Setting up an arts & craft group for children..?

Feanor

Hi all,

I am not sure where this should be, so apologies if it is in the wrong place.

I have always wanted to set up a kind of arts and craft workshop for kids on a Saturday as I work full time as well. I come from a really creative back ground with A'Levels in Art & design, textiles and photography and a first class honours degree in Fashion Design.

I have some experience of teaching also and really love it. I know I would need to get a CRB check which is fine.

My questions are, does anyone know how I can find a place to run this class, whether its the local town hall, library or somewhere similiar? Also, does anyone know if there are any special grants or funding that could help me set this up?

Ideally I would like to charge for the classes and try to make a bit of extra income but really I want to do this as a hobby/interest and to help young people.

Can anyone give me any tips for starting this up?

If it helps, I am in Surrey near Epsom.

Thanks

Teresa60

This sounds a great idea but I would have thought you would start off making a loss, if you think how much all the art materials would cost. There is also the rental charge of the venue unless you are lucky enough to come up with somewhere for free. Advertising would be another cost. It sounds a wonderful idea but costly. Good luck

shaz-ann

I think your first step would be to try contacting your local education authority, they should be able to point you in the right direction.

Also local playgroups and nurseries could help, or if you have a Sure Start centre in your area maybe.

Good luck!

SuperMum2008

I dont live in your area, but is there a ommunity centre nearby? Ours lets people hire the centre for a very low fee and we get all sorts of one off classes and events as a result. You would need to be registered I would have thought re child protection etc, but if there is a centre near you they might be able to guide you? Good luck - dont be put off by the cost - there is always a way round these things!

jackomdj

Do you have a local scrap store to get materials? (we have one that play groups etc can get stuff very cheaply from)

We did have one set up in a local craft village attached to a garden centre but it closed after about 6 weeks or so. I think the problem was the first time people just "saw" it they would not go in as the children (it was aimed at fairly young children) would not be in scruffy clothes suitable for getting paint on (even though my DD had a paint smock on she ended up covered). The lady who set it up did not have a time limit, we were there for about 2 hours & I suspect we used up more in bits than we were charged for. Because of where it was the rent was fairly high.

Having said that I thought it was a lovely idea. There were painting tables, sticking & glueing table, make a face from a balloon table, water play, sand play, an area where you could do feet painting & hand painting, a wall where you could stick your handprint on it & draw on the wall.

Good luck, I wish you lived near us - we would come!

Nicky