Calendar of Courses
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1 event,
JAZZ PLAYERS’ SUMMER SCHOOL FEATURING ALAN BARNES (SAX)
A serious yet relaxed week for jazz musicians who are able to play and read music to rehearsal band standard. Play a range of material from Swing to Bebop in small groups under the expert guidance of three of the UK's best jazz musicians. All prospective players must contact David before enrolling to ascertain instrument(s)
2 events,
JAZZ CONCERT
JAZZ CONCERT
A lively and engaging evening of mainstream jazz with David Black and players from our residential jazz course joined by very special guests saxophonist Alan Barnes and trumpeter Mark Armstrong. £15 (Bar open before and after concert) BOOK ONLINE: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/EKUK
3 events,
ARTIST LABORATORY
Over six days in the studio this mentored programme, centred on your own practice, will foster experimentation, enquiry, and artistic development. With Steve’s knowledgeable and considered support, and utilising individual and group discussions, you will be encouraged to respond open-mindedly to your own questions and ideas around your medium/media, conceptual approaches, and subject matter. Steve
FULLY BOOKED: BOTANICAL ART USING COLOURED PENCIL: CAPTURING THE GLORIOUS COLOURS OF SUMMER
Summer is a time of vibrant and exuberant colour in the gardens and countryside. Learn to imitate nature’s rich and varied palette exploring colour mixing and matching using coloured pencils. Observing nature’s details, you can produce a single study or create a composition of smaller subjects to record this colourful season. This course is suitable
3 events,
SCOTTISH BORDERS HISTORY
Minibus fieldtrips exploring the rich and layered history of the English and Scottish borderlands. Visit historic sites in the Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway and Cumbria. A journey though time – from the medieval period up to more recent cultural heritage including a few famous (and sometimes infamous) locals. Fiona Stoddart Residential: £535 Non-residential: £380
5 events,
HILLS AND MOORLAND LANDSCAPES IN RECYCLED FABRICS
For beginners and improvers. Create a fabric landscape based on hilly landscapes and moorlands using a wide range of recycled, found and repurposed materials. Explore a wide range of experimental textile and mixed media techniques including layering and blending of fabrics using a sewing machine. From inspiration to realisation, be supported and encouraged to play,
FROM MINING TO MOUNTAINEERING: INDUSTRY AND CULTURE IN THE LAKE DISTRICT
This course explores the cultural and environmental history of the English Lake District, and investigates how perceptions of the region have influenced modern ideas and attitudes about the natural world. We’ll begin by reading accounts by 17th century travellers to the Lake District (many of whom found the region terrifying) before considering the causes of
STILL LIFE PORTRAIT
Create an unconventional ‘portrait’ using objects or images which describe that person or place. A great way to convey the essence of someone while developing your imagination and skill in composition. For inspiration, we will look at work by artists who have used this unusual approach to portraiture. There will be a presentation and plenty
4 events,
EARLY MUSIC SUMMER SCHOOL 2025
For competent singers, viol and recorder players, covering music c1450-c1650. Instruction in choral/solo singing, viol and recorder playing, lute, plus vocal technique and various consorts. Plenary music-making sessions, lectures and opportunities to try something new (instrument or voice). A marvellously rich musical cocktail! There is an application form and you need to contact head tutor
4 events,
FULLY BOOKED: PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP
Explore a wide range of techniques to produce handmade prints to your own design: woodcut (cutting on plank wood); wood engraving (using end-grain substitute or similar); drypoint (drawing on plastic or metal sheet with a needle); and etching (using copper sulphate to etch zinc plates, hard and soft ground and aquatint). All abilities welcome. With
SKETCHBOOK: FAST AND LOOSE COLOUR
Relax and enjoy getting back to the basics with artful games to get creative inspiration flowing, all in the privacy of your own sketchbook! Explore new ways of seeing objects, recording your impressions and using your sketchbook so it becomes an essential resource to support your creative thinking. Pam Grant Residential: £350 Non-residential: £245
NURTURE THROUGH NATURE SUMMER YOGA RETREAT
This transformative summer yoga retreat is designed to rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit. Beginners and seasoned yogis will immerse themselves in the practice of Hatha yoga and mindfulness activities. Inner balance, peace and calm will be restored using the nurturing magic of nature. The day will be energised with an invigorating flow, and the
5 events,
FULLY BOOKED: MYTHICAL RINGS: THE STONE CIRCLES OF THE BRITISH ISLES
Stone circles have always stimulated the imagination and generated debate. This course will explore the long history of the study of these ‘mythical rings’, including attempts to understand how they were built and their original purpose, the folklore they have inspired, modern interpretations, and issues of presentation and management. We will travel from Orkney to
FULLY BOOKED: CIRCLE DANCE RETREAT
An extended Circle Dance retreat. Newcomers as well as experienced are welcome to join this inclusive form of community dancing where no partners are required. Music and dances drawn from worldwide cultures and countries and pace varies from lively to meditative. A tonic for body and mind! Anne-Lise Kryger Residential: £585 Non-residential: £380
4 events,
NATURE PRINTS
“When we observe nature, the guiding feature seems to be a kind of permission to exist, a capacity to co-exist amongst the countless forms of life” Gustav Metzger (1992) Nature prints were for centuries used to reproduce plants and build up study collections of flora and fauna; during the 19th century they were the precursor
5 events,
STARTERS’ MINI-ORCHESTRA FOR WOODWIND & STRINGS (C INSTRUMENTS)
Not played with others much? Instrument been languishing in its case? Lacking confidence? This easy beginners-level weekend is for you! Primarily designed for musicians between Grades 1-4. For instruments in the key of C (i.e. flute, oboe, bassoon and bowed strings - sorry, no clarinets or saxophones). With relatively straightforward instrumental parts in terms of
PAINTING THE SEA
Cumbria's west coast has a wide variety of shoreline subjects for the painter, from dramatic cliffs to sandy/pebbly beaches and tidal estuaries. Join landscape painter Lionel Playford visiting two different locations for inspiration. Sharpen up your skills sketching and painting en plein air and learn some useful techniques to capture the look and feeling of
DRAWING FROM THE EARTH
“Nature, from the Latin nasci means to become, to come from, that is to say, all that by its own force develops, forms, moves.” (Kurt Schwitters 1924) Iron, sandstone and slate have been mined in Cumbria for centuries and are still used to make artist colours such as Egremont red, St Bees yellow and Kirkby
3 events,
FULLY BOOKED: CHAMBER MUSIC SUMMER SCHOOL
For pre-formed trios, quartets and quintets. Groups work together in the mornings at self-selected repertoire. Afternoons free to explore the beautiful surroundings. Remaining sessions for mixed ensembles. Large library of music to explore. Louise Latham (coordinator) with Tamsin Symons and Stephen Threlfall and Mary Dainton as course assistant Residential: £640 Non-residential: £470
4 events,
DRAWING AND PAINTING BUILDINGS
Have you ever wanted to draw or paint buildings but not sure how to start? Then this course is for you. Learn the tricks of the trade looking at perspective, how to accurately measure and transfer what you see and bring character to your drawings using watercolours. Step by step demonstrations throughout. This is your
EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY
This course is about exploring ideas and themes in visual form. We will take inspiration from personal and universal stories both big and small. We will work in a sketchbook format through short exercises and group activities. Rather than a focus on completed pieces, we will make explorative pieces - the course is aimed to
PRE-RAPHAELITISM: DREAMS OF AN EARTHY PARADISE
Following on from last year’s course on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, we look at some of the later Pre-Raphaelite pictures which proved to be the perfect vehicle for the dreams and aspirations of Victorian society. This course will investigate attitudes to women, men and relationships through the key preoccupations which emerged in painting and literature of
5 events,
FULLY BOOKED: RUSKIN LACE
Ruskin Lace is a distinctive form of lace which originated as a cottage industry in the Lake District in the 1880s. You will be working on linen fabric using a combination of drawn thread and cut linen work, with the geometric designs being created using needlelace techniques specific to this type of lace. The course
NORWEGIAN ART: THE EMERGENCE OF THE MODERN
19th century Norway was culturally impoverished by 600 years of foreign control, but by the mid-1800s art was becoming a potent expression of national pride, culminating in the realism of Christian Krohg and the exuberant celebrations of Norwegian landscape of Harald Sohlberg and Nikolai Astrop. Tim Stimson Residential: £350 Non-residential: £245