Workshops

IOU’s monthly workshop taster sessions are an opportunity for artists, creatives and makers to come together to experiment, exchange ideas, network and skills sharing opportunities

About our Workshops

Workshop sessions at the IOU Creation Centre and Hostel, include everything from clock-making and welding, writing and choreography, to verbatim theatre and life drawing.  The sessions are an opportunity to explore a wide range of skills and techniques from a broad sweep of artists and crafts-people working in the region. 

 

 

Our Current Workshop Programme

IOU's Annual Festive Workshop 2024

This December IOU’s festive workshop returns offering a glimpse into the wonderful world of WONDERHAUS. Join Manchester-based jewellery designer, Julia Roy-Williams, for an exciting evening where you will create stunning art jewellery from repurposed acrylic - perfect for a unique Christmas present or a special treat for yourself. Wed 4/12

POSTPONED ‘This Landscape is Ours’ Creative Writing Workshop with Anjum Malik

Join us for a special evening of creative writing led by renowned poet, scriptwriter, and City Poet Laureate for Manchester, Anjum Malik, exploring the themes of home, space, place, and landscape.

Some of our previous workshops and masterclasses

The Sound of Plants

September 2024 saw an innovative immersive workshop exploring the fascinating relationship between art, technology, and nature. Led by artist Pippa Tuffin, the session delved into the hidden world of plant communication through drawings and sounds.

The Art of Miniature Sculpture

April 2024 Artist in Residence Georgia D’Silva led a workshop delving into the world of miniature dioramas, participants created individual miniature plates of food, contributing to a collaborative artwork

There is a woman smiling, with blond hair, she is holding a metal sculpture that is shaped like lips, it is made from copper coloured metal and has two metal eyes at the top.

Kinetic Sculpture Masterclass

July 2021 Led by renowned artist Jim Bond, the class completed their own kinetic sculptures which went on to be exhibited in the walkway Gallery

Physical and Digital Sculpture Workshop

Aug 2023 This 2 day workshop explored combined hand stone carving techniques and the digital processes for 3D modeling, led by Sumit Sakar and Claudia Dietz

Festive Workshop

December 2023 saw an enthusiastic group of participants getting creative and collaborative at the IOU Creation Centre for our annual Festive Workshop This year’s workshop ‘Wonky Stars’ , led by STTA artist Sue Walpole saw us making geometric illuminated stars from willow – stunning decorations to take home

'Taking part in the workshop was an adventure into a creative world I hadn't taken part in before. Learning new skills and being around so many creative people was a breath of fresh air to me'

Participant

Festive Making It December 2022

The annual IOU Festive Making It kick starts Christmas. Each year the workshop is an alternative take on the traditional – from seasonal wreaths made from bicycle wheels to paper lanterns and mechanical decorations

This year 30 enthusiastic makers joined us to craft plastic bottles into festive lights and decorations

Led by IOU Assistant Producer and artist Rachel Rea, everyone got creative with plastic to form shapes and add colour.  Then finished off by adding battery operated lights to make garlands or decorations that they could use at home outside or on their tree.

Rachel is a practicing artist working with Immortal Bloom to make light infused craft works that reuse and repurpose materials, particularly plastics, at the end of their life in ways that ensure another use.  Their aim is to promote ‘circularity’; the principle that there is no waste, through sharing knowledge and nurturing creative ways to using pre-existent material and technologies.

Sessions In Action

Making It- Relief Printing

Interested in taking part in a making it session?

If you would like more information, or would like to propose a workshop  – then contact us via the form below.

Contact Form

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Percy Dean Making It

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