Workshops
We offer a fantastic range of practical hands-on workshops for nursery and school groups led by artists in our fully equipped studios. Groups can try different art-making techniques in a fun, challenging and creative environment.
Most workshops last 2 ½ hours and usually start with a tour in the gallery.
The National Gallery of Scotland Complex
Discovering Sounds
Early Years, Primary 1-3, Special Educational Needs
2 hrs
Explore the sounds in paintings and sculptures at the National Gallery. Discover who or what is making the sound and create an artwork inspired by it!
Follow the Seasons
Early Years, Primary 1-3, Special Educational Needs
2 hrs
Painting, mixing colours, making marks. Following a guided tour specially designed for pre-school groups, children are invited to paint their own work inspired by the sensations, sights and sounds of a seasonal painting.
Fantastic Creatures
Primary 1-3, Special Educational Needs
2hrs 30mins
Lions, snakes and mythical monsters are brought to life through a choice of paper collage, clay relief or printmaking.
Make a Painting Come Alive!
Primary 4-7, Secondary 1-3
2 hrs 30 mins
A cardboard construction workshop in which pupils imagine a painting as a scene from a play. They will work together to make a theatre set and the characters to go in it.
Looking at Landscape
Primary 4-7, Special Educational Needs
2hrs 30 mins
Inspired by the landscapes in the collection, pupils will be encouraged to paint their own landscape creatively and confidently in acrylics.
Curves, Corners and Zig Zags
Primary 4-7, Secondary 1-3, Secondary 4-6
2 hrs 30 mins
Following a tour of the collection, looking at pattern in particular, pupils will be invited to design and create their own artwork in an artist-led workshop using exciting printing
techniques.
Art Journey: A Drawing Workshop
Primary 4-7, Secondary 1-3, Secondary 4-6, Special Educational Needs
2 hrs 30 mins
In this artist-led workshop, pupils collate ideas, drawings, notes and sketches to create a visual logbook of their journey. The workshop aims to develop observation and recording skills. Encouraging pupils to discover the role that notebooks, diaries and sketchbooks play in the practice of artists.
Heads and Shoulders
Primary 4-7, Secondary 1-3, Secondary 4-6
2 hrs 30 mins
Choose between working in clay to create a 3D bust or make a selfportrait using mirrors and different methods of drawing.
Peel, Pull, Scrape, Press…
Secondary 1-3, Secondary 4-6
2 hrs 30 mins
An exciting technique-based workshop. Following a tour of the gallery, pupils will experiment with a variety of media to generate original ideas and different effects.
The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art & The Dean Gallery
Artsparks
Early Years
2 hrs
Using the permanent collection at the Modern Art Galleries. Participate in a variety of activities that we use to explore the modern collection with early years learners. This is a fun and exciting practical workshop for both children and adults.
Robots and Radios
Primary 1-3, Special Educational Needs
2 hrs 30 mins
Eduardo Paolozzi famously used robots, machinery and everyday items to construct some of his most dynamic and interesting sculptures. Following a guided tour of his work, pupils will work with an artist to create their own Paolozzi-inspired artwork using a variety of materials.
Art Journey: A Drawing Workshop
Primary 4-7, Secondary 1-3, Secondary 4-6, Special Educational Needs
2 hrs 30 mins
In this artist-led workshop, pupils collate ideas, drawings, notes and sketches to create a visual logbook of their journey through the Gallery of Modern Art or Dean Gallery. The workshop aims to develop the skills of observing and recording, and raises awareness of the role that notebooks, diaries and sketchbooks play in the practice of many artists.
Paolozzi 3D Workshop
Primary 4-7, Secondary 1-3, Special Educational Needs
2 hrs 30 mins
Following a guided tour of Eduardo Paolozzi’s work, this artist-led workshop challenges pupils’ imaginations to create sculptures using found and ready-made objects.
Look, Think… Have a Go!
Secondary 1-3, Secondary 4-6
2 hrs 30 mins
Following a guided tour of the modern collection, pupils will be encouraged to respond to selected art works using a variety of media in an exciting and stimulating way. Sketchbooks will be used as part of the process.
Space is limited at both the GMA & Dean Gallery however; we do have access to the GMA gym (maximum 33 pupils) and a small room at the Dean (maximum 15 pupils)
Cost
Whole Class (up to 33 pupils): £95 per workshop
Half Class (up to 15 pupils): £45 per workshop
Nursery groups (up to 12): £35 per workshop
We appreciate that cost can sometimes be an issue and have already subsidised these workshops; however for schools that genuinely are unable to pay, we may be able to offer financial assistance.
For a comprehensive list of workshops, please download the school programme 2009-10
