WORKSHOPS
MY WORKSHOPS
Since 1999 I have been delivering workshops to children and young people who are excluded from mainstream education, and I now also teach on the Foundation Course at UCCA Farnham and the Animation BA at Westminster.
The workshops I deliver are focused on involving the participants into the process, using technology to create a hands on approach with end results that they are proud to take ownership of.
TEACHING ASSETS
• 6 years experience delivering workshops to Children and Young People (08-19yrs)
• Experience working in both Mainstream and Special Schools, Pupil Referral Units, Hospitals and National Galleries.
• Production of collaborative films and exhibitions as part of the workshop process.
• Extended Disclosure CRB check.
AN EXAMPLE OF AN ANIMATION WORKSHOP
‘Tales from Ward 35’
‘Tales from Ward 35’ was produced during my first animation residency at Royal Bristol Children’s Hospital in 2004. The children produced storyboards of whatever they wanted, I animated from their drawings and then we recorded the voice over together.
With more recent workshops I have used direct animation techniques, such as Pixilation (animating the human body) and Stop-Motion, to involve participants more in the animation process, but I am still very fond of this film. There was no agenda in its subject matter, and the kids from Ward 35 were allowed free reign with their imaginations, and as a result the film is full of character and very funny.
‘Inner Picture’
‘Inner Picture’ was made as part of the National Portrait Galleries ‘Reaching Out, Drawing In’ initiative, in 2004. (see film)
Made in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery, Orleans House Gallery and participants of Positive Activities for Young People.
One day a week for 8 weeks I worked with the PAYP group, either at the National Portrait Gallery where we looked at the collection and recorded some of the voices, or at Orleans House Gallery, where we recorded more voices, made storyboards and looked into the history of the characters.
Then I took the recordings and material away with me and worked in Photoshop and Flash, making the chosen paintings and sculptures into digital cut-out animations.
This approach, involving substantial amount of ‘post-workshop’ production, is more appropriate for some projects than others. It allows for a ‘higher quality’ finished product, but reduces contact time. Of course, some ‘post-workshop’ production is always necessary.
AN EXAMPLE OF A SCULPTURE WORKSHOP
‘Animal Farm’
Artist-in-Residence,
Clarendon Special Needs School and Orleans House Gallery, Richmond
2001
Learning about texture and line, working up from drawings in wire to large scale armatures in steel that formed the basis of sculptures a whole class could collaborate on.
Project awarded National Children’s Art Day Award,
A national award for education projects.
Tate Modern 2002.
“…Judges were pleased to see that [Will Bishop-Stephens] had managed to form close links between the project and his own practice, whilst drawing in the work of a diverse range of other artists and creating works with the children that they obviously took great pleasure and pride in.”
(Engage Leaflet.)
