art club for kids - do you think this is a good idea and how much would you pay if you did?

[jeangenie]

I am a qualified artist but work outside of that field 4 days a week. I have been thinking about reducing the hours I put into my (very noncreative) job and trying to build a bit more creative time into my week. I can't afford to totally give up my salary though so have been thinking about setting up some kind of afterschool art club for primary students in order to bridge the gap. It's something I'd love to do and I have just been approached by a mum at school who is very eager to get her daughter doing something like this one day after school and knew I had been thinking about it. I am tempted to try it out for a while between now and half term, maybe just with a my friends daughter and couple of other kids (if I can get them) to see how we go.

anyway,

1. is this something you/your kids would be interested in do you think?
2. how much would you think was reasonable to pay for a 1.5 to 2 hour session per week with all materials included?

I'd appreciate all inputs

thanks

great idea

there should be more of this type of thing

a soft play that's going to open near here soon will have a messy play room which I think is a fantastic idea

It is called Sticky Mitts (there was a website but it seems to be under reconstruction at the moment). It is run by 2 or 3 ladies as a business. They do 2 classes each weekday morning (18 months plus, and 6-18 months) in different locations in the North Herts area. They're all in church or village halls, I think.

It is very professionally organised, and they have overalls, bags to take away art work, etc all with their log on.

We go to the 18 months plus one, and there are usually 6 or so different things to make, with all the materials laid out on tables (mothers help the children), plus there is always a play doh table, a drawing table, and easels for painting and chalking. They have a different theme each week, such as monsters, farms, bonfire night, and the activities and story will all be based around that.

Forgot to say - probably about 15 children at each session. They are quite strict about the number of places available per term - don't know if that is something to do with regulations.

No idea how many at the 6-18 month ones.

We have an art and craft club at school. Its 3.75 for a hour, two adults run it for c20 children. You do need a highest staff to child ratio for crafty stuff with 5-7 age range. All materials supplied. DS (7) doesn't do it at the moment, but when he did it seemed to be quite a lot of kit stuff from Baker Ross, which were included in the price)
TBH I'd have preferred more art and creativity, rather than completing ready made things, but they all seem to enjoy it.

Jean,..if you can handle it you should think about arty parties as well.....

arty parties - what do I have to do there? I did a craft party for DD1 and 6 of her friends just before xmas and it was great fun. I did have a friend who stayed and helped...

I think some of the ones that are run as business franchises are done on that "prepared material and the child just completes it" basis (looking at the mucky pups website anyway) That may be where I would have a unique angle, being a qualified artist (not that qualifications mean much with art) means I am very interested in the creative side and have lots of experience with different materials so there would be a lot of explorative, creative stuff going on. Hmm, am really thinking about this very seriously now...

all and any further ideas/experiences very very much appreciated

(omigawd I might be able to cut back on my working hours in the so called "professional" job that bores me rigid!!!!)

lol We do parties too, where are you based?

Jg, yes we're fine, knitting socks at mo, so hook empty but, awaiting yarn to recreate something from lily chin's glorious book.
I think as you are going to be offering more than just a run of the mill class, it would be totally reasonable to charge rates that would reflect that.
I think £8-10 for the session sounds quite reasonable given that you are actually offering what sounds more like an educational art class as opposed to recreational. Would the school let you use their facilities, our local school is actually crying out for people to do things like this.

xtc - I am in SE London - where are you? I could be your apprentice for a while and see how it is done!

RH - didn't know you knat too...keep meaning to do a sock (well, two actually) Lily Chin ??? who she???
Glad you think the price might be ok, I don't think would be worth my while for much less...

Got id=I3TDTZMPUHCU9F&colid=3A3AUYPCPSDVSthis for xmas. It has a divine 'molly ringwald' dress in it.

this even

I think if the price drifts up to £8-£10 it suddenly starts to seem quite expensive, especially if people have more than one child - that's potentially £80 a month just for an after-school session for 2 kids. It is a dilemma, I realise, to make it worth your while.

I would pay more for a 'superior' session for older children than a more basic session for a pre-schooler.

our local museums do pre-school art sessions at £3.50 for an hour and a half including a story and some hands-on time with museum exhibits. They also do an older children's art club for £54 for 10 sessions (hour and a half each).

sorry should say £4.50 not £3.50

dd has been going to an art school every Saturday for about 4 years. It's great. Love it.

We pay, transferring monthly, (overseas so in euro) 6 Euro for 60 minutes every time she goes which I think is fair. If she doesn't go, we don't pay for that week. We pay 15 Euros every 3 months for material. So 24 Euros a month or if you count the 5 Euros for material, 29. I'm happy to pay that much.

I think you'd be put off with 25 children jeangenie ! 6 is so much more civilised.

I'm in Herts.

My dd sometimes goes to a craft club (she's 4 next week). I know the lady who runs it and she charges £3 for 30 mins- 4 or 5 different tables and juice/biscuits available too.
FWIW< part of the appeal of this class is that you don't have to pay in advance as i don't like to commit myself to something every week (sometimes I like to just veg at home with dd!). I appreciate that this is slightly different for pre schoolers though.

i know what you mean about not wanting to commit in advance - I was always excactly the same with the dds when they were smaller, but I think some of that was cos I had only one day off a week and really wanted to do different things
I think I'd need the comittment up front really - otherwise I could have weeks with only one or two kids, which would be fairly crap (and conversely weeks with too many kids!)
I checked with the school this morning but the lady who deals with all this stuff was out - she is due to get back to me tomorrow
have a couple of other ideas for possible venues, otherwise will start small in my back room (which I was already in the process of turning into studio/workroom anyway - I do a lot of crafts )
XTC - 25 does sound a lot - but if there were enough adults I think it could be great

We have no trouble with parent's paying for the term upfront. Also we have to know how many children we have to cater for.

The worst part I find is thinking what I can do with them, but once the idea is there it's fun but hard work. Have to motivate myself!

Really hope it goes well for you and is a success. Think the market is starting to boom for these sort of classes.

JG - not sure whether you have heard of / seen this one, in East Dulwich?

www.chaosartclub.co.uk/index2.htm

DS used to go, then stopped for a bit and couldn't get back in, as it's fairly massively oversubscribed. So if you do set up something for 3 yo's, I might sign him up, depending where you are!

heu legalalien - I'm in herne hill so not far from you at all - would be very interested in finding out what you liked/didn't like about the chaos ones and any tips you might have...

and of course would love to have your ds on board when I start

you can email me on overmilkwood at gmail dot com if you'd like to and maybe we could chat more

xtc - thanks for all your help and good wishes. I really think I would enjoy this, although I'm under no illusiions about how hard it would be. If you have the time,energy or inclination I'd love to hear from you off board, maybe we could share some thoughts and ideas...email address is above

I've emailed.

thanks - have emailed you back

Do you fancy moving up north, JG? I'd come then (can't convince DH to take the plunge and move down to the big smoke )
It's a fab idea. We have one in our local art gallery that I only just heard about and keep meaning to subscribe (but forgetting, because I am always on here and not in the real world)

yep- would love to move up north and hang out with you crafty lot, oh, and do some art classes too

It sounds brilliant. If you did it at your own DC's school it would be straightforward having a CRB check. I've had one done by my DC's school so I can help out.

The school wouldn't charge 'rent' and I reckon you could charge £4 tops.(at our school anyway).

Teaching staff ran an arts and crafts club after school last year and didn't charge anything, but as an artist I think parents would pay for you.