There's so many textile and embroidery workshops out there to choose from it can be hard to know which one(s) to book spaces for. Whilst I'm talking from an embroidery point of view for this post, it can also be applied to other art forms too - there's lots of those workshops to choose from as well!
Practicalities
The first thing to look at is the practicalities of workshops; this isn't the most interesting but it's important.
The location - where is the workshop located and how will you get there? Is there public transport nearby or will you need to drive? Most tutors will know the answer to this so ask if it isn't clear. Is the location of the workshop just too far making the day longer than you're comfortable with.
Cost - is the workshop in your budget? Will you need to provide lots of materials and equipment yourself or is it included? What about refreshments and lunch. Some people prefer to take one very expensive workshop that possibly lasts a few days per year while others like to take several shorter and therefore less costly workshops per year. Some workshops have a funding subsidy from grants so they are free or at a lower cost.
Times/Dates - do the times and dates of the workshop work for you? Do you need to take annual leave or put plans in place for caring responsibilities? Consider the travel you will need to do to get home again, does this make it too long a day?
What do you want to learn?
Once the practicalities are out of the way, take some time to really consider what you would like to learn. What are you curious about? If you are curious about heritage embroidery then it's not a good idea to book on to a workshop that teaches embroidery on to metal or wood. If you enjoy learning about new materials then this is an excellent workshop for you!
Perhaps you would like to try something you've never done before or would you like to develop the skills you already have.
What level are you at?
This is a question that needs to be answered honestly. If you underestimate your skills then you may find the workshop boring and unstimulating. If you over estimate your skills then it will be hard to keep up and the workshop will be frustrating.
If you're unsure, then contact the tutor they'll be happy to help you decide.
How do you learn best?
Do you like bigger groups and to meet new people or do you prefer smaller and more intimate workshops?
Do you like to be told exactly what to do when and where or prefer something where you create your own embroidery?
There are many different types of workshops from groups, to private, to funded workshops. I wrote a blog post about these here.
If it's unclear in the workshop information ask the tutor before booking. My workshops are all designed to help people to create their own unique work with lots of support along the way.
Tutor's work
Lastly do you like the work created by the tutor? Does it inspire you?
This is important as most tutors share the skills that they are proficient in - the ones that they use to create their own artwork.
I hope that this has provided some help and guidance for you - if you have any tips of your own pop them in the comments below. It's always lovely to read them.
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