Wednesday 30th October

6 weeks

6pm – 8pm

Cost: £55 Materials Included

Playwright, poet and copywriter Aoibh Clarke will facilitate this fantastic six-week programme, which is an introduction to Writing Creatively. 

If you're a budding writer, eager to receive some guidance from a creative professional, this six-week programme will be invaluable. Aoibh's workshops are consistently person-led, meaning that the classes will be shaped according to the needs and interests of the people in the room.  

Eager to learn how to write your first play? No problem. Are short stories your thing? We'll make it happen. Ready to unleash the poet within? Aoibh has you covered for multiple genres of writing. 

Passionate about words, their power, and the potential for great writing to change the world, Aoibh creates a safe, shared space for creative expression. 

“When learning about creative writing, there are strategies, tricks and tips to get things moving. However, the real magic happens when we’re given structure, space to explore and the chance to try things out without fear. I absolutely love facilitating creative writing workshops, because there’s something truly special about shared art and creative expression.” - Aoibh Johnson.  

No previous experience is necessary, all you need is some curiosity, a budding idea, and the drive to connect with fellow creatives. 

Wednesday 30th October

6 weeks

6pm – 8pm

Cost: £55

Materials Included

 Over the course of 6 weeks, you will learn the basics of making your very own quilt. A wonderfully therapeutic past time, quilting encourages playfulness with colour, shape, and stitch. It is fantastically sustainable as you can learn to make use of all those unused scraps of fabric and transform old clothes into creative and meaningful items.

Participants will be led through the basic steps to making a small quilt, wall hanging or cushion cover, and this course is suitable for beginners and those with a basic knowledge of how to use a sewing machine; no quilting or patchwork skills are necessary.

Things to learn will be the safe use of a rotary cutter and quilting ruler, fabric selection and cutting, machine piecing your project, techniques to put your quilt together and baste it ready for quilting, machine quilting techniques and how to bind and finish your project.

We have a limited number of sewing machines so please do bring your own if you have one. Please ensure you indicate at booking if you require a Duncairn machine.

Wednesday 30th October
6 weeks
6pm – 8pm
Cost: £55
Materials Included

Join artist Leah Davis on this 6-week course in developing your drawing and painting skills through the study of still life.

Diving into an array of different mediums, this course will include working with ink, pencil, pen, charcoal, pastels as well as paint; with this diverse range of materials and new skills, you will enhance your creative range of techniques enabling you to approach drawing and painting with more confidence and understanding.

Suitable for all levels.

Wednesday 30th October

6 weeks

6pm – 8pm

Cost: £55

Materials Included

 Get wired, get excited and energized with these 6 weeks of experimenting and creating jewellery and decorations using a wide and wonderful range of beautiful wires and beads.  

Each week you will accomplish a new project, so it is just perfect for this time of year if you want to do a handmade Christmas!  Alternatively, you may want to make something sparkly for yourself, but whatever your reason, come and join in the craic whilst learning new skills under the expert eye of our terrific tutor Nikki Terlik.

Saturday 26th October

10am – 5pm

Cost – £55

Materials Included

Have you ever appreciated the beauty and flowing lines of a woodcarving and thought this is something you would like to try?

This Introduction to Woodcarving class with Stephen Ryan from Green Woodwork Ireland will teach you the skills needed to produce a relief woodcarving of your own to take home and enjoy.

You will also learn about wood's unique properties, along with the many shapes and sizes of woodcarving chisels and how to use them safely and effectively. This class is ideal for people that just want to try something new along with those that want to take their newfound skills to the next level.

The tutor will provide a number of different woodcarvings to choose from. No experience necessary.

Due to the use of sharp tools during the class, sturdy boots or shoes should be worn. Open-toed or low-cut footwear is not suitable and may mean you cannot participate in the workshop. Steve will supply safety gloves but if you have your own tight-fitting safety gloves please feel free to bring them along.

Presented by Rogue Encounters and University of Atypical

This masterclass is delivered by David Calvert, Paula Clarke, and SoSo Ní Cheallaigh. It is open to d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent participants who are interested in pursuing a career in professional theatre.

The masterclass will involve 5 hours of dynamic physicality. It will involve Qi Gong muscle and tendon stretching, which is a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation; ‘Yoga Nidra’ exercises that challenge mind and body awareness; contact improvisation, and the creation of physical imagery.

Thursday 19th September

*NEW DAY TIME CLASS*

4 weeks

12noon – 3pm

Cost: £55

Materials Included

The popularity of this art form just grows from strength to strength here at The Duncairn, so we are testing out the daytime class opportunity that we hear you asking for!

This lovely 4-week course of 3 hours per session is a great introduction and exploration of the world of Watercolours. 

Whether you are an absolute beginner or want to have another quick fix following previous classes, Patricia will work with you on building your skills and learning how to create beautiful paintings, using exciting techniques in a really relaxing, welcoming and creative space.

Suitable for all levels.

Wednesday 18th September

12 weeks

6pm – 7.30pm

Cost £10 registration fee; weekly donations appreciated

BUN RANG ÍOCHTAR /LOWER BEGINNERS CLASS

If you have never had any previous contact or have only had very minimal contact with the Irish language, then this is the class for you, and we provide a very warm, friendly environment in which to jump right in!  Bunrang íochtar starts afresh with a new cohort of learners and we assume that you have had no previous knowledge of Irish.

Wednesday 18th September

6 weeks

6pm – 8pm

Cost £55

Materials included

Suitable for absolute beginners and improvers alike, these informal classes will introduce participants to the wonders of Crochet. 

Aroona will work with you through the most commonly known stitches at your own pace - from chain stitch through to the treble stitch. 

With this knowledge and your growing confidence practicing these lovely crochet stitches, you will then work towards completing your very own colourful Granny Square….and once you've mastered the ever-versatile Granny Square, the options are truly endless - we think you'll be hooked!

Check programming for our ‘Corner to Corner’ morning session coming up…another beautiful project for your crochet skills!

Wednesday 18th September

6 weeks

6pm – 8pm

Cost £55

Materials included (except final garment fabric)

A step on from our previous Beginner Courses, Improvers will work you through the techniques of sewing patterns and cutting skills.

Over the course of the 6-weeks, you will learn how to create a simple garment and gain confidence to alter your own clothes. Patterns will be available but feel free to bring your own, ensuring it is suitable to your ability.

In week one, Bernie will talk to you about the type of fabric you will need to buy for your chosen pattern, which will be needed for week 2 of the class.

Some of the topics covered will be:

- how to cut and pin fabric using a simple pattern.

- how to sew straight seams and finish them.

- how to insert a zip and finish a waistline.

- understanding a sewing pattern including their mysterious language and symbols and much more.

Limited sewing machines are available so please do bring your own if you have one. Please ensure you indicate at booking if you require a Duncairn machine.

Wednesday 18th September

6 weeks

6pm – 8pm

Cost £55

Materials included

In this really engaging programme led by resident artist Leah Davis, with her guidance, you will study portraiture through drawing and painting from a posed model.

Through a series of structured exercises, you will learn about anatomy, and not only how to record a likeness, but also how to get a sense of feeling into your subject. 

You will be guided by mark making techniques, colour theory and how to approach a portrait with more confidence.

This workshop is suitable for all levels, you will develop your skills in drawing and painting by embracing the use of different mediums and materials.

Saturday 14th September

6 weeks

12noon-2pm

Cost £55

A new Saturday morning session with playwright, poet and copywriter Aoibh Clarke.Aoibh will facilitate this fantastic six-week programme, which is an introduction to Writing Creatively.

If you're a budding writer, eager to receive some guidance from a creative professional, this six-week programme will be invaluable. Aoibh's workshops are consistently person-led, meaning that the classes will be shaped according to the needs and interests of the people in the room.  

Eager to learn how to write your first play? No problem. Are short stories your thing? We'll make it happen. Ready to unleash the poet within? Aoibh has you covered for multiple genres of writing. 

Passionate about words, their power, and the potential for great writing to change the world, Aoibh creates a safe, shared space for creative expression. 

“When learning about creative writing, there are strategies, tricks and tips to get things moving. However, the real magic happens when we’re given structure, space to explore and the chance to try things out without fear. I absolutely love facilitating creative writing workshops, because there’s something truly special about shared art and creative expression.” - Aoibh Johnson.  

No previous experience is necessary, all you need is some curiosity, a budding idea, and the drive to connect with fellow creatives. 

10.30am – 4.30pm

Saturday 15th June

Cost £40

Materials included.

Níamh will guide you throughout the day as you learn all about the foundation knots of Macramè; from larks head and square knots, to clove hitch and wrap knots.

With these new skills you will create your very own unique hand knotted wall hanging which will be hung on beautiful driftwood, foraged from the Northern Irish coast.

The wonderful thing about this artform is that everyone’s piece will be totally unique, and you will have the room to explore ideas and input your own creativity, developing a piece that is perfect for hanging in your home. You will leave with a finished piece and the confidence and knowledge of the foundation knots to carry forward into other projects/ideas you may have in mind. 

Suitable and adaptable for all levels.

10.30am – 4.30pm

Saturday 8th June

Cost £40

Materials included.

Join Trish on this relaxing full day exploration of acrylic painting, learning about the variety of materials and surfaces, assortment of techniques, colour mixing and fun expressive styles.

This is perfect for beginners, or those who would like a refresher, and to take some creative time to explore an exciting, versatile medium.  Trish will guide you through simple techniques to help you on your creative journey to beautiful paintings.

10.30am – 4.30pm

Saturday 1st June

Cost £40

Materials included.

Watercolour painting has become a firm favourite at The Duncairn, and this full day experience is perfect for those who are either trying Watercolours for the first time, or those who have completed a course and just fancy a relaxing day, practicing skills and building new work.    

Wherever you fit in, Trish will work with you on developing your skills and learning how to create beautiful paintings using exciting techniques in a relaxing and creative space.

10.30am – 4.30pm

Saturday 11th May

Cost £40

Materials included.

Pen & Ink Art has been popular with artists for many years. Originating in ancient cultures, one of the earliest surviving pen and ink drawings is The Abduction of Briseis, drawn by an unknown Greek artist using pen and dye on papyrus around 300 BC.

If you want to explore this really diverse artform, this lovely full day experience is for you.  The day is suitable for the beginner, but equally a great way for someone wanting to flex and refresh existing skills to jump back in.

Trish will explore the loose, fun ‘sketchy’ experience of mark making using Pen & Ink and you will be guided in a very relaxing, creative, and encouraging environment…heading home with the feel-good factor and your uniquely created artwork.

10.00am – 1pm

Saturday 13th April

Cost £40

Materials included.

Andrea returns with this particularly gorgeous hand building project, creating a one-of-a-kind jug.

Working with a cream clay you will be creating a unique design on your jug using letter and wooden stamps that are highlighted with hand painted colour.

This hand building clay workshop is perfect for beginners, come join in the fun!

Saturday 10th February

Session 1  - 10.30am-12.30pm

Session 2  - 1.30pm to 3.30pm

Cost: £25 per session

We are delighted to welcome Azumi back to The Duncairn with another opportunity to experience the beautiful art of Japanese Calligraphy and Meditation.

Azumi tells us that in this fast-moving digital era, many of us are feeling overloaded and overstimulated with information, perhaps feelings of disconnection from body, heart and soul, and raised levels of anxiety.  Through these creative and meditative workshops, Azumi brings the opportunity to unplug from everyday hustles and bustles, and shares a unique opportunity to explore this exquiste and delicate artform, and the ancient wisdom of Japanese symbols. 

To compliment the time of year, Azumi will work with participants on a different symbol in each session:

Session 1 - Wa (和Harmony  

Session 2 - Aki（秋）Autumn