There’s nothing on television and my friends are away, how on earth am I going to keep sane over the holidays? I’m a big exponent of lifelong learning to help maintain mental health, and have been known to drive from North Beach to the Kalamunda to attend workshops. So how did I not know about all the cool workshops run by some amazing people, right in the heart of Perth City? Here are a couple of courses I checked out and others that have made it onto my ‘to do’ list.
Circus Skills at City Farm
Time to work off some of my post-Christmas spare tyre. Who knows maybe I’ll find a hidden talent that will see Cirque du Soleil banging down my door … what? … a girl can dream. With much trepidation, I ventured into Cirquest on a 39 degree evening. First impression, the space was huge. Equally huge was the list of workshops available for adults and children. Acutely aware of my inherent lack of coordination I settled on the hula hoop workshop. Any thought of juggling, aerial work, contortions and acrobalance would have to wait until … well, until I’ve completely changed my NDA, although I reckon I’ve got ‘tumbling’ down pat, especially when wearing six inch heels. The circus is run by volunteers, and the instructors were super patient. By the end of the session I was proud to have learnt a new skill and felt able to defend the country in a hula-hoop-off, should that ever eventuate. As I walked back to my car I could feel my stomach muscles groaning, in part from the workout, but mainly from all the giggling, so much more fun than plodding on the treadmill for half an hour. Next time … unicycles.
City Farm East Perth Casual rates for adults: $16 – $28, term rates $125 – $200 Website: www.cirquest.com.au
City Farm
I’ve often dropped into the City Farm Café, a leafy oasis in the heart of the city, for breakfast. I’ve even foraged in the markets on a Saturday morning, however I’ve never taken the tour or been to a workshop. While my apartment balcony doesn’t lend itself to a corn field, and the courses on composting and worm farms weren’t appropriate, a herb garden isn’t out of the question. After an hour learning about propagating herbs I left with a slightly greener tinge to my thumb, and the knowledge that my salads will be far more interesting this year.
City Farm East Perth. Cost: Tours $11/head for 1.5 hours. Workshops tailored to needs. Farm Hours: Tuesday to Friday 8.30am – 4pm Saturday 8am to noon. Website: www.perthcityfarm.org.au
Cabernet and Canvas
The next night it was time to ease into the new year with a glass, a giggle and maybe a masterpiece. On an innocent January evening I found myself amongst twenty other would be artists at Rigby’s Bar. Brushes in hand we followed our tutor step by step and two hours later ended up with a painting called ‘After the Rain,’ a landscape depicting a carpet of wildflowers, you guessed it, after the rain. We were all surprised at how well our paintings turned out and agreed that they wouldn’t be confined to the smallest room in the house, though that may have been the wine talking. It was a great social night and I’ll be going back to try out one of the modern abstracts. In an interesting twist you pick your workshop based on the painting being taught that night.
Hours and venues change depending on the course see website. Cost: $65 (licensed venues $15 of which goes towards food), materials supplied. Website: www.cabernetandcanvas.com.au
Beans and Bunches
I was on a roll, next up flower arranging … really! Currently my apartment could be described a minimalist, another word for empty. I’ve often envied people who have a welcoming bowl of flowers on a table, so it was time. Owner Stacey runs small workshops for up to four people at the studio, or larger numbers at other venues. I decided on a posy knowing that the options of; centrepiece, terrarium, hanging garland, and floral crown were probably beyond me. The centrepiece and crown classes would be great though if you had a wedding coming up. Now if I could just find an 18th century gentleman to take me and my posy out.
Shop 3 Arcade, 189 William Street Northbridge. Cost: Evening workshops start at $65. Full day $200. Hours: Monday to Thursday 9am – 6pm. Friday 9am – 7pm. Saturday 10am – 5pm. Website: www.beansandbunches.com.au
Others on my list are:
Taste Budds Cooking Studio
Okay so maybe Cirque doesn’t want me but what about MasterChef? Taste Budds Cooking Studio is run by highly respected chef Sophie Budd, who’s spent the past 20 years training under Rick Stein, Jamie Oliver and was chef on board Roger Taylor’s (from Queen) sailing boat. They offer themed dinners, demonstrations and hands on classes run by a range of chefs, including ex-MasterChef contestant Amy Shields. The studio looks sensational, and is even used by other restaurants to test out new menus. I think I’ll check out the demonstrations first, especially the dinner and demonstration with Medium Rebecca Millman, which sounds intriguing, maybe I’ll find I’m a distant descendant of Marco Pierre White, though doubtful considering the state of my latest blancmange.
305 Lords Street Highgate. Cost: Varied e.g. Hands On $110 for 2.5 to 3 hours. Check website for prices of other events. Website: www.tastebudds.com.au
Perth Pottery and Sculpture Classes
In a precursor to Ghost coming to Perth I’ll be checking out the Perth Pottery and Sculpture classes starting in February. Run as small classes of around six people, it’s a unique system where you can make whatever you like, start, and stop whenever you want. They’re run by the highly successful and fascinating Graham Hay, whose work has featured in several magazines and at Sculpture by the Sea. The classes have run since 1998, plus he’s run over 200 workshops in 12 countries including places like Harvard University, so I’ll be in good hands, hopefully not Patrick Swayze type hands though as that’d be way too distracting.
Venues: Vary. Robertson Park Artists Studio 176 Fitzgerald Street Perth. Cost: Initial lesson and clay $132, then beginner and bulk discounts apply. Website: www.grahamhay.com.au
Creative Labs
Their mission is to reverse the fact that 20% of children learn an instrument and 70% of adults regret not doing so. That would be me then. So far they’ve taught over 32,000 lessons in guitar, piano, violin, vocals, drums you name it. I’m thinking guitar might be safer than drums in an apartment. The teachers are working musicians who have, or are currently, studying at WAAPA, how cool is that I could be taught by the next Hugh Jackman. The café looks good too, no wonder after making 9,352 cups of coffee. They’re undergoing some changes at the venue at the moment so stay tuned.
115 Newcastle Street Perth. Cost: One free trial. A range of packages e.g. Newcomers $80/month, 2 (30min) lessons per month. Website: www.creativelabs.com.au
Shoot Workshops
Tucked away in a cute cottage in Stirling Street is Perth’s first dedicated photographic teaching studio. They offer a huge range of courses from food, fashion, landscape, weddings, even astrophotography. The classes are small, around 10 people, and all the instructors are working professionals who’ve shot in some amazing places (check out their photos on the website). Students can progress from beginner courses up to advanced and an added bonus is you get discounted photographic accessories.
Shoot Workshops. 232 Stirling Street Perth. Costs: around $150 to $350. Day and weekend courses. Website: www.shootworkshops.com.au
Centre for Stories
Centre for Stories has just opened with the aim of collecting West Australian stories. Stories like how the Aberdeen Street area was once known as ‘the land of plenty’, because it offered up ‘sweet water’ and ‘plenty of mullet’. They hold events about Storey Writing, Story Telling, and Story Collecting with the aim of giving people of all backgrounds, the opportunity to share and preserve their stories. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on their website as more details emerge.
100 Aberdeen Street Northbridge. Cost $35 – $45 for 3 to 4 hours. Website: www.centreforstories.com
FTI (Film and Television Institute)
Finding FTI began like an Alice In Wonderland adventure. The institute, and its treasure trove of courses, is hidden behind a bookcase in the State Library. While I can’t see myself treading the thespian boards, hiding behind a microphone in a darkened room isn’t out of the question, so I opted for the Voice Over class. On the first day I was surprised to learn a range of life lessons including: a nifty ABC relaxation technique; better breathing strategies; how to improve my posture; how to feel comfortable in my own skin; to speak with passion and some bewildering tongue exercises that are best confined to your own bathroom. The Voice Over course isn’t just for people wanting to work in that field, it would also be great for anyone who has to give a presentation and people with English as their second language.
Film and Television Institute
State Library Perth, Level 2
Perth Cultural Centre
Prices vary with course
www.fti.asn.au
Citiplace
Proving that age is no barrier to keep learning, Citiplace has been running courses for people over 55 years of age, and anyone with a disability, for the past 26 years. In a unique concept that has garnered international attention, I was surprised to find a lively group of seniors swinging brittle hips in a belly dancing class. Surely they should be at home watching Dr Phil not tempting osteoporotic carnage. Nearby another group were hunched over in a computer lesson, expect an influx of cat videos any day now. In the packed dining hall a customer called Pete tinkled away on the piano. They also provide classes in yoga, quilting, scrabble and craft. Nice to know this is available for when the time comes.
Citiplace
Perth Train Station
Prices vary with courses
Opening hours 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday
Website City Place
So after a week of exploring courses in the Perth city area what can I report? Well I’m no longer bored, have a new painting on the wall, a herb garden on the balcony and know I can charm any gentleman caller with my hula hooping skills, I just hope he comes soon as my posy is starting to wilt. My suggestion would be to enrol in a circus courses, then reward yourself with the cooking class, after that I’m sure there’ll be a story or two that you could offer to the Centre for Stories in beautifully articulated tones. Have fun.
