Kids love getting messy and here is a place where they are enabled to express themselves. There is a certain freedom that they won't be able to find elsewhere. We caught up with Giorgina Brown, coordinator for the L’Atelier d’Aventures Créatives (LAAC).
What has been the inspiration for the LAAC?
Creative expression and imaginative play can serve as powerful tools for personal growth, helping children gain autonomy and self-confidence. L’Atelier d’Aventures Créatives (LAAC) aims to provide a space for children to explore, create, as connect with their peers, fostering creativity and social bonds in an informal and nurturing environment.
Have you been working on this idea forever?
The LAAC has been offering creative expression workshops for 20 years, welcoming children aged 4 to 12 during school holidays. It is a project of the Association pour l’Atelier, a non-profit organization that supports artistic initiatives to promote personal development and social connections.
Since 2023, we have also been offering creative workshops for teenagers aged 13 to 16. I have been involved in the project since 2022. After studying philosophy, working as a social researcher, teaching, and being a mum, I realized that “creative living is always more important for the individual than doing well”, as Donald Winnicott so nicely put it. This led me to study Expressive Arts Therapy at L’Atelier in Geneva.
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?
Since COVID, it has been more challenging to reach full enrolment for our creative weeks. Children who attend often return, which is a positive sign. For example, three out of four children enrolled in this month’s holiday week have participated in several of our previous sessions. However, we still need to reach more parents who may be interested. Thank you, Lisa, for giving me the opportunity to connect with your readers!
While there are many camps and holiday programs available, I believe our creative weeks are truly unique because all our facilitators are art-therapists. They believe in every child’s potential to thrive creatively and are motivated to apply their training to develop creativity and self-confidence.
Children are encouraged to create freely, without judgment on the results. The focus is on the creative process, the joy of exploration, and the resources mobilized to playfully create, both individually and in groups. (I wish I had known about these workshops when my daughter was young. She often came home with pretty paintings from her classes, but without confidence in her creative abilities!)
What are your plans for the future?
In the future, we plan to offer workshops for different age groups on Wednesday afternoons throughout the school year, as well as intergenerational sessions in collaboration with retirement homes.
Here is the translation of a recent email Giorgina received:
“I know the workshop isn't over yet (one day to go), but I wanted to let you know how much my two children have enjoyed their time with you both. Every morning, they are so excited to come to LAAC and the “Imaginary journey to a secret land”. They speak very highly of you, and as a parent, I feel that they are truly being cared for. The small group size and personal attention are wonderful. I would highly recommend LAAC to my colleagues and friends, and I plan to enrol them in future courses with you. Thank you so much for taking such good care of my two children!”
Anything else you think our readers would like to know.
The creative activities at the LAAC vary throughout the week, allowing children to explore a range of artistic media, including drawing, painting, collage, clay, percussion, sound exploration, mouvement, dance, drama, puppets, masks, storytelling, creative writing, and assembling recycled materials (with also digital media for teenage groups).
Each week has a specific theme (for example, “The rainbow of emotions” during the October holidays), but the programme remains flexible to respond to children’s interests and the group’s unique dynamics.
There is at least one facilitator for every four children, with a maximum of 12 children in total. And we also go out to a park every day!
Upcoming holiday camps (flyer above)
Through art, movement, music, and stories, children age 4-12 can enjoy artistic and playful activities. Click here for more information.
- 21-25 October 2024
- 24-28 February 2025
L’Atelier d’Aventures Créatives (LAAC)
https://laac.l-association.ch/nos-activites
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
078 214 88 55
Rue des Savoises 7-9
1205 Genève
