African Art & Design [sun,fun,creative]

Product Details

Work with gifted artists... Learn the techniques and heritage embedded in West African art... Inspire children to develop their own creative minds, abilities and self-esteem... and take home a handmade bongo!

What to expect

Work with gifted African artists to learn the unique techniques & heritage of West African art, and inspire African children to develop their own creative abilities and ambition. All this in one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, with the warm, safe and secure GAP SPORTS Community. Walk with elephants, laugh with the locals and watch the sun set over golden beaches.

NB: No formal artistic training is required, although an interest in art & craft is expected.

Art & Design in Ghana

Art has always been an important part of West African life, both as a decorative and a communicative medium. Although Ghana is blessed with a number of talented artists, artistic development is often restricted by a narrow school curriculum and limited resources. Therefore, art is only accessible through charitable after-school clubs and in Art Colleges. A GAP SPORTS Art Placement is an ideal opportunity for you to make art available to those young Ghanaians who would otherwise be excluded from developing their creative abilities. In addition, you will have the chance to work alongside some of Africa 's leading artists, sharing ideas and styles from the western and African traditions.

Your Placement (First Half)

In the afternoons, you will work with a charitable organisation to run after-school art classes within a number of local schools. The club extends right across the artistic spectrum, from painting to sculpture to photography, so you will be able to focus on one or many of a number of different areas.

Aside from learning artistic techniques and self-expression, the children you work with will greatly value the attention and help you offer, and life-long friendships are sure to be made.

Your Placement (Second Half)

In the mornings, your time will be spent working with a number of gifted Ghanaian artists, designers or photographers in a range of disciplines including painting, sculpture, carving, screen printing, jewellery design, batik and photography. Through your discussions and practical experimentation, you will learn a great deal about the imagery, history and style of African art, which has a unique character set apart from western heritage. At the same time, you may be able to offer advice on technique, and introduce new ideas and interpretations. (Please note that working with the local artists is subject to their availability and may incur an additional contribution for time and material)

Your Role

It is up to you to decide your level of involvement during your morning placement. However, there is a vast pool of artistic knowledge that you can take advantage of and so we invite you to delve as deeply as possible. There is no obligation to keep up with your associated artists, but we are sure that you will want to take full advantage of the artistic ideas they want to share.

In taking your afternoon role at the arts club, you will be able to create a programme with your class by developing a syllabus and setting achievement targets. This will, of course, demand more consistent commitment. The ultimate goal for students will be to display some of their work in a special exhibition, which the arts club will help you to organise. This will be crucial in the development of their self-confidence and in setting firm foundations for a possible professional career in art. Exhibitions will also be an opportunity to promote the work of the arts club which, as a charitable programme, is always striving for wider awareness and support.

University Electives and Dissertations

If you are an art and design, or another type of creative student, and able to use part of your studies to gain hands-on experience, GAP SPORTS can make an elective programme ideal for you. We have had a number of students working in Ghana towards their degree, either filling course electives or researching and working towards their dissertation. And if you are already qualified, it is a perfect opportunity to gain the sought-after experience all professional employers look for.

Optional Teaching

In addition to the art and design role, volunteers have the opportunity to teach classes within one of the sports academies or schools based in Accra. This will give you another great experience and allow you to make a difference through formal teaching. With a western education you will be able to contribute massively to the standard of tuition that the students receive. Subject areas include English (language and literature), maths, science, journalism, business, IT, RE and a whole variety of extra-curricular activities.

Accommodation

All volunteers will be provided with a comfortable place to stay. This will either be at a local sports academy, or a guesthouse nearby. The accommodation is situated in the capital, centrally located to all the placements and has a fun social atmosphere. Volunteers are able to spend time with each other, and with the young players who live at the academy. Close bonds are formed, be it through helping them with homework, eating meals together or losing at 'kick-up' competitions in the back yard! The GAP SPORTS cooking staff will also provide volunteers with three meals a day and with a choice of local Ghanaian and 'Western' options.

Support Team

GAP SPORTS has a support team who live in Ghana and are available 24 hours a day to respond to any queries that you may have. They have been based in Ghana for many years now and know both the needs of the community as well as the variety of opportunities that are on offer to you. They are very knowledgeable and will give you valuable advice, ranging from health advice to explaining how the local bus system works. Whatever it may be, there is always someone close-by to give you support and guidance and to make sure you are getting the most out of your experience overseas. They also arrange the GAP SPORTS social events which will make you a very close volunteer team and create some of your most memorable moments in Ghana.

Social Life

GAP SPORTS believe it is important to give volunteers the chance to unwind and have fun while they are away. The team therefore organises a variety of activities, bringing volunteers together to share their experiences and have a good time. Some of these activities include trips to Ghana 's best night spots, All-You-Can-Eat-and-Drink nights, 5-a-side football and volleyball matches.

Travel and Adventure

We will encourage you to explore Ghana either independently or in groups and you will have free time to travel the country, sample its breathtaking sites and meet some of Africa 's friendliest people. The capital, Accra , is full of great places to go and you will meet both locals and other travellers at a variety of bars and restaurants that provide authentic African live music and dancing. There are also a large number of western-style pubs and clubs, including an Irish Bar, an American Sports Bar and a series of dance-venues very close to where you are living. And if you fancy a football 'experience' to remember, then prepare yourself for watching Hearts of Oak at the National Stadium where the locals wave flags, blow horns and dance on the roofs of the terraces!

Beyond Accra, there are countless places to visit. You could take a Sunday pleasure cruise on Lake Volta (the biggest man-made lake in Africa) or you might want to visit the history-laden slave castles of Cape Coast and Elmina. You may want to take a walk on the wild side with the elephants at Mole National Park or spot tropical birds in the rainforest canopy at Kakum National Park.

Then there's the 60-metre-high Wli waterfalls, the Buabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (where monkeys are preserved as sacred creatures!) and the endless palm-tree beaches lining the Atlantic coastline! The captivating places, intriguing people and diverse landscapes will make Ghana one of the most enlightening experiences a traveller could wish for.

Our in-country team will help you build a travelling itinerary and give you plenty of advice on how to make your way through the country.

If you are interested in this project, fill in the enquiry form below...