New Year. Now What?
At this time of year there seems to be a never ending slew of ‘new year, new you’ headlines & articles, on our screens & in the papers.
Be fitter! Eat better! Drink less! Meditate, do yoga, learn a language, try topiary, book a potholing holiday. This self-improvement culture feeds into our strange annual habit of making New Years’ Resolutions, but as we all know, it’s pretty challenging to stick to those. So why do we this year after year, & who can we blame? Well you can start with the ancient Babylonians. Failing that, head to the end & find out where you can learn something new & creative this year.
Around 4000 years ago in Babylon, the earliest recorded celebration honoring the coming of a new year was held. These collective ceremonial events were known as the Akitu festival, which lasted 11 days. The festivities were dedicated to the rebirth of the sun god Marduk, and the Babylonians made promises so as to find favour with their gods. They felt this would help them start off the new year on the right foot. Resolutions continued on with the Romans, and to this day, the tradition continues around the world.
Right. Having said all that, I must admit, as soon as I’m past the ‘Crimbo Limbo’ I start to ponder the year ahead & the possibilities it could bring. How can I mix things up a bit? This time last year I took a massive leap of faith & signed up for the Digital Mums social media management course. I finished in September, graduated, & now I’m working as a freelance SMM with my first clients. I haven’t been this happy in my work life for nearly 15 years, but if I hadn’t been inspired to try something new
In previous years I’ve enrolled on screen printing courses, ceramic workshops & I’ve booked tickets to see old friends in far flung places. And this year? I‘m still undecided. But whether it’s January or August, any time of year is a good time to try something new.
I can’t help you with the pot holing recommendations, but if you fancy releasing your inner creative next year, here’s my pick of where you can do it.
Happy New Year.
Since the college was founded in 1895 it has been through many changes & grown in size, but what they offer remains the same. Vocational courses designed to give excellent training and maximise the potential of students looking for new skills; including fashion design, floristry & art history as well as carpentry, brickwork & plumbing.
Morley College, SE1
Morley College is one of the country’s oldest and largest specialist providers of adult education. Founded to address the learning needs of Waterloo and Lambeth — an area of great poverty at the time — as the Morley Memorial College for Working Men and Women, it was the first institution of its kind to admit both men and women on an equal footing.
Nowadays they offer a huge range of adult learning courses, including ceramics, printing, life drawing, jewellery making, music, singing & so much more.
I discovered West Dean a few years ago when my then ‘obsession’ was botanical illustration. Based in W Sussex, the college is internationally recognised for conservation and creative arts, & has one of the greatest restored gardens open to the public. A unique place to study, visit or stay, it is a centre of excellence, creativity and tranquillity. You can find short courses, diplomas & degree courses in everything from photography & illustration, to gardening, textiles & wood working.
LSW is the first, London based, not-for-profit, community interest based company with exceptional facilities for artists and those interested in making work in 3D. They offer a superbly equipped metal and wood workshop with additional mould making and ceramic areas, as well as casting courses for ceramic, bronze, casting, concrete, & fabrication, & welding courses.
East London Printmakers run courses and workshops for both experienced and beginner printmakers. Based in Mile End they offer everything from screen printing, Mokulito & etching, through to lino & Japanese vinyl printing. Open Access sessions also available.
‘New’ kid on the block, the Art Academy started out in 2000 and is a small independent art school offering a unique approach to fine art education. They offer a range of art education programmes for all ages and all skill levels. A huge range of courses, both part time and weekend/evening, including painting, sculpting, digital, drawing & print are available.
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