Art teaching as new career for a mature individual? what are your thoughts?

[Startingagainandagain]

I am in my early 50s, based in the SE and looking how I can retrain to do something different from my current marketing/comms job for a charity as I can't see myself do this until retirement.

I have a fine art degree, some experience of running art workshops for people with mental health issues and disabilities and professional experience of graphic design and web design. I have also run my own art practice for 15 years alongside my marketing/comms roles.

So one of the options I was looking at was whether I could do the art and design PGCE to have a formal qualification. My preference would be to teach adults rather than kids though.

Has anyone done this as a mature individual? I am looking as well if there is any financial support for people with disabilities (I have a long term health condition) to do that training.

Any other suggestions as to what else I could look at with my background in term of retraining or new career would be much appreciated.

You dont need a pgce to teach adults at college. Many of them run their own tutor courses. You need your degree if expecting to tutor at university and a tutor qualification in addition to an M.A. your degree is your formal qualification. Adult education is a great way to go and working as a technician is a great way to work along side teaching staff to look at the role and prep materials. I've thought of it myself but unfortunately my disability means I cannot stand all day. Art teaching is a very active role. It's busy and you have to viable to think on your feet and be helping students all day. It's not for the faint hearted or those in constant pain.