The National Gallery of Zimbabwe has opened registration for 2017 Saturday Art Classes. The Classes are offered throughout the year for preschool and high school students, as well as youth and adults.
The Saturday Art classes are a way of encouraging young artists to express themselves in a new way and for them to unearth hidden abilities and talents through experimenting with different media of art. When children are encouraged to express themselves and take risks in creating art, they develop a sense of innovation that can be applied in other areas of their lives.
Students are given instruction in basic composition building skills, as well as an opportunity to explore familiar media in unfamiliar ways. Subject matter in all classes will include Portraiture, Still-life, Observation, drawing, painting, mixed media and 3D work and Print making. Students draw inspiration from running exhibitions in the gallery.
After a tiresome week full of solving mathematics equations children will refresh their minds, while learning to think creatively. With an open mind, children will learn to observe and describe, analyze and interpret.
They also learn to express feelings, with or without words, practice their problem-solving skills, as well critical-thinking skills and, art-making skills; language and vocabulary of the arts.
The classes also offer an opportunity for high school students to learn how to focus and concentrate and pay attention to detail. Art projects require a certain amount of concentration to complete.
Whether the project involves painting, print making or digital media, there are steps to follow. Each step requires students to pay attention to what they are doing. This kind of attention to detail can spread to other subject areas , school projects and future work opportunities.
Art classes not only boost attention to detail but also boost creativity and the ability to think and act outside the box and to also unlock hidden talent for we are all artists in one way or the other. The Saturday art classes is an opportunity to discover yourself.
Adults who are interested in enhancing their artistic skills can also register for the classes. Some of the benefits of attending art classes for adults include building problem-solving skills and giving the students a new way to communicate. Learning to create artworks may also serve as a therapy method and a way to relax. Adults with physical health problems that affect their mobility can also benefit from painting as a method to practice their hand-eye coordination skills.
For the end of term for this year’s Saturday Art Classes, there will be a graduation ceremony on December 10, where students will be awarded prizes and certificates for attending the lessons.
The classes run during normal Zimbabwean school terms; January to April, May to August, and September to December. Registration forms for January 2017 can be downloaded from the gallery website www. nationalgalley.co.zw. Alternatively, forms can be obtained from the gallery reception desk.
For more information contact the department of education on 04-704666/7 Email – [email protected] or
Visit our website www.nationalgallery.co.zw.
