A summaryJoin us at Chantry Library for a variety of FREE creative workshops this Summer holidays for 10-16 year olds! Workshops are 9:45am - 3:30pm and include a free lunch, drinks and snacks.
Free places are available for those eligible for benefit related free school meals. Unsure if you’re eligible? For guidance visit www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
For more information on each workshop and our amazing artists, please visit our website:
suffolkcommunitylibraries.co.uk/blank-page
If your booking is made within 72 hours of the workshop, we may not be able to accommodate specific dietary requirements. Please get in touch with the library location for the workshop to discuss options.
Workshop details:
Library: Chantry Library, Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich, IP2 0QY
28 July: Songwriting workshop
30 July: Special effects make-up workshop
4 August: Printmaking workshop
6 August: Collage & digital books workshop
11 August: Video game creation workshop
13 August: Upcycled collage workshop
20 August: Character creation workshop
27 August: Graphic t-shirt design workshop
Monday 28 July 2025 09:45- 15:30
Charlie's Community Song Factory with Charlie Law
Participants will write a song together in a group and record it in one day. The song will be professionally mixed and mastered and participants will receive an mp3 of the song. Charlie Law is a local singer-songwriter who has been featured on BBC Introducing and performed gigs with Ed Sheeran, Frank Turner and Turin Brakes.
Wednesday 30 July 2025 09:45- 15:30
SFX Make Up with Lorna-Jane Garside
Join arts practitioner Lorna-Jane Garside for this creative workshop for 10-16 year olds at your local library. Learn how to create your own cuts, bruises and gory special effects makeup looks! Participants will learn how to create the gory looks they've seen on stage and screen. You'll be making your own stage blood, creating latex prosthetics, and learning how to apply cuts and bruises. We'll build the weirdest and most creative story we can think of and design the special effects to go along with it!
Monday 4 August 2025 09:45- 15:30
Exploring Adinkra – A West African-Inspired Print & Illustration Journey with Lily Hammond
Join artist Lily from Uwu Studio for an experimental and joyful print and illustration workshop inspired by the powerful visual language of Adinkra symbols and her recent journey to Nigeria. This creative session celebrates the bold colours, rhythmic patterns, and meaningful symbols of West Africa through hands-on making and playful exploration.
What are Adinkra symbols?
Adinkra symbols originate from the Akan people of Ghana and represent ideas, values, and philosophical concepts. Traditionally used in textiles, ceramics, and architecture, these visual motifs express everything from wisdom and unity to courage and transformation.
In this workshop, we will delve into the beauty and meaning behind these symbols, using them as inspiration to design our own unique artworks. We’ll explore vibrant colour palettes, create our own block prints using foam and card, and experiment with wax-resist techniques—a traditional method still widely practised across Nigeria as well as illustrative techniques and experimentation.
You'll leave the session having learned new techniques and created a bold collection of African-inspired prints and illustrations to take home.
Wednesday 6 August 2025 09:45- 15:30
My Style - print, collage & digital folded books with Michelle Brace
Work with gel plate printing, collage, text, digital drawing and mixing to create a folded book in your own unique style!
You will start the day by creating your own series of printed texture papers for use in your colourful collage. Your collage will be photographed and added as a background for digital layering, mixing and drawing in Procreate on the iPad (supplied for use in the workshop). Your design will be printed out in colour on A3 paper and folded into a book. You will then be able to add a title and any finishing touches to your book using acrylic markers and cut up text.
Monday 11 August 2025 09:45-15:30
Level Up – Create Your Own Game World with Evie Capon
Gaming and storytelling workshop – A full day of imagination, sound design, voice work and visual storytelling as participants design and bring to life their own original video game concept.
This workshop will explore how to build a game world from scratch, including developing characters, designing quests, and recording sound effects and voiceovers for in-game action and cutscenes. Participants will learn how to plan their game’s narrative, storyboard key scenes, and will have the option to record their own trailer or “live playthrough” using voice acting, effects, and creative visuals.
Using iPads and accessible creative software, the group will be guided to build their own world. By the end of the workshop, participants will go home with a mini game concept, complete with characters, sound, and a short video or audio demo to share.
RISKS:
E-safety guidance with the use of iPads.
Please note: Content created may be shared online or with participants after the session. Consent will be requested where necessary.
Wednesday 13 August 2025 09:45-15:30
Upcycled Collage and Decoupage with Clare Sams
Join textiles artist Clare Sams for this creative workshop for 10-16 year olds at your local library. Learn how to make recycled art using magazines, comics and varnish. In this workshop you will learn how to customise objects with recycled comics and magazines to make fun and personalised creations. Decoupage is a traditional craft, used to upcycle objects for the home with colours, pictures, and patterns by using scrap paper and varnish. In the session you can try out the art of collage using paper glue, magazines, and card to get familiar with the techniques. Next you will make a customised keychain charm using decoupage glue and lettering. Moving onto a larger project after lunch, you can use your new decoupage skills to customise your own project, including wooden boxes, coasters, and canvases. What will you create?
Wednesday 20 August 2025 09:45- 15:30
Who am I? Make a Character with a Difference with Sian Burford-Thomas
Jump into action this Summer and create a character with a difference! Our blank canvas character’s identity will be revealed only by you… Join us to bring them to life through designing their look, who they are on the inside…and figure out just how they will make a difference to the world around us.
We’ll be working together to create our brand new character, using a blank mannequin and YOUR ideas. We’ll be looking at visual elements such as clothing, creating performance to bring their traits and passions to life, as well as recorded voice work to capture their character for all to hear. Accessible and fun theatrical exercises and techniques will help participants to develop their ideas. Our finished character will remain on display at the library for all to see at the end of the day.
Wednesday 27 August 2025 09:45- 15:30
Graphic T-shirts with Sarah Nkugwa
Join printmaker and graphic designer Sarah Nkugwa for this free creative workshop for 10-16 year olds at Gainsborough Library, as part of The Blank Page Project! Learn how to use typography to create exciting graphic t-shirts to support big change in the world.
We will be exploring different ways of using Typography to design on trend graphic messages to be worn on a t-shirt. Participants will make their way through a series of experimental design ideas and learn how to use vinyl and the heat press safely to make one-of-a-kind t-shirts to take home.
