GARGOYLE making and oil painting are just two of the alternative workshops on offer from Worcester Arts Workshop over the summer holidays.

The workshops aim to give people of all ages and abilities something new or something to help them improve their existing skills at the same time as having fun.

The Arts Workshop in Sansome Street, Worcester, is joining forces with Dancefest, in Angel Place, Worcester, to offer three days packed with creative activities for children and young people.

The theme of the workshops on Monday August 22, Tuesday August 23 and Wednesday August 24 is Wonders of the Ocean.

Resident Worcester Arts Workshop tutor Kay Mullet will be running visual arts workshops enabling those involved to use their creative eye and imagination to create art using different elements of the theme.

She will be using media such as drawing, painting and ceramics. Her sessions run from 11.15am to 12.30pm for children aged five to 12 and from 1pm to 2.30pm for over 12s.

Dancefest will be running interactive and fun dance classes for a variety of age groups encouraging them to explore movement sequences and develop their own dances by focusing on a different idea each day.

The sessions run from 10am to 11am for five to seven-year-olds; 11.15am to 12.30pm for over 12s and 1.30pm to 2.13pm for eight to 11-year-olds.

Resident Arts Workshop tutor Andrew Clacher will be staging a one-off oil painting workshop to share his knowledge and expertise with you people aged 11 to 16 on Thursday August 24 from 2.10am to 3pm.

Participants can learn how to paint a portrait using oil paints, prepare a stretched canvas and have fun painting a full head and shoulders self-portrait in oils. The price of the workshop includes materials.

For those with a fascination for the odd and ugly, there will be Gargoyle and Grotesques workshops on Friday August 19 and 26 where people can make their own ceramic grotesque.

The one-day practical workshop running from 10am to 4pm will be led by artist Chris Russell who will introduce techniques to create a gargoyle inspired by medieval carvings – including some from Worcester Cathedral.

The event is suitable for beginners and those with some knowledge of ceramics. Participants are asked to meet at the main entrance of the cathedral. All materials, the firing and lunch at Café Bliss are included.

For more information about the workshops visit http://www.worcesterartsworkshop.org.uk/courses-workshops/holiday-activities/

Worcester Arts Workshop is also holding an open day on Saturday August 27 between 10am and 4pm when members of the public can go in free and have a look around to find out what goes on there.

There will be youth workshops form Vamos Theatre and CAGED Arts as well as a chance to try out some of the new and exciting courses starting in the autumn term such as Signing for Health and The Rhythms of Life.

People can sign up for the new term of courses from salsa dancing to watercolour painting. To get more information ring 01905 25053, email info@worcesterartsworkshop.org.uk or visit www.worcesterartsworkshop.org.uk