Glucksman School Workshop

PLEASE NOTE: Schools should email education@glucksman.org to confirm details (including the workshop choice, number and age of students visiting) and to complete booking.

Nature Guides

Creative observations of the natural world

This Spring the Glucksman’s school art workshops encourage young people to observe, experience and respond to the beauty and wonder of our natural world. Students will discover nature themed artworks on the University College Cork campus and taking inspiration from these works by contemporary Irish artists, they will engage in innovative age appropriate creative activities. The workshops will also include the opportunity to connect with nature in the University College Cork lower grounds. The university is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna with 451 species recorded on campus. In line with the Glucksman’s green guidelines and approach to sustainable practices in our education programme, students will work with recycled and low waste materials to create their artworks. The created artworks will be showcased at the Glucksman as part of a large scale schools exhibition in March 2025.

The Nature Guides exhibition will bring together artwork by young people from across the region and will be on view to the public from 13-16 March 2025.

Workshops cost €100 and run for 1.5 hours.
Workshops run Tuesday to Friday, 9am and 11am.
This programme of school workshops will run from 15 January to 7 March 2025.

Contact education@glucksman.org or +353 21 490 1844

Workshop options. Choose one of the options relating to the age of your class group.

Primary School Junior Cycle

1. The Gardens of UCC: Discover the wildlife of University College Cork in this fun hands-on workshop. Students will walk the lower grounds arboretum adjacent to the River Lee and will view the work of artist Amber Broughton before creatively documenting the many species that make UCC their home.
2. Colours in Nature: This collaborative collage workshop invites students to find and recreate the different colours that can be found in our natural environment. Students will explore the UCC campus and view the work of artist Sean Hanrahan.

Primary School Senior Cycle

1. Evergreen: Make your own sculptures in this hands-on workshop. Students will create hanging mobiles inspired by nature using recycled card and found objects. The workshop will include a walk in UCC to view the work of artist Fiona Kelly.
2. Like a Dream: Create the perfect natural environment in this paper cutout collage workshop. Students will explore, colour and texture when creating their imaginative artworks. The workshop includes a walk through the university campus to view the work of artist Emma O’Hara.

Secondary School Junior Cycle

1. Birds of a Feather: Create your own field guide in this art workshop that focuses on illustration and bookmaking. Students will walk the university campus and will view the work of artist Garrett Phelan.
2. Painting from Nature: Learn how to create your own paint from plants and vegetables in this creative workshop. Students will walk the university campus and will view the work of artist Peter Nash before returning to the museum to create their own natural watercolour paintings.

Secondary School Senior Cycle

1. Resist, Revolt, Rewild: Repurpose old materials like cardboard, fabric, paper and plastic to create banners that champion biodiversity. Students will walk the university campus and will view the work of artist Cecilia Danell.
2. Every Species Matters: This workshop invites students to create posters that highlight endangered animals and that call for urgent action to improve their situation. Students will walk the university campus and will view the work of artist Martin Healy.