Details

Program Cost: $1450 includes all instruction, art supplies, handouts, articles, shared room, and meals.

Minimum 10 / Maximum 12 participants. 

Learning Objectives:

During this workshop students will
• participate in several different experiential expressive arts experiences including poetry, visual art, movement, storytelling, music, and song
• develop comfort with use of the arts and identify their growing edges
• reflect on these experiences in the context of spiritual direction and retreat work
• identify a variety of applications for the arts to spiritual direction and other formation settings and develop tools and practical skills in using the expressive arts as forms of prayer and entries into sacred encounters for work in retreat and spiritual direction settings
• tend to the creative process itself and reflect on what it has to reveal about the spiritual journey
• deepen their own experience of the arts and spirituality and be able to articulate some of these connections between creativity and formation work, both for themselves and for the persons with whom they work
• develop foundations and language for bridging the expressive arts and spirituality.

Sessions Overview:

Each day we will explore a particular expressive arts modality in greater depth, providing foundations for the work, expressive arts theories, practical applications, handouts, and experiential exercises. We will also move from the focus modality of the day into other art-forms as a way of exploring the expressive arts connection — as we move from one art to another, our insights about ourselves and the sacred deepen. We also move from more structured experiences to experiences with more freedom to cultivate comfort in the participants with each art-form.

Each day will also include ritual, prayer, sharing with partners, and large group discussions to help process the experience and learn from each other as well as gain input from facilitators. During this weeklong intensive, there will be a minimum of 40 hours of instruction and hands-on exercises.

General Overview:

Sunday: Overview of program and introductions

Monday: Visual Arts

Tuesday: Storytelling

Wednesday: Poetry and Imagination

Thursday: Movement and Dance

Friday: Music and Song + Mask-Making (preparation for closing)

Saturday: Closing Ritual

Please feel free to contact Christine at Christine AT AbbeyoftheArts DOT com or (206) 329-3110 with any questions you may have.