WORKSHOPS GAIL GRIFFITHS & DARREN WARNER
WORKSHOPS A selection of bespoke courses & workshops devised & delivered for different organisations. by GAIL GRIFFITHS & DARREN WARNER Having worked in the creative media industry in London for many years as a journalist and a photographer, Gail and Darren returned back to Wales to find an area that lacked educational and career opportunities in their line of work. Within a short time they were asked to run workshops which proved to be highly successful as they took a view on education that had a very vocational and practical angle, from back-to-basics writing skills to understanding the way to use a camera properly. In their time they created the multi award winning PLUGGED IN magazine followed by the highly effective RAWR magazine. Alongside all this both continued to tutor people of all ages and abilities through a variety of bespoke workshops and courses that are highlighted throughout this portfolio. At present Gail is improving young people’s literacy skills by working as an Academic Tutor for English, while PCE qualified Darren tutors a number of students via his photography sessions. Workshops aimed at schools, colleges, community projects and busineses are run alongside regular photographic commissions, which keeps Darren up-to-date with any changes in technologoly and styles within the creative industries which he can then pass to his students. Gail keeps ahead of current trends in literacy tutoring by attending different training courses.
To contact us for further details or to talk about your own course/ workshop requirements, email: darren@darrenwarner.co.uk
CiDS (Creative Industries Development Scheme) - University Of South Wales CiDS offered skills-boosting bundles of mix and match modules that helped businesses fulfill their potential while identfying that running a business is essentially a creative endeavour and participants already knew how to be creative. It was just a matter of learning how to employ new sets of tools and materials, or perhaps updating knowledge to strengthen skills that enhanced business prosects. Darren was one of the CiDS tutors who was able to offer expert guidance and experience. For the photogrpahy module, he devised a course where participants learned how to create simple, clear, concise and striking product images for websites and publications helping them extend their business marketing profile in an affordable way. Starting from the basics of photography then leading on to making their own simple studio set up, they were taken on a route which removed the mystery from product and lifestyle photography. A two year funded contract from 2013 to 2015, these were outreach courses in locations including Cwmbran and Abertillery in the South Wales Valleys; Pembroke Dock, Lampeter and Llandysul in West Wales; Llanwrst and Colwyn Bay in North Wales, as well as the University’s Atrium Building in Cardiff. CiDS Photography Tips Film - https://youtu.be/jr35o8dsCvE
‘What were the best bits? All of it! It was a great course.I loved learning the correct way to use my camera. I can now edit and adjust the lighting of my images which will save me having to pay for someone else to do it for me!’ Kirsty
LITERACY INTERVENTION For two years Gail ran Literacy Intervention sessions at Tonypandy Community College. As the Academic Learning Coach for English she worked with under-achieving 11-18 year olds who had been identified as having below average literacy skills. The role involved planning and delivering small-group and one-to-one intervention sessions to raise basic key skills in reading and writing – working specifically on increasing pupils’ range of age-appropriate vocabulary, and improving spelling, grammar and punctuation. Gail also worked with pupils who had been identified as struggling with the GCSE English Curriculum, specifically creating interventions to help them better understand the subject and provide them with the skills necessary to achieve their target GCSE grade, especially those on the C/D borderline. By working as a Learning Coach with specific duties for English, Gail has been able to draw on all of her knowledge of language and communication as well as her many years’ experience in supporting the learning of young people, to help motivate and inspire pupils at Tonypandy to enjoy their learning experiences in school. Gail is trained in Read Write Inc, Fresh Start and Literacy & Language, as well as Sound Training intervention.
‘CAPTURE: A MOMENT IN TIME’ – A series of photography workshops delivered through Arts Council Of Wales Momentum Project Funding in 2015 for Torfean Communities First at Abersychan and West Monmouth Schools in Pontypool, co-ordinated by Sarah Campbell-Horner. The workshops targeted school pupils who were disengaged from formal education or had behavioural issues, and included the gypsy traveller group at West Monmouth. A selection of resulting photographs were exhibited at Big Pit Mining Museum in July 2015 with the students gaining an Arts Award Qualification.
“I love taking pictures with Darren. He is a good example for me. I enjoyed every bit of the course and I want to be like Darren!” Paultina, West Mon “Outrageously proud of all the pupils – superb exhibition!” Mike Conway, Head Teacher, Aberscyhan School “What a wonderful project! Thank you to Darren and Sarah. Our young people really engaged with the project and the staff were supportive, patient and inspiring. The photographs were wonderful. I am very proud. Thank you for the opportunity.” Lynne Robinson, Traveller Education, West Mon.
‘CAPTURE: A MOMENT IN TIME’ ONLINE DIGITAL PUBLISHING WORKSHOPS – A sister project to the schools workshops that emphasised photography and digital book design, delivered through Arts Council Of Wales Momentum Project Funding for Torfean Communities First in the community at the Penygarn Neighbourhood Learning Centre, Shepards Hill Gipsy Traveller Site and Cold Barn Farm Resource Centre in Pontypool. Continuing the work delivered in the schools in Pontypool this gave additional students in other communities the opportunity to take part in the Capture Project and produce an online book of their work produced. CAPTURE: A Moment In Time (online book of the exhibition) - http://issuu. com/plugged_in_magazine/docs/capture-_a_moment_in_time_issuu_ver
PHOTOGRAPHY GCSE & A’LEVEL INTERVENTIONS For the past few years Darren has been supporting a number of students at secondary school level who are taking Photography at both GCSE & Advanced Levels. Support is given on a one-to-one and small group basis, working co-operatively with the Art or Media teaching staff at the school to ensure all aspects of the qualification are fully covered and understood by pupils. Darren works on the technical elements of the camera and lighting, also helping the students research other influencial photographers’ work, takes pupils on field trips to interesting locations or exhibitions and teaches them the basics of image manipulation. His prime role is to help the students improve their potential grade in the final exam.
RAWR Literacy Workshops (Jan 2011-July 2013) for ages 11-16, delivered for RCT’s Services For Young People. A highly successful literacy based project that inspired young people of different abilities to think creatively about their writing. Tackling poor literacy standards, the workshops dealt with common problems in a number of fun ways – and included short story writing and poetry, interviewing techniques, researching and feature writing – with the aim of teaching young people basic literacy skills that included vocabulary, sentence structure, spelling and grammar. The students’ work was published in RAWR Magazine giving the young people tangible evidence of their achievements, helping their self-esteem, while they also gained an OCN qualification for their work.
‘The RAWR project has been one of the most positive and rewarding bodies of work that my pupils have taken part in to date. As a department we have seen an improvement in the pupils literacy skills and confidence to compose and create a poem. Gail has been fantastic and very supportive to all the students. They have responded well to every workshop that Gail has delivered and planned for them. The quality of the final publication is perfect which makes me very proud to have been involved in the process and seeing our pupils creative writing in print. Brilliant!.’ Darryl, Teacher, Porth County Community School Communication Disorder Unit ‘Rhys got really involved with the poetry. The tasks for the RAWR project made him think about how the words were formed and how sentences are created. The poems he created show an understanding of the task and his reaction shows that poetry can be fun. We were very proud to see Rhys’ poems published in RAWR magazine, never expecting to see his words in print. RAWR is a very good project which had Rhys thinking about work but without realising.’ The Parents of Rhys from Porth County Community School ‘The RAWR project was an excellent opportunity to help develop the pupils literacy skills whilst working within a group. The confidence and self-esteem of the pupils greatly increased throughout the workshops and especially when they were able to see their work published in the magazine.’ Debbie, Youth Support, Pontypridd High School
‘I feel the young carers have enjoyed taking part in the RAWR creative writing and poetry workshops. It has given them the chance to express themselves and in some cases, talk openly about their own carer responsabilities. All the young carers who attended the workshops were very eager to come along and couldn’t wait till the next session. I believe this has been an excellent positive experience for them, giving them the opportunity to gain a qualification which will help them in their future carer and educational choices. They have discovered skills they didn’t realise they had. I look forward to involving the young carers group in further RAWR projects.’ Deborah, RCT Young Carers Project Support Worker ‘RAWR has helped Jon address certain family issues by writing about our problems becoming much more expressive at home about his feelings. He talks more and seems very confident in himself making new friends along the way. He is always saying how much he’s enjoying the RAWR sessions telling me all about them when he comes home. He is so much happier in himself. Thankyou.’ The Mother of Jon, RCT Young Carers Group
‘I think RAWR is a great experience for young people because it let’s us get involved in different creative subjects. Whilst taking part in the short story and poetry sessions, I made different friends and learnt that poetry doesn’t always have to rhyme. Anybody can have a go.’ Shanice, RCT Young Carer Group
Pupils from Bryncelynnog Comprehensive School’s Communication Disorder Unit collecting the Outstanding Contribution To Arts & Culture at the Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC’s Youth Achievement Awards in 2011 for their work with RAWR
‘With their bright colourful pages you can see that a lot of work has gone into the workbooks for the RAWR projects accreditation. All files are individual to each pupils, with no parot fashion repeats of works or subjects. Basically, excellent pieces of work. Well Done’ Gill, RCT Accreditation Services ‘I really liked the RAWR sessions. It was great to find that a project like this was available and I’d love to do more. Really helped especially when compared to the stressful way English is taught in higher education.’ Craig, Bryncelynnog Comprehensive ‘We were both surprised and amused at the poems that Shaun created. It is very rare that Shaun discussess his schoolwork with us, so it was rewarding to see the way he had focussed on his written tasks for RAWR.’ The Parents of Shaun from Porth County Community School Communication Disorder Unit ‘Good Fun, Entertaining, Interesting, Informative with a great teacher in Gail.’ Liam, St John The Baptist School
‘The pupils in my class thoughly enjoyed the RAWR sessions that were held over six weeks. So much so they didn’t want them to end. Gail had an excellent rapport with the pupils and with her help and guidance the pupils engaged and produced work of a very good standard. As their class teacher I was extremely proud to see their work published in RAWR magazine.’ Annette, Teacher, Porth County Community School Communication Disorder Unit
‘I thought the RAWR project that Cai participated in was fantastic and I’m very proud of my son for taking part. I was very pleased with Cai as he couldn’t wait to show me the work he’d done when he came home from school then read his poems out to me. I was very proud of him and the way he was reading them.’ The Mother of Cai from Porth County Community School Communication Disorder Unit
ABERTILLERY BIG PROJECT - A series of photography workshops delivered in 2015 through Arts Council Of Wales Momentum Project Funding for Head4Arts at Abertillery School, co-ordinated by David Jones. The workshops targeted school pupils disengaged from formal education or with behavioural issues, with the resulting work being exhibited at Big Pit Mining Museum & Bedwellty House, Tredegar, and via an online book. The students all gained an Arts Award Qualification.
‘I think photography was an amazing thing to happen to my life.’ Sean
‘Darren explained subjects in a clear and understandable way and was approachable and willing to answer any questions. I learnt a lot and am looking forward to putting the knowledge into practice.’ Mark ‘Very Good workshop with a good balance between the classroom and the practical experience. It has changed my complete outlook on photography.’ Geoff
Landscape Photography Courses (Autumn 2010, Spring 2011, Autumn 2011 and Autumn 2012) delivered for RCT’s Parks & Countryside Department. Individual Workshops open to all ages (14 to 65 years old) with an interest in Landscape Photography, with an underlying motive of inspiring different usage within the local parks
UHOVI PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BUSINESS - outreach based courses for the University Of The Heads Of The Valleys which were open to businesses to help them establish a creative presence using photography (for web based publicity or brochures). Following on from the successful CiDs courses, these on-going workshops are based around the South Wales Valleys Region.
YOUNG MUMS PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP – a six-week series of workshops devised and facilitated by Darren for Caerphilly CBC in 2014 to give teenage mums new skills and experiences. During the photography lessons they had the opportunity to photograph their own children while gaining a qualification.
PLUGGED IN magazine was created in 2007 by Gail Griffiths & Darren Warner as an educational project aimed at helping and promoting the talents of creative young people with an interest in writing, photography and design, helping them to fulfil their career and life objectives. The project ran for over six years, with 17 issues of the highly acclaimed magazine being published during that time. The unique project involved young people being tutored by Gail & Darren, with the resulting work produced in a range of workshops being showcased in the published magazine. Used as a positive stepping stone to a career in the creative industries by some of the students, the magazine provided them with a portfolio of published work to show prospective employers or colleges. Such opportunities for young people to display their talents in this way were and still are extremely rare. The complementary value of the magazine is that it helped promote the Welsh music sector – including unsigned bands, young musicians, local music venues and theatres, new recording studios, young promoters and emerging record companies. Many arts groups and educational organisations realised the potential of the music magazine project to engage young people in education in a creative and fun way. Gail & Darren were regularly commissioned to run literacy-based and photographic workshops and courses that ultimately fed into future issues. These courses were tailor-made to suit different groups of learners - including those with special educational needs (SEN), pupils disengaged from formal education (B&ED), those educated other than at school (EOTAS), young offenders or those at risk of offending (YO), others not in education, employment or training (NEETs), as well as the more able and talented (MAT). Boost workshops, Media Machine, live performance photography, review writing workshops, studio photography and interview technique workshops, as well as spin-off magazines such as PLUGGED IN @ Merthyr Rock, and numerous others, meant that many young people were given a life-changing opportunity to become involved and learn essential life skills to ensure they were helped into the job market. Some of these courses are highlighted over the next few pages. PLUGGED IN magazine gave over 1500 young people expert tuition, raised self-esteem and pride in being involved in some wonderful opportunities. By the time the final magazine was published, the young people involved had been given the opportunity to watch, review and interview many of today’s stars of the music scene including Stereophonics, Manic street Precachers, Foo Fighters, Scissor Sisters, The Blackout, LostProphets, Feeder, Bullet For My Valentine, Funeral For A Friend, Cerys Matthews, Sir Tom Jones, and movie star Jack Black and his music project Tenacious D, to name just a few. Darren & Gail’s ethos for this very successful, award-winning educational project was to inspire young people to aspire to something better - whatever their background, ability or social difficulties. To see PLUGGED IN Magazine (issues 1 to 17), go to http://issuu.com/plugged_in_magazine
PRESS COVERAGE & AWARD WINNING - Because of PLUGGED IN magazine’s unique vocational and educational ethos of inspiring young people to aspire, the local press and news services within Wales wanted to know about the inspirational work that Gail & Darren were doing with PLUGGED IN. This meant numerous interviews with newspaper journalists and radio presenters. Gail & Darren never promoted themselves, only the project and the young people who were gaining life skills from it. Because of this modest tone, the magazine and its creators were nominated and presented with a number of awards, including the Red Dragon FM Community Music Award (2008) presented by the late Stuart Cable; The Institute of Welsh Affairs Inspire Wales Award Educator of the Year (2011) for pioneering a unique educational project; Finalist & Runner-Up (out of 500) for the Best Educational Project at the National Lottery Awards (2012), which included interviews with Gail & Darren on prime time BBC TV and being featured on the live television show presented by John Barrowman. PLUGGED IN Magazine @ National Lottery Awards 2012 Film – https://youtu.be/yrBt210NsYI
STEPHEN’S STORY When Stephen expressed an interest in working with PLUGGED IN the magazine was in its infancy, still looking for a name and an identity. Stephen, though having graduated from university with a degree in Design, had never had any ‘on the job’ experience and had been unemployed for a year. What Stephen needed was a stepping stone, a door opener that would help highlight his talent and showcase his work. Basically he needed to show that he was trusted to do a professional job. PLUGGED IN set him the task of creating a distinctive masthead for the magazine, which had to be both unique and individual, not deriving from a ready available type face. The spray painted and computer manipulation design that sits on the cover of every issue is the result his rising to that challenge. As the magazine developed Stephen was asked to provide a number of unique section headings, including the logos for the magazine’s Live section, Rising Talent, News, Special Report, Quick Chat , …and Introducing. In addition to this he has also provided the headings for every interview page for people like the Stereophonics, Foo Fighters and The Blackout among many others in each issue, helping give the magazine its clean distinctive professional style. Stephen used this work – all provided on a voluntary basis – to impress potential clients who knew the reputation for excellence that PLUGGED IN required. With the amount of credible published work he now possessed Stephen began to pick up a number of small clients and was able to provide a living for himself. Within two years Stephen’s design techniques were noticed by an advertising agency which offered him a permanent position where he was able to provide design and campaign ideas for larger clients. After two years he and two colleagues left to set up a partnership design agency called Studio Tri, which specialises in bringing a young energetic approach to major clients’ products. Within a short time they had picked up two impressive Welsh clients, Peters Pies and Cadwalladers Ice Cream, creating a new marketing campaign and direct sales imagery for them. At the recent Chartered Institute Of Public Relations Pride Awards, Stephen and Studio Tri won two Gold Awards for Best Integrated Campaign and Best Campaign for Measurement & Evaluation for their ‘Luv Wales, Luv Peters’ campaign. In addition to this Studio Tri also won one of the most coveted prizes in Wales for Advertising, The Institute Of Welsh Affairs Business Award for Creative Marketing, a very high accolade indeed. All this has been made possible by Gail & Darren giving Stephen support and a platform to showcase his talent.
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
‘From the first time I picked up a copy of PLUGGED IN I’ve loved the magazine! I have definitely learnt something new since being part of the project. I have learnt a lot about how to make my writing interesting, like what angles you can write a review from, etc. I have grown more confident with each piece I’ve done and learnt a lot about the process from stage to page! Walking into a gig knowing that you’ve got to remember lots of details about what you’re going to see because you need to review it can be quite daunting, but I attended some creative writing workshops with Gail which helped me understand how to write a review. I then got to put this into practice by reviewing the Super Furry Animals gig for the magazine. Gail & Darren have helped me through PLUGGED IN. I’m definitely more confident with my writing and am even more interested in music and journalism than I was before. When I applied to study media at university I had an interview and literally out of the portfolio of work I’d taken with me, the only thing they were interested in and wanted me to talk about was the Super Furry Animals review I’d done for the magazine. I had loads of school coursework in the portfolio but they really didn’t care about anything other than the printed article! I think the workshops and the way anyone can write something for the magazine is fantastic, because there isn’t the opportunity to do this anywhere else. I’ve been able to meet some really awesome people through PLUGGED IN as well as being able to develop my writing skills. I have so much respect for the magazine and Gail and Darren.’
Robyn
PLUGGED IN magazine helped me so much. It helped me overcome my nervousness and has built up my confidence. The experience has been great and the fact that my work has been published is brilliant. Now I have been able to build up a portfolio of work. The experience has also enabled me to get a place on a university course that I have wanted to get on for years because of my published work - but this was also due to a great reference from Gail. This was greatly appreciated. I think the magazine was great for showcasing young people’s talent. The fact that anyone could be taught how to write for the magazine was great. For me, getting my work published and gaining experience at the same time has helped me so much. Through writing for the magazine it has lead on to positive things for me. For example, getting more work experience placements, enhancing my writing skills, and getting me on the university course that I wanted. Working with Gail has definitely changed my life for the better. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to write in the magazine.
Victoria
‘I went to my first PLUGGED IN writing workshop run by Gail in 2007 and I started university in 2008. Being a part of the project absolutely helped with my uni application, it definitely made a difference and that’s thanks to Gail. I finished my Creative Writing degree two years ago and since leaving uni I’ve actually published my first novel. I would never have done that without Gail’s help. PLUGGED IN was an excellent project for inexperienced writers who wanted to have a writing career. It was a really good starting point - seeing your name in print for the first time is thrilling! It did wonders for your confidence, and I can only speak for myself, but it really gave me ‘The Bug’ for wanting to see my name in print. So in that sense, it was also good for the soul. But on an educational level, it was a great experience - it kept young people off the streets, gave them something to work for, and gave them some real purpose. And taking myself as an example, it made you want to do more, It made you want to do better again. It was a great stepping stone for writers - for me it was a tramoline! I have so much respect for the magazine and Gail & Darren who ran it.’
I think that PLUGGED IN was an amazing magazine project that gave young people in South Wales such wonderful opportunities and experiences. Budding photographers and writers were able to get involved with the magazine to have their work published to show employers and get noticed. I think Gail & Darren are amazing, they gave me so many experiences I never ever thought I could do - from taking photographs of some of my favourite bands, to getting to meet the bands and asking them questions. All these experiences has made my career choice clear as I definitely want to work in the performance photography or music magazine scene. Working with Gail & Darren was such a great honour I totally appreciated what the magazine offered to young people and the experiences they provided for them. If the magazine hadn’t been around I wouldn’t have got any experience at all, and wouldn’t be so clear on what I wanted to do as a career choice. I’ve learnt so many skills because of Darren teaching me, everything I know about photography I have learnt from the workshops I participated in and owe him a big thank you.
Corey-Leigh
Maria I first heard about PLUGGED IN through a parents’ friend, I was immediately interested in the fact that it combined two passions of mine - photography and music. I thought it was such an easy way to keep in touch with what was going on in the area and it was great to see friends of mine on the pages of an actual magazine! I first got some photography work in the magazine in Issue 8, in the ‘rising talent special’. Guided by Darren, I got to work with three other amazing young photographers and in the end we were each given two pages and an exhibition of our work that was produced over a few months. It was a one-off opportunity which led on to getting more published work in future issues. The experience has taught me a maturity in the way I now work, experiencing what it is like to have to meet a deadline and push myself to produce something that is worthy to be put into print has aided my work to a great extent. The photography workshop I was a part of introduced me to critiquing myself and others’ work, showing me exactly what to aim for. PLUGGED IN has definitely helped me. I am now studying a BA in Photography at Falmouth University. I have no doubt that PLUGGED IN had a role to play in that, as at least a third of my portfolio when applying to uni was work for the mag. Not to mention the skills I acquired in talking about photographs which also contributed to my interview. I really do owe Darren and Gail a lot for that. PLUGGED IN has really helped push my photography, before working with them I had next to no experience photographically, especially when it came to live performance. Whilst being tutored by Darren I gained a passion for photography and, unlike most, I can now claim to have published work at a young age, which will no doubt be attractive to future employers.
James
I first heard about Plugged IN through a teacher at Pontypridd High School, attended a writing workshop and contributed to nearly every issue since it started. I learned to have an insight into how to develop my writing style which has given me great confidence in my higher education, going on to complete a masters degree. I also learned a lot about how the creative industries worked at a grass-roots level, about marketing a product and how to network, which definitely helped me in my education. Plugged In was a well written and photographed magazine with an ever growing readership, which for me was great to be associated with it. PLUGGED IN gave me experience and helped distinguish my CV in an ever growing competitive employment market and I believe helped me get my current marketing job with the Young Promoter’s Network.’
Ritchie
I had an involvement with The Pop Factory and that first drew my attention to the magazine and then contributed live and album reviews. It has been a breath of fresh air having the opportunity to spread the word of many different bands. Some old and some new but all good! I love music and to listen to a fine album or attend a good gig is an enlightening experience. PLUGGED IN has provided me with a pertinent path to forward the skills of scores of awesome acts and that is a treat. My music tastes can veer from the mainstream and I think so many acts that stand outside of the pop peripheries are overlooked and that is wrong! Long live the likes of The Fall and The Nightingales who are still sonic forces many years after their arrivals! Dig the new breed but also respect the old guard!
Rob
BOOST – an enrichment programme at Coleg Y Cymoedd, Pontypridd. This media based course had an emphasis on Photography and Literacy Standards for students aged 16 plus. During the workshops students wrote CD reviews and learnt the skills of researching and creating the right questions to interview different musicians. They also gained photography skills and attended many live performances. The students made contributions to both PLUGGED IN Issue 16 & 17 which included interviews with Kelly Jones of the Stereophonics, Bring Me The Horizon, The Joy Formidable and Rob Lear, who actually attended a workshop to be interviewed and photographed face-to-face. After PLUGGED IN closed, the courses have continued up to date focussing on Basic Photography skills
‘I loved learning about photography, having the chance to go to gigs while meeting new people’ Jessica
IDENTITY MAGAZINE – a series of workshops delivered in 2014 targeting young people deemed difficult to engage or having various behavioural and emotional issues at Llantarnum and Fairwater Schools in Cwmbran as well as the Cwmbran Centre For Young People. Delivered through Arts Council Of Wales Momentum Project Funding, the workshops concentrated on journalism, interview techniques, design, magazine production and photography, culminating in the publication of a re-vamped local magazine. The new magazine dealt with subject matter that was relevant to the students who produced it in a snappy concise way that was not boring to read or look at.
MEDIA MACHINE (2013) which, in association with Bridgend College, was an accredited series of workshops based around the creative industries, including photography, interviewing techniques and radio broadcasting. Darren was lead tutor for the project designing the workshop’s syllabus and coming up with the concepts around the idea. The resulting work was published in PLUGGED IN Issue 17 with the Rising Talent section comprising all the interviews with up and coming local artists completed by the project participants. Recordings of these interviews were also featured on Bullet FM, Bridgend College’s online radio station.
Live Performance Photography Courses (April-November 2007, April-November 2009, November 2010-March 2011 & November 2011-March 2012) These gave young people the opportunity to work in the high pressured, exciting enviroment of a full-on concert. After Darren worked with them on composition and how to correctly work with their cameras, the students were then given the opportunity to discover life in the deep end, by being given commissions to photograph the action to illustrate a live performance review for PLUGGED IN. This gave students the opportunity to hone their photography skills while creating unique images for publication in the magazine. Advanced Performance Photography (for ages 16-19) delivered for RCT’s Cultural Services with work being featured in PLUGGED IN Magazine and at exhibitions at the Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd. Most participants continued to contribute to the magazine after completing the course to build up a portfolio of work to show prospective colleges and employers, with many going on to successfuly secure a place at their chosen University.
Performance Photography Course Studio Sessions These were delivered for RCT’s Youth Arts giving the participants experience in working in a photographic studio environment, as well as learning the basic elements of controlling your subject to gain the best from them. Under the pressure of working to a tight schedule due to the number of artists and the time limit allocated to the shoots, each pair of students were allotted artists that they did not just have to photograph but meet and greet, put at ease and build up a rapport with prior to the actual shoot. The resulting images were published as part of PLUGGED IN’s Rising Talent section that highlighted new artists from many different genres, as well as within the main magazine interview sections.
Live Performance Review Writing Workshops for ages 14-18, delivered for RCT’s Cultural Services were individual workshops which had an underlying Basic Literacy Skills & Communication agenda connected to live performances and interviewing music artists – with the completed work being published in PLUGGED IN Magazine. The Automatic 2008, Issue 4 Super Furry Animals 2009, Issue 8 Ocean Colour Scene 2011, Issue 11 Amy Wadge 2011, Issue 12
PLUGGED IN @ Merthyr Rock - Magazine Journalism & Photography Summer Course that run in conjunction with Head For Arts & Glamorgan Gates in association with the University of Glamorgan (for ages 14-65). As part of the Merthyr Rock outreach educational programme in 2011 PLUGGED IN delivered a course that led to the creation of a one-off special edition of PLUGGED IN, dedicated to the event. The published magazine was the result of writing and photography workshops that included aspects of researching and writing techniques. The students were then given access to the three-day event and contributed to the review of the festival published in PLUGGED IN Issue 13. The following year PLUGGED IN was approached again to run a similar course, with students taking part in two different sets of workshops. One for live performance reviewing skills, the other on interviewing techniques. At the 2012 festival the course participants were given access to the event and opportunities to interview many of the artists playing. All the resulting work was published in PLUGGED IN Issue 16 with the overall article taking up 20 pages of the 72 page magazine. No other magazine covered the event in such detail with so many young people’s opinions, giving the students some amazing tangible evidence to take forward in their careers. Some of the students continued to supply work to future issues of PLUGGED IN.
RAWR Photography Workshops (Sept-Dec 2012) A one-off photographic element to the literacy based RAWR magazine project for 11-18 year olds, aimed at young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and those with behavioural and emotional issues due to difficult home lives. Accredited courses were run throughout different schools and youth clubs in RCT, including Ysgol Hen Felin, Porth County Community School’s CDU and Tylerstown Youth Club. 100% pass rate.
HEAD4ARTS MOMENTUM PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECTS (2014) – a series of workshops delivered in the communities of Winchestown and Rhymney targeting young people deemed difficult to engage, problematic, unemployed or ex-offenders. The two courses have seperate end goals with the Rhymney group exploring a theme close to them while the Winchestown group photographed their community and their place within it.
LEFT: PICTURING PONTY (2014) – A series of short funded workshops delivered by Darren in Coed Y Lan Primary, YGG Castellau and 1st Maescoed Girl Guide troop, encouraging young people to take photographs and enter them into a local competition/exhibition. The concept was to look with new eyes at their local community. The open exhibition for all ages was held at St David’s Uniting Church in POntypridd and the Chaplaincy University Of South Wales, with Darren being involved in the choice of photographs for display. Independently, visitors to the exhibition were asked to vote for their favourite picture with one of Darren’s young students winning the People’s Choice Exhibition Favourite Photograph.
BELOW: PROUD OF ME, PROUD OF MY COMMUNITY (2014) – An unusual bespoke eight week series of workshops based around literacy skills and photography, delivered in five different primary schools - Park Lewis Primary, Cymer Primary, Ynysboeth Primary, Ysgol Yr Eos and YGG Evan James. Devised and delivered on behalf of RCT CBC’s Attendance & Wellbeing Department, the sessions were created to help tackle poor attendance issues. The workshops proved successful with a notable increase in positive results in PASS Tests completed before and after the workshops.
PLUGGED IN’s The Mix – a CD Review Writing Project (July-August 2010) delivered for Head For Arts. A basic literacy skills project devised using CD review writing techniques for a special edition magazine, The Mix. The Project was based in three locations and was aimed at NEETS (those Not in Education, Employment Or Training) in the 16 to 19 year old age range. The resulting work was published in a special edition mini-magazine called THE MIX.
Merthyr PLUGGED IN – Magazine Journalism & Photography Summer Course (2009) delivered for Glamorgan Gates in association with University of Glamorgan (for ages 14-65). The resulting work was published in a special edition of PLUGGED IN magazine called Merthyr PLUGGED IN, an internal pull-out special in Issue 8
POETRY WITH COLLAGE – a series of workshops for 14-19 year olds, delivered for a Building The Future Together Special Schools Special Project, commissioned by RCT as part of a special project that lead to a themed exhibition of poetry and artwork at the disability arts UNITY Festival in Cardiff Bay in June 2012. The students, all with a Disability and/or Special Educational Needs were from Ty Coch Special School & Ysgol Hen Felin.
BROKEN PEACE - Photography Project. Working with some students from Tonypandy Community College (14-16 year olds) in association with RCT’s Cultural Services and RCT’s Music Services the project aimed to document the making of and live performance of Broken Peace – a collaboration between two secondary schools and Singer/Songwriter Martyn Joseph. The students’ work appeared in a CD booklet that accompanied the recorded music.
ROOTS - Magazine Project. Delivered for the VIVA Project in Pontypridd, this short course was devised to help educate young people in different aspects of print media by creating their own publication. Students were aged between 16-21 and were part of a local project to help people with Special Needs & Communication Disorders, such as Asperger’s, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and ADHD.
INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY (October 2011) – a one-off day workshop on photography in Dare Valley Country Park for students with a Disability and/or Special Educational Needs (SEN) aged between 14-19 years old. Devised as a practical introduction to photography using the park’s natural environment, this workshop was part of a Special Schools Special Project pilot scheme developing art education with disability concerns.
RCT’s Services For Young People Schools Magazine Project (2011) A pilot scheme where Darren and Gail were commissioned to help oversee the creation of 11 school cluster-based magazines within the RCT area. The aim was for the magazines to be young people focussed, with teams of individuals aged 11-18 working with lead sixth formers or E3+ co-ordinators to create the magazine content. Due to the success of the first 11 School Cluster Magazines, we were commissioned to oversee the second issues of the 11 School Cluster Magazines, after which the teams were able to continue to produce the magazines themselves.
CREATIONS Residential Photography Course @ Cardiff Bay – A two-day residential for young people aged 11-18 years of age. Commissioned by the Special Project Team in RCT’s Services For Young People, the course was devised as an introduction to Photography & Photoshop with the students gaining an OCN Accreditation. The students went from barely being able to hold a camera correctly to producing interesting and creative views of the bay area.
‘I gained a wealth of information and practical techniques about photography that I will be able to use both in work and socially’ Alys
OUR VOICE Magazine (October 2011-June 2012) delivered for RCT Community Arts – A Gateway Project working with groups of people aged 16+ who were either NEET, SEN, Physically Disabled, Retired, or living in the deprived areas of Maerdy, Merthyr Tydfil, Ystrad Rhondda, Aberdare and Treforest.
CAST Academy Poetry Project (2012-2013) – A 12-week series of workshops for 14-19 year olds with Special Educational Needs and/or having a Disability, commissioned as part of a special project developing art education with disability concerns for RCT’s Services For Young People that lead to an exhibition of the completed work. Participants involved were from Park Lane Special School, Ysgol Hen Felin Special School & Ty Coch Special School.
CREATIONS Residential Digital Landscape Photography Course @ Port Eynon, The Gower (Feb 2012) – A three-day residential course for young people aged 11-18 years of age. Commissioned by the Special Project team in RCT’s Services For Young People, the course was devised as an introduction to Landscape Photography and Photoshop with the students gaining an OCN Accreditation.
CAST ACADEMY (Disability Arts) 2013 & 2014 A series of photography workshops, for 14-18 year olds, commissioned as part of a project via RCT’s Services For Young People that lead to an exhibition of photographic art. The students, all having a Disability and/or Special Educational Needs, were from Park Lane Special School, Ysgol Hen Felin Special School & Ysgol Ty Coch. In 2013 the theme was Colour, Sound & Light while in 2014 the theme chosen was Line, Shape & Form.
Darren & Gail are very enthusiastic and love their professions which come through in their teaching style. I can’t wait to see what else is on offer’ Jason
CREATIONS CREATIVE WRITING PROJECT (April-July 2012) delivered for RCT’s Services For Young People. A weekly creative writing course run over two six-week periods based in Pontypridd’s YMCA that introduced young people aged 11-19 to the skills of short story writing. All the workshops were accredited and all participants gained an OCN qualification CREATIONS PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT (April-July 2012) delivered for RCT’s Services For Young People. A weekly photography course over two six-week periods based in Pontypridd’s YMCA that introduced young people aged 11-19 to the creative industries. All the workshops were accredited and all participants gained an OCN qualification.
IGNITE Event Project (Jan-June 2012) A unique Gateway Funded Project working with young people aged 16 plus deemed NEETS, those with Special Educational Needs, those who are Retired, or not receiving JSA, living in the deprived areas of Maerdy, Merthyr Tydfil, Ystrad Rhondda & Treforest. The course led to creating publicity for and staging an event alongside industry professionals which included performances from Special Needs Dance Groups, Rappers, Singers & Rock Bands. Highly successful the sessions coined the phrase ‘Education has never been so much fun.’ To view a film highlighting the project visit IGNITE Project Film - https://youtu.be/ GxScHpL0hrY
KIDS RULE, ROCK & DO! As part of an educational programme for young people in Merthyr Tydfil in 2012, Darren was asked to help out with the design element of a magazine project produced by the children. Using various techniques the students were allowed to create different types of artwork to illustrate the magazine, giving them responsibility and ownership of their product.
PHOTO COLLAGE WORKSHOPS A series of workshops delivered in 2012 for a 16+ age group with Special Needs who worked on a project examining themselves and their lives through learning to take photographs. The end result was the creation of a composite picture that formed part of an exhibition at the Wales Millenium Centre.
PHOTO JOURNALISM Workshops @ St John The Baptist School, Aberdare (July 2012) – A series of photography workshops, for 14-18 year olds, to inspire young people to not only learn photography techniques, but how to adapt them to create a photographic story.
GREENFIELD Magazine & PHOTOGRAPHY Workshops After a series of photography workshops for Merthyr’s Greenfield Special School in 2013 the school staff and pupils were given ownership of their own school magazine, with Darren and Gail working in an advisory capacity as well as providing production services prior to going to print. The 12-page Greenfield magazines is an on-going project which has been published at the end of each term since Summer 2013.
AFTERSCHOOL ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS Courses of introductory photography and photoshop at a number of secondary school locations in South Wales Valleys including: Y Pant Comprehensive School, Pontyclun (Autumn Term 2007, Autumn, Spring & Summer Terms 2008, Autumn & Spring Term 2009, Autumn 2013, Spring & Summer 2014, Autumn Term 2015); Tonypandy Community College (Spring Term 2009); Ferndale Community School (Spring Term 2009); Hawthorn High School, Pontypridd (Spring Term 2010); Blaengwawr Comprehensive School, Aberdare (Spring & Summer Term 2010, Spring & Autumn Term 2013); Mountain Ash Comprehensive School (Summer Term 2010); Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun, Aberdare (Summer Term 2012); Aberdare Girls School (Summer Term 2012 & Autumn Term 2013); St John The Baptist Secondary School, Aberdare (Autumn Term 2012 & Autumn Term 2013); Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari (Spring & Summer Term 2014); Aberdare High School (Summer & Autumn Terms 2015); Pontypridd High School (Autumn Term 2015).
‘You clearly show committment to your students.’
Dawn, RCT Accreditation Services
DARREN’S LECTURES ON PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE MEDIA Photography And The Law, The Moral Boundaries Of Photography & The Masters Of Photography – delivered to Media & Photography Students @ Coleg Morgannwg A Career In Photography – open lecture delivered through the Designs For Life Programme, Orchard Media for RCT’s Cultural Services @ Coleg Morgannwg (Rhondda Campus) & Muni Arts Centre. Photography & The Media As A Business – open lecture delivered for St Cenydd Secondary School, Caerphilly. Photography & Journalism in the Music Industry – delivered for the South Wales New Music Forum @ Riverside Centre, Newport. Photography & The Media As A Business – open lecture delivered for Bridgend College. Informal Introduction to Photography – delivered for Woodlands High Special School, Cardiff. Crossing Moral Boundaries (When Does Advertising Go Too Far?) – delivered to Photography Students @ Norton Radstock College, Bath Finding An Alternative View - delivered to Photography Students @ Coleg Gwent, Cross Hands Photography And The Law & Crossing Moral Boundaries (When Does Advertising Go Too Far?) - delivered to Photography & Illustration Students @ Bournemouth & Poole College
‘An exciting and informative lecture demonstrating a confident and highly organised approach’ Jessica, Photography Lecturer @ Coleg Morgannwg
Please contact us to chat about your course or workshop requirements via darren@darrenwarner.co.uk