Recreational art classes and upcoming art camp in Seychelles |20 July 2020
Ms Johnston, pictured above, says that her motto is a quote by Pablo Picasso: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up”
During the month of July, a number of recreational drawing and painting classes are being made available to children, teenagers and adults by Julie Johnston, owner and founder of ‘ZuriSeychelles’. An Art Camp is also being organised for children and teenagers and this will take place every day from August 3-7, 2020.
The aim of ZuriSeychelles is to make art available to adults and children as a recreational activity in the afternoons, at the weekends and also in the evenings for adults.
The Art Camp scheduled to take place in August is themed ‘Imagination! It’s going to be fantasy full’ and this will take place at the Montessori Children's House, Bel Air. This will be open to children aged 7 and over, as well as teenagers. The activities will run from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
Aside from these activities, every Thursday, Ms Johnston also teaches at ‘Miss Janice After School’, Espace Building; on Fridays she teaches at Montessori Children's House, Bel Air; on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, she teaches teens and adults at The Station, Sans Soucis; and more recently she offers drawing lessons at Eden Art Space, Eden Plaza. Lessons and prices vary depending on the lesson programme and where she teaches.
Ms Johnston is a returning resident to Seychelles and has been an art teacher for nearly 22 years, mostly teaching children and teenagers.
She studied art and design in England where she majored in printmaking, a form of art which she reveals is her favourite. In 1997, she moved to Frankfurt, Germany.
She first trained as a Montessori Kindergarten teacher and then worked for an international school in Frankfurt, Germany. It was at the international school that she started teaching art and building art frameworks to primary school children. Later, Ms Johnston started her own company teaching art to all ages.
“I believe mostly that it’s essential for all ages to find a creative outlet,” she says. “It helps with problem solving, building of self-confidence and self-expression, and I believe it to be an essential part of learning and development. Einstein once said that creativity was intelligence having fun. I believe, as an artist, that this is exactly what our intelligence is doing – having fun.”
“Although I am an artist, I have to say that I prefer teaching and combining art with teaching. The opportunity to work with children has been an incredible blessing. It brings me a lot of joy bringing out creative processes in children and adults.”
For the future, Ms Johnston says that she plans to set up an art centre where her services can be made ready available to both adults and children.
She takes the opportunity to express her appreciation for support and cooperation to Arterial Seychelles, Jenny at The Station, Janice at Miss Janice After School, Lucy at The Children’s House and all the parents for supporting her programs.
For more information, follow Facebook page: zuriseychelles or Instagram account: zuriseychelles; contact Ms. Johnston:
- Telephone: 2 514 383
- Email: julesartie.jj@gmail.com
F. P.
