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The Creative Dimension Trust (TCDT) has announced its 2021 programme. TCDT offers workshops, with free tuition and materials, to young people who want to develop their hand skills. Workshops range from architectural model making to stone letter carving and sign writing on skateboards. All workshops are fully funded by generous sponsors and taught by world-class tutors. The diverse TCDT programme has evolved with COVID-19 developments. Workshops are offered either online or at venues with social distancing measures in place.

TCDT workshops are open to students aged 14-19 who show potential in forging a career pathway where precise hand-eye co-ordination, and the ability to understand and construct three-dimensional shapes are prerequisite. All TCDT workshops provide valuable insight to possible career paths. Alumni have pursued careers in subjects including architecture, engineering, fine art, jewellery making, art conservation, glass working, theatre design, fashion and costume design. TCDT aims to have 80% of participants from less advantaged backgrounds. Direct recruiting for workshops is at schools located in areas of social/economic deprivation or geographic isolation.

Bristol-based puppeteer Siân Kidd will lead two online Marionette Puppet Making workshops: Plant People and Bejewelled Beasts. Students will design, make and operate their own walking marionette. Siân trained with The Puppet Theatre Barge and has performed internationally for theatre and TV. She has been an associate puppetry director for The Royal National Theatre, Artistic Director of Mirth & Misery puppet company, a founder of the Equity Puppeteers Network, and a board member for the Puppet Centre Trust.

Woodturning & Stone Carving

The Woodturning and Stone Carving workshops will take place at the Building Crafts College in Stratford, London. Taught by tutor Patrick Lear, students will learn how to turn wood using a lathe and make stands for food and also for leather masks. Stone tutor Nancy Peskett will teach students how to use tools to carve a basic three-dimensional form and then develop the skills needed to carve their own lettering design.

Signwriting on Skateboards & Plaster Carving

The Signwriting on Skateboards and Plaster Carving workshops will be led by tutor Adam Williamson. Adam is an award-winning sculptor whose clients include HRH The Prince of Wales, Kew Gardens, and The British Museum. Signwriting on skateboards will take place over five days at Dulwich College. Using a mahl stick and enamel paints, students will learn how to paint a skateboard using traditional, timeless brushwork and pinstriping techniques. During the online plaster carving workshop, participants will practice relief and piercing carving techniques. Patterns will focus on the geometric and biomorphic patterns and techniques from Morocco and Levant.

From Dream To Product will take place at the workshop of bespoke fabricator Zone Creations, who design and manufacture products from light switches to furniture, creating one-off pieces for contemporary artists as well as point of sale material for luxury brands. In this four-day multidisciplinary workshop, students will create Perspex candlesticks.

Architectural Model Making will take place at the offices of Allford Hall Monaghan Morris Architects in London. This week-long workshop will be taught one-on-one. With uninterrupted guidance from one of Allford Hall Monaghan Morris’ senior in-house model makers, students will be challenged to produce an architectural object of their choice, using various techniques and materials, turning a 2D idea into an elegant and sophisticated, yet practical 3D masterpiece. Students will be encouraged to realise their ideas through traditional model making artistry, using general workshop machinery, such as the CNC milling machine, spray booth equipment and the lathe. Together with this, they will learn the latest techniques within the industry, including 2D and 3D CAD, laser cutting and 3D printing.

During September, students involved in 14 TCDT 2021 workshops will have their work displayed in a famous central London store window display. Students will discover the practicalities of making work for temporary installation in a retail setting. Backdrop for Window Display, taking place at Zone Creations, will be led by Sarah Hocombe. In this five-day workshop, students will create a dramatic acrylic sky, which will be used as the window display backdrop. In Sarah Hocombe’s online Silhouette Decoration for Window Display workshop, students will paint their designs on paper, using either watercolour or acrylic. They will also learn the history of silhouettes, as well as some of ways that paintings and illustrations can be used for commercial purposes to decorate ceramics and textiles.

Other workshops include Geometric Designs on Spheres, Surrealist Head Pieces – Leather Mask Making, Marbling, Gilding on Textiles and Jewellery Making. For further information on all workshops and application details, click here.