Team Building Days
Ideal for businesses and teams – our artist-led days will leave a lasting impression.
What we offer
Unleash your creativity! Learn artistic techniques from a professional artist, whilst getting to know your colleagues better. No previous artistic experience is needed.
Art Academy London Team Building days are ideal for introducing staff to new skills, helping to improve staff wellbeing, building relationships between team members, and inspiring creativity. Here at Art Academy, we also offer these experiences as Corporate Events that get your conference or networking event off to a fun, relaxed start, or to give your guests a break-out activity away from the main event.
These activities are great for birthday celebrations or parties too! We could host your office Christmas party for you. (Lunch options available).
Our popular team-building exercises are fantastic for developing or reinforcing team cohesion.
- Get to know one another better
- Have fun and get creative together as a team
- Learn to work more cohesively and improve communication
- Learn to problem solve as a team
You’ll also have fun and learn some new creative skills!
Our team members are talented, practising, professional artists. They are also trained to:
- Teach artistic skills to people with varying abilities or no previous experience;
- Work with a group to create a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, where all participants feel involved and valued;
- Set clear objectives so that everyone understands the aims and structure of the day;
- Run feedback sessions highlighting issues raised in the course of the activities, promoting constructive discussion, and looking at ways for the team to apply their learning in the workplace.
Get in touch with us at [email protected]
Our Mission
With over a decade of experience of running Team Building Events for a wide range of clients (from blue-chip companies and major charities, to government departments and universities) in addition to a long history of teaching art to thousands of students, Art Academy London’s mission is to make art accessible to everyone.
We believe making art can be transformative. Our artistic Team Building days can improve individual well-being and help with personal development, as well as encouraging teamwork, improving creative thinking and helping with problem-solving skills at work. Our Corporate events use creative activities to help your guests relax and build connections.
Our happy clients include:
Team Building – Abstract Painting
Session Duration 3 hours
In our Abstract Painting session, the tutor will introduce to the fundamentals of this expressive and experimental medium, guiding you through a variety of techniques that will inspire your creativity and encourage painting with freedom!
You will begin by taking part in fun and engaging warm-up exercises that will teach you basic painting techniques and begin to improve your confidence in painting with abstraction. These activities serve as ice breakers that will get you and your team’s creative juices flowing. After completing some warm-up exercises, your tutor will encourage your group to present their works to each other and discuss elements and influences of their creativity with each other.
Now that your team has a better understanding of Abstract Painting, your tutor will implement 3 exercises:
Reduction: Painting something you can see in a series of shapes
Colour and Form: Using colour and shape to create mood
Abstract Expressionism: Free form creativity, seeing where the paint takes you!
At this point, your team will have a 15 minute break in order to get something to eat and drink while the tutor resets the room.
Now you and your team have a solid understanding of Abstract Painting, you’re ready for the final project of your session. Surrounded by a wall of influential images, your tutor will assist your team in creating their own abstract painting built upon, and inspired by the works they created earlier. These individual paintings will all match up – either to create one large artwork, to which everyone has contributed, or to create large-ish works in smaller groups. The final work(s) will be wonderful symbols of teamwork. You might even want to hang them in the office!
The session will finish with a moment of reflection to admire all you and your team have achieved and to take photos of your incredible work!
Painting (Half-Day) from £975
Available as a 2 hour, Half-Day or Full-Day session. Drink & Paint optional!
Our Team Building Painting sessions explore a range of different themes and techniques.
These include:
- Abstract Painting
- Still Life
- Life Model
Each Painting session begins with a fun and engaging warm up, followed by a creative painting exercise that will result in either small individual painting, or large group artworks which will be available to collect from the Academy.
The warm-up exercises serve as icebreakers that bring the team together by encouraging them to be creative in pairs and groups without worrying about achieving ‘perfect’ results.
During your main activity, you will learn about your requested technique and begin with some simple exercises to familiarise yourself with this method. You will then be guided through the creation of your own painting, or joint artwork, based on your desired theme. The results are always amazingly creative and can be exhibited in the office or at home with great pride!
Our staff members are more than happy to help you create a unique or bespoke Team Building session based on a specific theme you would like to explore, ensuring that you and your team get the most out of your Team Building Day.
This exercise is perfect for team bonding and for developing a growing understanding and appreciation of each other. The exercise also works very well in exploring the underlying qualities of the team, core values, a strategy or whichever subject is chosen as the general theme.
Sculpture (Half-Day) from £1,000
Available as a Half-Day and Full-Day session. Extra costs for hollowing & firing clay from £30 per piece.
Our Sculpture sessions allow you to get creative with clay and explore your desired theme through this fun and expressive medium! Dependent on the length of your session, we offer two different techniques for you and your team to explore:
Abstract Sculpture (Half-Day & Full-Day)
- During your Abstract Sculpture session, you will start by learning about creative sculpture, before trying some simple exercises using clay, wire and coloured paper. As a group, you’ll then create your own abstract sculpture based on a theme – it can be work-related or you can draw inspiration from music, poetry or literature. This exercise encourages everyone to communicate and work together to make the final piece
Life Sculpture (Full-Day)
- During your Life Sculpture session, you will start by learning about life sculpture and be taught some essential exercises that will assist you in your main activity. You will then be introduced to the life model and learn how to measure and and proportion your work before beginning your own small sculpture. This activity provides a relaxing yet engaging environment for your team where the disciplines of focus and creative expression are channeled into your work.
Each Sculpture session begins with warm-up exercises that serve as icebreakers, bringing the team together by encouraging them to be creative in pairs and groups without worrying about achieving ‘perfect’ results. This is a great way to help individuals get to know each other better for improved team bonding.
Our staff members are more than happy to help you create a unique or bespoke Team Building session based on a specific theme you would like to explore, ensuring that you and your team get the most out of your Team Building Day.
This exercise is perfect for team bonding and for developing a growing understanding and appreciation of each other. The exercise also works very well in exploring the underlying qualities of the team, core values, a strategy or whichever subject is chosen as the general theme.
Drawing from £950
Available as a 2 hour or Half-Day session. Drink & Draw optional!
Our Team Building Drawing sessions are designed to be fun, informative, social and engaging in a relaxed and inspiring environment! At Art Academy London we give you the opportunity to explore two different drawing practices:
Still Life Drawing
- You will be introduced to the techniques of line, tone and measurement using pencil and charcoal. Using still life objects, you will practice what you have learned through a series of drawing exercises. You will then draw a portrait blindfolded, relying on a partner to instruct you! You can choose to extend this session to follow on with a self-portrait drawing.
Life Drawing
- You will be introduced to the techniques of line, tone and measurement using pencil and charcoal. You will then complete a series of life drawings from a model in shorter and longer poses.
Each Drawing session begins with warm-up exercises that serve as icebreakers, bringing the team together by encouraging them to be creative in pairs and groups without worrying about achieving ‘perfect’ results. This is a great way to help individuals get to know each other better for improved team bonding.
Our staff members are more than happy to help you create a unique or bespoke Team Building session based on a specific theme you would like to explore, ensuring that you and your team get the most out of your Team Building Day.
This exercise is perfect for team bonding and for developing a growing understanding and appreciation of each other. The exercise also works very well in exploring the underlying qualities of the team, core values, a strategy or whichever subject is chosen as the general theme.
What people say about our Team Building Days
“Thank you so much for today. The team were really impressed and we had an amazing time – they couldn’t thank the facilitators enough. The sessions were excellent, the standard and quality of presentations, delivery, content and design of everything was extremely high. It was fun, educational, we learnt loads of tips and new skills and produced amazing pieces. The team building exercises were brilliant and we got to learn more about each other. Loved the positivity, energy and enthusiasm of the facilitators. Outstanding on all levels. Thank you!” Colliers International
“Many of the team have commented how it was the best team event they’ve participated in and I fully share that view. Both facilitators were superb…The event was highly successful in that it brought together disparate teams to work towards common goals, and the evidence of strong team working that took place and the success it delivered was motivating for all of us. A truly original way to encourage teamwork and creativity, the event delivered far more than our original objectives stated.”
Department of Trade and Industry
“The feedback I have received from my team has been amazing. On the walk back, the energy was very high and there was not one person who did not enjoy the morning (even the people not from a design background). I also got feedback that the barriers/divide that we normally have with our teams was not noticeable for the first time in our away-day history…It was the perfect medicine for us to remind us why we chose design as a career, as it’s easy to forget with all the technology/computers we are working with.” BBC
“We have definitely instilled the learning that came out in the workshop into the workplace. We are proud of what we created together and feel closer as a team because of the day we spent together. We definitely seek other’s opinions more (this was one of the things that came out of doing the frieze (exercise) – getting other people’s opinions in the team). We now have put weekly team meetings in place and are doing more social events outside of work together.” AOL
“Most felt that the event met and exceeded our objectives and that the second part – creating the frieze – worked best. I have asked around as to whether anything should have been done differently and the majority felt that the format used was ideal.” Anthos
“Most of the division were apprehensive about the idea of using a creative approach but the morning’s activities really helped us to relax and start to think in different ways. It was particularly positive that individuals from different teams were able to use the opportunity to collaborate and, ultimately, produce something together…All those who made it on the day felt that we had made some real progress in working together and had a lot of fun in doing so.” Department of Work and Pensions
“It was great for us to get out of the office and work together as a team it was very clear that everyone enjoyed the collaborative process so we will try to find more ways of doing that going forward. We really enjoyed the way that the session was structured starting with warm up games that everyone a chance to relax and the way that the activities built up culminating in our final creative piece. Your patient manner and encouragement made us all feel very comfortable. It was all over to soon!” SWD
“I wanted to say a huge thank you for the brilliant creative session last Monday at Lane End! It was really well organised and presented and was exactly what we were looking for – in fact it surpassed expectations! The team really enjoyed it and have provided really positive feedback. The arts race was loads of fun and got the team really energised and the abstract session, presentation and the weaving in of Heathrow’s purpose and values was excellent. I would absolutely recommend the Art Academy for any colleagues looking for a similar creative session in future.” Heathrow Airport Ltd
“The team thoroughly enjoyed our day at the Art Academy and relished the opportunity to explore a world full of creativity and colour through a variety of art forms and team games. Using Abstract Art as a central theme provided a new and challenging basis from which to develop team connectivity in a way that enabled all members of a diverse and multilevel team to participate and enjoy in equal measure. Most importantly, sessions were planned and facilitated in such a way that kept our business objectives at the forefront of thinking and as a result, experiences and learnings have been easily translated back to everyday challenges faced in the working environment.” Unilever
“I just wanted to reiterate the great time that we all had on Tuesday, and how much that really was down to you putting us all at ease and creating an environment where everyone felt comfortable enough to get involved and express themselves. The consensus from everyone was what a great day it was and how relaxed everyone had felt, even those of us who had scepticism (myself included)!! I really think that you played a huge part in that, so thank you ever so much. I know there are a couple of people who have picked up art academy leaflets off the back of the day so perhaps you will create some true artists yet!” Royal Society of Public Health, Institute of Healthcare Management
PAST CLIENTS
Allies and Morris – Arts Council – Anglia Ruskin University – AOL – BBC – BT – Convatec – Crown Office of Information – Defra – Deloitte and Touche – Department of Trade and Industry – Department for Work and Pensions – Dynamic Logic – Environment Agency – Fortune Group – HSBC – Ixico – The Forster Company – Freshmind – Iris – John Lewis – The Leading Edge – Lexis Nexis – Moody’s Shared Services– Oxfam – Random Media – Royal Sun Alliance – Shell – Trowers and Hamlins – Unilever – University of Chicago – Colliers International