'Confidence through creativity' was the philosophy behind the Arts for All workshops held at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art from March 25 to 28 and April 7 to 11.

Leading the workshops are Caroline Barlow and Richard Tait, who run a similar Arts for All programme at a community creative centre in London. This was the fourth time in four years the pair have offered workshops courtesy of Masterworks.

Two two-hour workshops were held daily and had been designed to encourage young people to explore their creative side through a variety of media and activities, building their confidence through art, not just in art.

Drawing trees in the Botanical Gardens and card and clock making were some of the activities on offer. The free workshops, sponsored by the ACE Foundation and Montpelier Re Foundation, were organised to allow as many children as possible to experience the creative activities in their spring break, and the participants ranged in age from toddlers to adults.

The day that The Royal Gazette visited, the children were transcribing one of the pieces of the Masterworks Collection, interpreting their favourite painting or photograph on display in the main gallery.

It was the first time the originals in the collection were used as a teaching tool in Bermuda and education co-ordinator Carrie Zenti noted: "It's exciting to see the kids' reaction to the artwork, recognising the locations and identifying with the past through the visual arts."

In addition to exploring their own creativity, the children are learning respect for the paintings and the etiquette of being in a gallery to ensure the Collection is around for generations to enjoy.

"They seem really proud to know that their country is represented in the art on the walls," Ms Zenti stated.

Some of the students interviewed were enrolled in the class by a parent. For Dellwood Middle School student Imani Wilson, who was working on her interpretation of Clark Voorhees' 'Noonday Sun', the class came as "a surprise" and she was initially reluctant to attend. However, an hour into the session, she was ready to admit she was very glad she had come.

For Francis Mussenden, it was an entirely different matter. He saw an ad for the workshops in The Royal Gazette and asked his mother to enrol him. "I like to draw," he declared by way of explanation, and added: "Art is a habitat."

The Gilbert Institute student, who, according to his mother, is aiming to be an architect, was attracted to the linear elements of 'Bermuda Triangle' by John Pfahl because "it is unusual".

In fact, the majority of the young people were working on landscapes.

Arriek Douglas felt Frederic James' 'Front Street, Hamilton' was the best one. "It's got the dock, houses and boat," he said. "And I'm a really busy person."

Sisters K'Shaela and Sekauri Burch-Waldon were both working on Charles Demuth's 'Architecture — Red House' and said they were attracted by the "colours and the straight lines". Together with her two sisters, K'Shaela was enrolled in the class by her father, and was enjoying herself. "I like art," she said. "It gives me good imaginations when I go to sleep."

This is the fourth year in a row the Arts for All workshops have been offered by the Masterworks Foundation and this year's series was oversubscribed. There are other programmes available, however, including the eight-week after school programme "Museum Detectives" which begins April 15, and the Saturday morning Junior Arts Club.

Though membership is not a requirement for workshop registration, family membership offers parents prior knowledge of and early registration for workshop opportunities and regular updates via email. For more information about student art classes contact Carrie Zenti by phone 236-2950 or email edumworks@logic.bm.