenges, their family, friends, carers and support workers who work in this space.

The project is being funded by 360 Health + Community’s Partners In Recovery program, with the support of Uniting Church in the City.

The range of 11 workshops will give participants the opportunity to develop strategies to cope with anxiety and depression along with assisting them in overcoming isolation, loneliness and social disconnection.

The series of workshops, which will run on a weekly/ fortnightly basis and culminate in an exhibition in May, include group singing, body percussion and dance, build and play your own ‘Junk’ instrument, comedy, song writing, photography, art and many more.

Details on the workshops and instructors are mentioned in the booklet. Participants can choose more than one workshop, subject to availability.

We encourage support workers to come along with interested participants. These workshops are for people aged 18 and above.

Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to have fun and learn in a safe and respectful environment. No prior experience is required.

Pauline Miles developed interest in Arts during her year 12 studies. After completing an honours degree in Visual Arts, she started working at DADAA as an Administrator, Arts Worker and Support Worker.

Pauline maintains working journals that she refers to as her ‘Think Book’. She records all the ideas that come to her in images and writings in this book. This book is a roadmap for her to explore these images and writings for current or future artwork.

Join Arts Workshop today!

Wednesdays 12.30pm to 2.30pmVenue: UnitingCare West Tranby CentreAddress: 5/5 Aberdeen Street, East PerthDates: February 24; March 2, 9, 16; April 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11,18

Arts WorkshopWorkshop byPauline Miles

In the Arts workshop, you will learn colour mixing, different ways to apply paint to a surface and drawing techniques using different mediums.

Sketchbooks will be supplied. Pauline encourages student to share ideas and goals they would like to achieve during the course.

Have you ever felt the urge to play drums with your kitchen utensils or to blow across a bottle and pretend it was a pan-pipe? Have you found yourself plucking elastic bands across a lunch box? Perhaps you’ve seen “STOMP” and enjoyed the rhythms that were created by banging trash cans and lids together.

In this series, you will get the opportunity to both build instruments and explore their sounds in a great fun “Jamming” setting. The only limit is your imagination!

Join Build and play your own ‘Junk’ instrument workshop today!

Mondays 12.30pm to 2.00pmVenue: UnitingCare West Tranby CentreAddress: 5/5 Aberdeen Street, East Perth Dates: February 22, 29; March 14; April 11, 18; May 2, 9,16

Build and play your own ‘Junk’ instrument Workshop

Lionel Pierson

Lionel Pierson completed a double degree in Music and Engineering at UWA in 2015. He has been involved in Vocal Evolution since 2006. Over recent years, Lionel has also been involved with the WA Youth Orchestra, WA Charity Orchestra, percussion ensembles ‘Defying Gravity’ (WAAPA) and ‘Piñata Percussion’ (UWA), vocal sextet ‘Just After 5’, a cappella ensemble ‘Naya Chorale’, The Baden Street Singers and nationally acclaimed barbershop quartets ‘3 Men and a Tenor’ and ‘The Grand Angus’.

Workshop byLionel Pierson

Paul Osei Kofi is a teacher, performer and drum maker from Ghana, West Africa. Paul has been teaching African drumming in Western Australia for over 15 years.

African Drumming and Percussion Workshop

By taking part in Paul’s workshop you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to play some simple African rhythms using djembe drums and other African percussion instruments. No prior drumming experience is required to join the workshops.

Workshop byPaul Psel Kofi

Join the African Drumming and Percussion Workshop today!

Tuesdays 12.30pm to 1.30pmVenue: UnitingCare West Tranby CentreAddress: 5/5 Aberdeen Street, East Perth Dates: March 1, 15; April 12, 26; May 10

Workshop byJames Kerr

Photography Workshop

Born in England, James Kerr had the opportunity to travel the world. James and his family moved to Australia in 1968. He completed B.A. in English and History at Curtain University in 1974. James worked as camera and lighting operator on various documentaries, short films, commercials and experimental films early in his career.

More recent works include stills photography, shooting various subjects like weddings, portraits, bands, jewellery, etc. James also enjoys working as support worker with various agencies assisting disabled clients with activities of daily living. He works in both Group Homes and one-to-one At Home care.

Participants will learn

The workshop will cover both theory and practical of camera operation and photography. You will gain an understanding of your camera as well as lighting and shot composition. You may bring in your camera if you wish or use your phone camera. A camera for demonstration will be available during the workshop.

Join Photography Workshop today!

Thursdays 3.30pm to 4.30pmVenue: Uniting Church in the CityAddress: 1/97 William Street, PerthDates: February 25; March 3, 10, 17; April 14, 21, 28; May 5, 12, 19

Experience first-hand fun and energy of a cappella singing. Explore the unique facets of yourvoice in an encouraging ensemble singing environment. Become familiar with melodies andharmonies; old and new; familiar and original. Relish in natural diversity of our voices, for all ages,genders and voice types.

Join A Cappella Singing Workshop today!

Fridays 3.30pm to 4.30pmVenue: Uniting Church In the CityAddress: 1/97 William Street, PerthDates: February 26; March 4, 11, 18; April 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20

A Cappella Singing Workshop

Lionel Pierson

Lionel Pierson completed a double degree in Music andEngineering at UWA in 2015. He has been involvedin Vocal Evolution since 2006. Over recent years, Lionelhas also been involved with the WA Youth Orchestra, WACharity Orchestra, percussion ensembles ‘Defying Gravity’(WAAPA) and ‘Piñata Percussion’ (UWA), vocal sextet ‘JustAfter 5’, a cappella ensemble ‘Naya Chorale’, The BadenStreet Singers and nationally acclaimed barbershopquartets ‘3 Men and a Tenor’ and ‘The Grand Angus’. In2013 he recorded for a solo album ‘Boundless’ featuringimprovisations on piano and voice.

Workshop byLionel Pierson

WA’s Godfather of Hip hop, Scott ‘Optamus’ Griffiths is offering a groundbreaking hip hop workshop. The award winning rapper is credited with being one of the forefathers of Western Australian hip hop with his collective Syllabolix (Downsyde, Hunter, Layla, Drapht , Bitter Belief, Shaker, Mortar etc). His group Downsyde are currently signed to Mushroom Records (Bliss N Eso, Diafrix etc) and have an album scheduled for release in 2016. Scott has combined his passion for hip hop with education delivering successful programs across the state for the last 15 years and is widely considered to be the number one music facilitator in the state including his hiphop prison program that has gained international recognition and media coverage.

Join Hip Hop Workshop today!

Thursdays 12.30pm to 2.00pmVenue: UnitingCare West Tranby CentreAddress: 5/5 Aberdeen Street, East Perth Dates: February 25; March 3, 10; April 7, 14, 21, 28; May 5, 12,19

Hip Hop Workshop

Participants will learn

- The culture of Hip hop (The 5 Elements)- How to pursue a career in music- How to create hiphop beats with samplers and computer software- How to design artwork for an album cover- The art of rhyme, rhythm, hiphop lyric writing and song structure- Knowledge on how to setup an inexpensive studio at home

Workshop byScott ‘Optamus’ Griffiths

Phill Moncrieff, an employee of UnitingCare West and a professional musician will be conducting a songwriting workshop along with his longtime music partner, Priam Bacich.

Phill and Priam are both music teachers and have played in and recorded with numerous bands both on stage and on national television. In 2009 they were invited to take part in a community arts project working with intellectually disabled people in which they recorded the Pink Floyd song Shine On You Crazy Diamond.

Phill and Priam will bring immense musical talent to the songwriting workshops. The workshops will be based on issues that participants identify as being important to them. Four songs will be produced throughout the programme, with two being originals that the group will write together and the other two being covers that the group find pertinent to themselves, their lives and their aspirations for the future. They will explore singing in a group as well as individual, vocalist development, songwriting techniques, chord progressions, musical creative expression and the processes involved in working as a team together towards a concert finale performance.

All together it will be a musical journey filled with fun, learning and the opportunity to create and express oneself in song!

Join Song Writing Workshop today!

Mondays 1.30pm to 3.00pmVenue: RUAH Centre Address: 33 Shenton Street, NorthbridgeDates: February 22, 29; March 9, 14; April 11, 18, 27; May 2, 9, 16

Song Writing WorkshopWorkshop byPhill Moncrieff and Priam Bacich

Body Music workshop explores rhythm and melody using the original musical instruments body and voice. Employing body percussion and simple vocal patterns, Jamie David and Lionel Pierson will systematically and playfully guide participants into a world where they will be making music in three separate but interlocking layers using their feet, arms and voice.

Join the Body Music Workshop today!

Wednesdays 3.30pm to 4.30pmVenue: Uniting Church in the CityAddress: 1/97 William Street, PerthDates: February 24; March 2, 9, 16; April 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11,18

Body Music Workshop

Jamie David

A multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and composer, Jamie has run many body percussion and vocals workshops around the country. He has developed a unique music training method called “Body Rhythmelodics”. The Body Music workshop is based on this unique music training method.

Lionel Pierson

Lionel Pierson completed a double degree in Music and Engineering at the UWA in 2015. He has been involved in Vocal Evolution since 2006. Over recent years, Lionel has also been involved with the WA Youth Orchestra, WA Charity Orchestra, percussion ensembles ‘Defying Gravity’ (WAAPA) and ‘Piñata Percussion’ (UWA), vocal sextet ‘Just After 5’, a cappella ensemble ‘Naya Chorale’, The Baden Street Singers and nationally acclaimed barbershop quartets ‘3 Men and a Tenor’ and ‘The Grand Angus’. In 2013 he recorded for a solo album ‘Boundless’ featuring improvisations on piano and voice.

Workshop byJamie David and Lionel Pierson

Comedy Workshop

Thomas Proud is a veteran in the performing arts industry with over 20 years of experience working in theatre, television, film, radio and standup comedy. He has shared a stage with the likes of Rove McManus, Dave Hughes, Austin- Tayshus and Ernie Dingo to name a few. Thomas has also managed a number of musical comedy venues.

As a peer ‐support worker with over ten years experience, Thomas Proud combines his unique skills and experience to bring out the best in you through the medium of comedy.

Join the Comedy Workshop today!

Fridays 1.00pm to 3.00pmVenue: UnitingCare West Tranby CentreAddress: 5/5 Aberdeen Street, East PerthDates: February 26; March 4, 11, 18; April 1, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20

Comedy workshop will cover stand up, musical and sketch comedy. Through solo and group work, we will create a way for people to explore their funny side and express themselves through humour.

Workshop byThomas Proud

Sophia Gilet has worked across many mediums with special focus on illustrative art. She has also successfully conducted workshops in Albany and Denmark.

Sophia aims to guide all participants through the art process from start to finish. All participants will finish the workshop with one or many finished art pieces.

Classes for people aged 20 years and above

Join the RUAH Arts Workshop today!

Thursdays 10.00am to 12.00pm Venue: RUAH CentreAddress: 33 Shenton Street, NorthbridgeDates: February 25; March 3, 10, 17; April 14, 21, 28; May 5, 12,19

RUAH Arts WorkshopWorkshop bySophia Gilet

Facilitators Tobias Wolinski and Kathryn Lawrence are graduates of Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and are experienced teachers of both classical and contemporary dance.

Join the Dance Workshop today!

Wednesdays 11.00am to 12.30pmVenue: WA Ballet CentreAddress: 134 Whatley Crescent, MaylandsDates: February 24; March 2, 9, 16; April 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11, 19Dress: Comfortable, easy moving clothingBring: Water bottle, a towel and enthusiasm

Bustin’ the Blues with Groovin’ Moves Dance Workshop

Tobias has performed with companies both nationally and internationally and recently danced a season in

the West Australian Ballet Company’s “Coppélia”.

Along with her extensive dancing experience, Kathryn is an accomplished Choreographer and has experience as a Rehearsal Director/Ballet Mistress.

Tobias and Kathryn believe movement is natural and dance should be FUN. Under their guidance, participants will enjoy learning a dance routine that they will be able to perform with confidence should they choose to perform.

Workshop byTobias Wolinski and Kathryn Lawrence

Space for your notes...

For more information please contactReni Luckose | Mental Health Liaison Officer | UnitingCare WestD 08 9220 1224 | P 1300 663 298 | M 0419 520 556 F 9220 1266 U5/5 Aberdeen Street Perth WA 6004 | reni.luckose@unitingcarewest.org.au

Central OfficeUnitingCare West | 16 Sunbury Road Victoria Park Western Australia 6100P 1300 663 298 | Fax: 1300 663 528 | www.unitingcarewest.org.au