News & Events
Spring 2010 Headlines
Swansea Metropolitan University Student Workshops
Dragon Arts and Learning would like to thank all the students from Swansea Metropolitan University who have recently hosted workshops as work experience placements at the Centre.
During May, six groups of students have facilitated a variety of art workshops from paint throwing to cyanotype printing for members of Dragon Arts.
For the students themselves we hope that this has been a valuable opportunity to better understand community arts facilitation and to work with learners of all backgrounds and abilities, for the members and staff at Dragon Arts having new people bring their ideas and creativity to the centre is always a pleasure. We hope everyone enjoyed the interesting workshops.
Photographs showing the workshop facilitated by Jo, Cerys and Verity throwing balloons filled with paint onto a canvas to produce a collaborative collage (despite the miserable weather!)
Members' Forum Summer Trip
This years Members Forum Summer trip was an educational visit to the Brecon Mountain Railway and Cyfarthfa Castle.
A great time was had by all! More pictures on the members page.
Dragon Arts Fundraising - Debenhams Bagpack
Dragon Arts and Learning Centre members and staff were in Debenhams store, The Quadrant, Swansea on Friday 14th May 2010 helping to pack bags and collect donations.
A big thank you to the store manager Nigel Stopher, all the staff, and of course all the people who donated!
New Basic Skills Class
Basic Skills (Literacy/Numeracy) and Personal Development Classes will be up and running from Monday 4th January 2010.
They will cover
- Application of number, calculations, time, measurement, money, shape, handling data, fractions/decimals/percentages.
- Speaking/listening, reading/writing, communication.
- Confidence building, personal awareness, improving self-esteem, group discussions, action planning, self help/self improvement, attitudes, making positive choices / decisions, personal qualities/skills, relationships, well-being.
If you are interested in attending these classes please contact Ryan by visiting his office at Dragon Arts so that he can explain about the criteria, dates, times, and content of these course and if you wish so that you can enrol on an OCN.
They will be on a "First come, First serve" basis until spaces are filled. Each course will run for approx 8 weeks, with approx 8 service users in each class.
Turkey Fire Celebrations Visit
October 26th
Staff and learners from Dragon Arts were fortunate to go on a weeks multicultural exchange visit to Izmir, Turkey as part of the Grundtvig funded ‘European Fire Celebrations’ project.They linked in with the hosts Izmir Bornova Vocational College and partners from Denmark, Spain, and Czech Republic.
Read more about the Turkey Fire Celebrations Visit.
World Mental Health Day 2009
Dragon Arts and Learning Centre participated in several coordinated events in Swansea to celebrate ‘World Mental Health Day 2009’.
On Friday 9th October, we joined many of our partner organisations in the Grand Theatre to raise awareness of Mental Health and Well-being.
On Saturday 10th October, Dragon Arts worked in conjunction with the BBC’s 'Headroom' team on a live web cast in Castle Square and had lots of fun face painting and fabric painting on canvas bags.
On Sunday 11th October, our Art workshop designed and painted a tree on white fabric to be used in a ‘Candle Light’ vigil at St. Mary’s Church. The weekend was a huge success and helped so many people by breaking down barriers for those wishing to access day services in Swansea.
Refugee Week 2009
Dragon Arts and Learning would like to thank everyone who participated in our Refugee Week Wales 2009 event on Wednesday 17th June.
We are very grateful to all the individuals who made such generous donations and we would also particularly like to thank The Body Shop and Lush for their kind donation of cosmetics and beauty products and Glenwyn Morgan for volunteering her time.
The morning was a huge success with all our donations going to good homes. Everyone also enjoyed the Art and Reiki sessions, face painting and the delicious cakes.
New Esol Class Times
The aim of the ESOL classes is to improve English ability at all levels and to give people the confidence to go on to do other arts based courses at Dragon Arts.
We offer OCN accredited courses at Entry level, an introduction to citizenship course, a preparation for IELTS course and English through IT sessions.
ESOL at Dragon Arts is designed or 16+speakers whose home language is not English, who are living or trying to settle in the Swansea area. Courses are directed at refugees, asylum seekers, migrant workers, people from settled communities and partners or spouses of people who have been settled in this country for a number of years.
We are recruiting at the moment.
For further details please call the ESOL teacher Michelle on 01792 467940.
Wales Remote Assessment Project (WRAP)
DAL in conjunction with Wales Remote Assessment Project (WRAP) has recently embarked on an initiative to promote and help all learners get the most out of ICT, regardless of physical disability. We aim to provide a system of advice, information, assessment and support at DAL, in which, learners can make use of Assistive Technology (such as specialised hardware/software)to make the learning of ICT a more enjoyable and empowering process.
Other News, Ongoing Projects and Past Events
Open College Network Wales
An OCN update!
Congratulations to all Dragon Arts & Learning Members that have successfully completed Open College Network Courses since Christmas.
At present date 142 individuals have enrolled on 380 Open College Network Units at Dragon Arts & Learning Centre of which 101 units are completed and 279 are on going.
Subjects currently on offer include Arts & Crafts, Ceramics, Digital Photography, General Computers, Guitar, Healthy Living, Retail, Sound Recording, Traditional Photography, Web Design and Word Processing.
There are Four Levels that relate to all learning achievement: Entry level, Level One, Level Two, Level Three. Open College Network Courses are tailored to each individual’s needs and abilities, allowing you to work and learn at your own pace towards a level you are comfortable with.