Thursdays

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The Thursday morning pottery / sculpture class is for all ages and mixed abilities from beginners through to the more experienced potter.

We are a friendly group concentrating on all forms of hand-building eg. coiling, slabbing, pinching, working from moulds etc. to create objects of your choice which can be either small or large sculptural pieces for the garden.

A variety of clays, glazes and a limited supply of tools are available at the centre to suit all needs. Tuition will be provided, enabling you to try different methods of building and also advice on firing and glazing.

So what are you waiting for come along and join us and make new friends while learning a new skill.

This is a drop-in, pay-as-you-go class - no need to sign up or pay in advance, just come along on the day and join in!

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PLEASE NOTE: This class is currently full and we cannot accept any new students. If you wish to be kept informed of a place becoming available please email carlotta@qpc.org.


Explore and develop your creativity as a member of this friendly group. Work from still life or the subject of your choice, in your chosen media (e.g. pencil, charcoal, acrylics, watercolour). We also do occasional projects to encourage exploration of techniques and development of skills by looking at the work of different artists (Picasso, Matisse, Fedden) or through more specific themes such as perspective.

For all levels including beginners. Bring your own materials. All materials are available to buy from Queens Park Arts Centre’s shop.

About the Tutors
The Thursday morning class has the benefit of two tutors: Amanda Curbishley joined the Queens Park Centre as a member of this group in 2002 and has gone on to exhibit and sell work at local exhibitions. She wants to share the enjoyment she has from painting and encourage others to develop their skills.
Brenda Hurley is a professional artist who wants to pass her skills and experience from her art training on to others who want to learn more than a hobby can give. Brenda has a St Albans Fine Art Diploma part of Hatfield University and a Bucks Higher Diploma of Art and Design, Distinction Grade.

Feedback
"An enjoyable and friendly class where I can experiment with different styles or media; with helpful guidance when needed."

"Relaxed friendly group, encouraging tutors. I’ve taken much from the group and feel that I have come on in my painting since I joined."

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An untutored group of improvers and advanced carvers who meet for peer support and encouragement.

This is an untaught carving club. It’s objective is mutual support among people who have a reasonable basic knowledge of woodcarving.

Some experience of woodcarving is necessary and own tools required. Materials can be obtained through the group.

Please wear casual clothes and stout shoes.

This is a drop-in, pay-as-you-go class - no need to sign up or pay in advance, just come along on the day and join in!

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For beginners and those with experience. Members of the workshop have different interests and skills which they are happy to pass on.

It is a friendly, welcoming and supportive group, where we share ideas, laughter, sometimes problems, and “leave the world behind”, while being creative. A great way to meet like-minded people.

We have a go at a variety of crafts, and over the years have tried silk painting, felt making, papier mache, tie dye, fabric painting, marbling, glass painting, collage, dough craft...the list goes on!

If you would like to try a particular craft come along and we’ll see if we can help or advise.

Members of the group can also pursue their own projects - e.g. weaving, crochet, quilting, card making - in a happy, relaxed atmosphere.

What to wear...Comfortable clothes, not precious! An overall or apron is sometimes needed.

Materials...Participants buy their own, or the group buys jointly. Some basics available from the Queens Park Arts Centre art shop.

The Tutor: Irene Scott has been involved in arts & crafts (and Queens Park Arts Centre) for nearly 30 years, and has a broad basic knowledge of many different craft activities, including those mentioned above.

Class Feedback:
“Very friendly”
“Inspiring ideas from other people”
“When I’m making things I go to another world and forget everything that’s bothering me”
“Lots of laughter, and of course we produce lots of beautiful and useful items”

This is a drop-in, pay-as-you-go class - no need to sign up or pay in advance, just come along on the day and join in!

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Rosemary Masters is an accomplished lace maker and has been teaching lace making in Aylesbury for many years with a long association with Queens Park Arts Centre. Rosemary is skilled at many laces and continues to improve her own skills and knowledge by attending local lace workshops.

All Queens Park Arts Centre lace classes are informal and very sociable events, very much in keeping with the lace groups of old where lace makers worked together in groups to earn a living. The difference today is that lace making is fun and not a chore!

The sessions are small, mixed ability groups and students work independently on their own projects. The tutor is on hand for advice and gives individual instruction and assistance as required. Students work at their own pace and, having mastered the basics, can select their own projects, with the guidance of the tutor.

Although the sessions are very informal (with lots of chatting going on), there is ample opportunity for newcomers to learn and improve their skills in this friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Beginners usually start with Torchon lace and can progress on to finer and more complex laces such as Bucks Point when they have gained confidence and a good knowledge of the basic techniques and stitches.

There is no formal coursework to follow with no exam or tests to sit. These classes are purely for fun and the satisfaction of learning a very special skill, as well as helping to keep the age-old tradition of lace making alive.

Some examples of items that can be made in lace are bookmarks, Christmas Tree decorations, edgings for handkerchiefs or table cloths, fans and wedding garters.

The equipment needed is a lace pillow, bobbins, pins and thread plus a pricking or pattern. Equipment can be loaned by the tutor for those who would like to try their hand at lace making before purchasing their own. For those who do want to buy their own, the tutor is able to give advice on lace suppliers and suitable equipment. From time to time, used equipment is available for students to purchase.

Lace making is a traditional craft dating back to the 15th century and was introduced to this country by the French. There are many different types of hand-made lace, ranging from the finest of laces such as Bucks and Honiton through to the heavier furnishing laces, such as Bruges. Laces such as Torchon, Bedfordshire, Bucks and Bruges are made on a pillow with bobbins whereas Needlelace is worked with a needle and the method of working is similar to embroidery. The county of Buckinghamshire is well known for its very fine and distinctive Bucks Point Lace.

This is a drop-in, pay-as-you-go class - no need to sign up or pay in advance, just come along on the day and join in!

PLEASE NOTE: On 1st November this class will run from 1:30pm - 4:00pm. This is due to Amanda being on leave. Brenda Hurley will be leading the class.

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Explore and develop your creativity as a member of this friendly group. Working in Acrylic paints we will do projects over 3-4 week periods which will cover various subjects and occasional use of other media such as charcoal or mixed media. We will also do projects to encourage exploration of techniques and development of skills by looking at the work of different artists (Picasso, Matisse, Fedden) or through more specific themes such as perspective.

For all levels including beginners. Bring your own materials. All materials are available to buy from Queens Park Arts Centre’s shop

This is a drop-in, pay-as-you-go class - no need to sign up or pay in advance, just come along on the day and join in!.

Click here for term dates

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no sessions on 21st or 28th March.

Ages 11+ (Boys & Girls): 4:15pm - 5:15pm

An invitation to learn and experience Yoga and Mindfulness to build and improve your:

• Your overall physical, emotional and mental well- being.
• Self- confidence / esteem and Self- discipline / Positive Body image
• Resilience and ability to manage stress and challenges in your life
• Flexibility and strength
• Relationship with yourself, everyone around you and nature

You will have great opportunity to have fun, cultivate friendship, connections and a sense of community, discover yourself in the process.

This is a drop-in, pay-as-you-go class - no need to sign up or pay in advance, just come along on the day and join in!

Click here for term dates

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no class on 14 March.

This class is led by qualified yoga instructor Hannah Rogers.

Yoga is a system of self development that originated in India thousands of years ago.

It is the science of healthy living and covers all aspects of life. Hatha yoga deals with the physical and mental side of our being, encouraging the body and its systems to be balanced and consequently healthy.

Hatha Yoga’s effectiveness works because it is a holistic practice. The Postures help build strength and flexibility while reducing tensions in the body, encouraging it to relax. The breathing techniques (pranayama) help to build energy and increase the flow of oxygen and blood to the vital organs and relaxation techniques allow the body to absorb the work that came before and encourage the body to retain a feeling of calm and cope at times of stress.

Please bring your own yoga mat.

This is a drop-in, pay-as-you-go class - no need to sign up or pay in advance, just come along on the day and join in!.

Creative, therapeutic, informal and fun for people with Parkinson’s and their families and friends.

Info: aylesburyheroes@gmail.com

After the great success of 3 taster sessions, ‘Singing For Fun’, the Aylesbury branch of Parkinson’s UK is pleased to announce the launch of ‘The Good Vibrations’ led by the renowned singing teacher Debbie Davies.

Debbie has trained in Singing for Parkinson’s and the sessions focus on breathing, articulation, enhancing memory and improving vocal confidence.

This group is specifically for people with Parkinson’s, family and friends and will be free to these members for the rest of this term.

Click for more info....Parkinson's UK - Aylesbury Branch - Facebook Page

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All of us are able to be creative, be it with clay, a paint brush, a garden fork, a sewing needle, woodwork tools or cookery equipment. If you’ve never done any pottery before, why not give clay a try? If you have and would like to continue to develop your skills, then come along and get involved.

Queens Park Arts Centre has excellent facilities. A bright room contains three pottery wheels, two good work tables, stools and plenty of tools. The adjoining room is an area used for applying glazes prior to the final firing.

Queens Park Arts Centre is different to adult education in that you do not have to sign up for a term. You can try things out for a few weeks without commitment.

Pottery classes at the Centre are mostly tutored, some students having a lot of experience, some having none.

The social side is important too. We enjoy each other’s company, as well as the cup of tea or coffee half way through the session!

This is a drop-in, pay-as-you-go class - no need to sign up or pay in advance, just come along on the day and join in!

Click here for term dates

This class is suitable for beginners and those students that are more advanced.

We will be working on various projects, from rings to chain making, texturing metal, up-cycling your own old silver jewellery, we have something for everyone.

For safety reasons, please ensure you wear enclosed footwear (no sandals/open toe) and tie long hair back. It is advisable that you wear clothes you do not mind getting dirty and/or an apron.

This is a drop-in, pay-as-you-go class - no need to sign up or pay in advance, just come along on the day and join in!

Click here for term dates

PLEASE NOTE: This class is currently full and we cannot accept any new students. If you wish to be kept informed of a place becoming available please email carlotta@qpc.org.

A workshop for intermediate level players of acoustic and electric guitar.

The sessions are split into two halves, one where we are joined by a vocalist and we gain experience in the performance side and the other half where we work through songs to establish arrangements”

Aimed at those who wish to extend their guitar knowledge & playing ability to progress and experience playing with others at a similar level.

Students with reasonable chord vocabulary (open & barre chords) and fluidity with chord changes to play complete songs.

Book Club meets on the second Thursday of every month (on months where the 2nd Thursday is not available the class will fall on a different date, see below).

We are a friendly reading group who read and talk about one book each month. We take turns to choose the books, come up with discussion questions and run the group.

Books chosen in the past have ranged from classics such as Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and The Rainbow by DH Lawrence to modern fiction such as Atonement by Ian McEwan and We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. We cover different fictional genres and have also discussed other genres of writing such as autobiography and short stories.

Attendees will need to have obtained and read a copy of the book chosen for that month. Newcomers are welcome to come to class without having read the book to give it a try!

Who attends the class? Anyone who loves reading can attend the class!

About the Tutor: Laura first began running the bookclub at QPAC in 2002 after leaving her job as an English teacher. This enabled her to pursue her love of literature by facilitating classes of willing adults without having to do any marking! In 2005, she embarked on an M.A. in English Literature which she completed shortly before the birth of her daughter in 2007. From 2005 members of the bookclub have taken turns to run the group either in pairs or individually which has been a great success. Laura is on hand to help if needed.

Class Feedback: “Always enjoyable with plenty of lively discussion by class members.”
“Joining a book club introduced me to a variety of different genres which I wouldn’t normally read”
“When running the book club everyone is very supportive, and although it may seem daunting to do, it isn’t”


2019 Dates

April - NO BOOK CLUB
May 9th - "The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes" by Ruth Hogan
June 13th - TBC
July 11th - TBC

Click for more info....Guardian's Top 100

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The rest in meditation is deeper than the deepest sleep that you can ever have. When the mind becomes free from agitation, is calm and serene and at peace, meditation happens.

The benefits of meditation are manifold. It is an essential practice for mental hygiene. A calm mind, good concentration, clarity of perception, improvement in communication, blossoming of skills and talents, an unshakeable inner strength, healing, the ability to connect to an inner source of energy, relaxation, rejuvenation, and good luck are all natural results of meditating regularly.

In today's world where stress catches on faster than the eye can see or the mind can perceive, meditation is no more a luxury. It is a necessity. To be unconditionally happy and to have peace of mind, we need to tap into the power of meditation.

This is a drop-in, pay-as-you-go class - no need to sign up or pay in advance, just come along on the day and join in!