Creative Facilitation For Our Time
A 5-day residential course to develop skills for our complex and unpredictable times BOOK NOWWHEN:
Monday 25 – Friday 29 November 2024
TUTORS:
Jenny Mackewn, Steve Chapman and guest contributors
VENUE:
Dartington Trust, South Devon
AGE SUITABILITY:
PRICING (Bursaries are available):
COURSE FEE
£620
(Or secure your place with a £150 deposit)
COURSE FEE PLUS ACCOMMODATION
£830
(Or secure your place with a £150 deposit)
About this course
In this time of climate, ecological and economic crisis, we urgently need to develop our wild creative facilitation skills so we can work effectively to meet the challenge of complex, often volatile issues.
This course vividly explains the predicament that we and the earth are in and offers practical means to address it, whether as individuals, groups, communities, organisations or governments. It encourages us to explore and practice a wide range of catalyst and facilitation skills and provides an opportunity to put them into practice in tailored scenarios. Sessions are based on active, experiential, participative techniques, tutor-led input, small group explorations and case clinics for individual attention to our particular dilemmas and utilise techniques including improv, nature-connection and bio-mimicry.
The course is designed so that the time spent together is deep yet joyful, practical yet spiritual, and offers a chance to build friendships that often lead to collaborations. The tutors have a wealth of experience across the private, public, voluntary and environmental sectors and are skilled at helping people to adapt and integrate creative ways of working. By the end of the course, you will have begun to explore and practice applying these methodologies so as to foster participation, action and resilience in your personal and professional life.
on this course you will
- Build a welcoming and creative community in which you feel safe and encouraged to stretch yourself.
- Be introduced to the four primary ways of knowing and the correlation with our head, hands and heart.
- Explore systemic methods that emphasise the interconnectedness of all things – for example, Theory U and resilience.
- Consider how to respond to those who pose questions.
- Practice methods of nature-connected facilitation, including earth wisdom teachings of Joanna Macey’s ‘Work that Reconnects’
- Find ways to integrate the power of story, ceremony, rhythm and ritual.
- Discover your capacity to co-create interactive dynamic presentations and use Open Space/World Cafe techniques.
- Explore facilitation as a form of action inquiry in the moment with the groups, teams or communities you already know, as well as those who will need your support in the future.
- Build and develop your toolbox of creative facilitation techniques.
typical schedule for short courses
- Check-in to the room is between 3-3.45pm on the day of arrival. Check-out is 11am on the day of departure, although if travelling by public transport, luggage can be left at the Welcome Centre until the course has completed.
- Teaching generally begins at 4pm on the first day and ends at 2pm Fridays or 4pm Sunday (whichever is the last day of the course).
- The daily timetable can start at 9.30am and end around 9.15pm, with free time available at set times throughout the day.
- For residential participants breakfast is included, followed by a morning gathering and community work groups on weekdays, which are open to all participants and the college community. Non-residential participants can pay extra if they wish to have breakfast on one or more of the days.
- Lunch for all participants is between 1-2pm and supper is 6.30-7.30pm (both meals are included in the residential and non-residential course fee).
If you have any questions about your course schedule please contact shortcourses@dartington.org
TUTORS
Jenny Mackewn
Jenny Mackewn is a Creative Catalyst who designs and leads innovative learning programmes and co-creative events. She has recently initiated a Masters programme in Transformative Organisational Development (for Middlesex University): A leadership programme in Co-creating the Future (at Schumacher College) and a Focused Training in Constellations and Systemic Embodied Coaching (with ICF Accreditation). She is developing a set of programmes in Holistic Business Development and Leadership for the Earth for Schumacher College and the Dartington Estate.
Steve Chapman
Steve Chapman, is an artist, writer and speaker interested in creativity and the human condition. He has worked with over 80 organisations in many sectors, helping them to liberate the creative spirit of the human beings within them. He has held roles as visiting faculty on a number of MSc programmes at Ashridge Business School, the Metanoia Institute and Roffey Park where he has taught spontaneity, working with uncertainty, facilitation and creative activism both in organisations and society in general. Read More
OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY
Our courses are part of the wider Learning programme at Dartington, and you will join a community of students on site studying at Schumacher College and Dartington Arts School as well as other short course participants, volunteers and visitors.
While you are here we invite you to take part in our learning community life by attending morning meetings, taking part in activities such as meal preparation and clearing, and evening social events. This is entirely voluntary, but participants tell us that taking part adds to their experience at Dartington.
accommodation
We recommend that if possible, you stay on-site during your course. All our courses are best experienced holistically: through studying, relaxing, eating and staying with other course participants, volunteers, staff and tutors.
When you book your course with accommodation this includes one of our hostel-style single rooms with shared facilities and easy access to your main learning space. They are the perfect base to rest your head, relax and recharge. You can find out more about the rooms here.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included throughout the duration of the course, each made with fresh, locally-sourced produce by our award-winning team.
Accommodation is available at a discounted rate for course attendees, and on a first come, first served basis only. Choose this option by selecting ‘Course Fee Plus Accommodation’ at checkout.
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optional: upgrade to a courtyard room
It is also possible, subject to availability, to upgrade your accommodation to a single or double en-suite bedroom in our beautiful and historic courtyard. Upgrade pricing is as follows:
For courses starting before 1/9/2023
- Single room with en-suite bathroom: additional £27.25 per night
- Double room with en-suite bathroom is an additional £43.60 per night
For courses starting on or after 1/9/2023
- Single room with en-suite bathroom: additional £31.07 per night
- Double room with en-suite bathroom is an additional £49.70 per night
If you would like to upgrade, please first book with residential option included, and then contact our Guest Services team on 01803 847150 or email guestservices@dartingtonhall.com to check availability. Our Guest Services department is open daily, 8am–8pm.
Should you decide to upgrade to our en-suite accommodation, please be aware that this is 20 min walk, or 3 min drive, to the Old Postern site, where some of our courses are held. There is car parking available near to all venues on the estate.
OPTIONAL: STAY ON OUR CAMPSITE
You may like to stay on our beautiful and relaxing campsite, amidst the stunning rolling hills and ancient woodlands of Dartington. Find out more about the campsite here.
Should you decide to stay on the campsite, please be aware that this is 10 min walk, to either Schumacher College or Dartington Hall, where our courses are held. There is car parking available near to all venues on the estate.
Book now
Begin your online booking below. You will receive an e-ticket for this event. You are welcome to email us at shortcourses@dartington.org or call us at 01803 847008 with any queries you have. Full Short Course T&Cs can be found here >
If you place a deposit, you will be contacted by us four weeks before the course start date to pay the outstanding balance. You will also be contacted with full details about the course before you arrive.
Please note that in most cases bookings for all our Short Courses close at midday on the Thursday before the course begins. This enables us to give you the best possible course experience and ensures all bookers receive the relevant course materials before they arrive.
