Home / WEA Groups
As well as courses the WEA also hosts a number of regular groups. See individual listings below for details and fill out the form at the bottom of the page to get involved.
Craft for a Cause
Let’s Sing Italian!
Painters Space
Knitting: Pod-Cast-On
Mah Mahjong
Thursday Conversations: Thriving Together In A Changing World
Northwest Branch
PORTRAIT DRAWING GROUP–Facilitated by Nina Cook
Submission Writing
Edible Garden
Field Club
Outdoor Painting Club
Activism Assistants
Registration Form
This group meets to put their crafting skills to good use by supporting local causes. We make a variety of items for charities, as well as for sale at the WEA. We work with and are inspired by materials generously donated by WEA members. Donations of fabric, wool, yarn, crafting materials, as well as completed items, can be dropped into the WEA and are most appreciated.
To be contacted by the group organiser with further information, or to register your interest, please fill out the form at the bottom of the page. Jump to form.
Return to group list at the top.
If you like the idea of singing in Italian, join us alongside our professional accompanist, Yoon. Italian language is unnecessary as members assist with pronunciation and diction. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can pick up basic words. None of us have operatic backgrounds, we’re not at all precious, so all you need is a willingness to “have-a-go” and let your heart be transported to Italy for an hour. All the music is displayed on the screen and copies of the lyrics can be emailed top anyone who wants to practice outside of the session. Our approach is relaxed and we seek to have fun while learning a variety of Italian songs.
To enrol, make payments or receive further information, please fill out the form at the bottom of the page. Jump to form.
Margaret presents a mini workshop each week to nurture your creativity and help you to express yourself in your art making. Different artists will inspire us, so feel free to bring along artists’ imagery that you like. You’ll learn techniques and approaches to extend your painting and mixed media skill set. This term we’ll explore different art movements: Fauvism – like the wild colours of Matisse, Cubism – think angular shapes like Picasso and Braque, Surrealism – dreamlike and irrational, Dali and Magritte, Pop Art – NZ style, Billy Apple and Dick Frizzel.
The formal tutored session includes an overview and warm-up exercises. Then the bonus hour of free studio time from 11am-12pm allows you to complete the artwork you’ve begun without pressure. This will feel similar to Margaret’s popular weekend workshops, but in bite size chunks with plenty of feedback. Last term many participants also brought in work they completed during the week for Margaret to critique. They found this invaluable for progressing their work and making improvements to their approach.
Designed for all levels and suitable for beginners. Please note materials are not supplied and you will need to bring your own paint, paper, brushes, palette, a pencil, eraser and sharpener.
Not just your average knitting circle! Join us as we listen and discuss fascinating podcasts on a range of current issues AND knit woolen items for the Christchurch Neo-natal Unit. Led by experienced and passionate knitter Kazuko, we will provide patterns, wool and teaching for those who need it. Experienced and novice knitters equally welcome. The Neo-natal Unit needs pure wool knitted babywear year-round and we are on a mission to provide it! The donation goes towards the costs including purchasing merino baby wool.
This challenging game runs every Tuesday morning year-round. Beginners are very welcome. Bring a set if you have one, although we have a few sets here. Join a bunch of friendly people having fun learning while you play. Fee $4/week covers the room hire. (pay with eftpos or cash).
Join us for relaxed, meaningful kōrero about what’s on top for you as a WEA participant and/or member. These weekly sessions are about listening, reflecting, and learning together. Sessions will be guided by the “Natter, Notice, Nurture” framework that we developed last term. We natter about ideas that have emerged from within CWEA, or elsewhere, and notice which ideas we want to work on and nurture. We are all aware of how dramatically our world is changing. The “thriving together” theme is about actively supporting each other as we influence the future through our conversations and actions. This is a “pop-in” rōpū which means there is no need to attend all sessions, but some people like to become permanent members of the group.
The NW Branch meets at St Margaret’s Church, 94 Farrington Ave, Bishopdale on Fridays during WEA terms, 10 – 11.30 am. A variety of interesting speakers present on a wide range of topics each term. $5 per session. Plenty of parking available on site.
Click here for the most recent programme of speakers.
Portrait drawing is about more than capturing a likeness; it can capture a moment, a personality or a story. It invites—and challenges—us to slow down, observe more closely and express thoughts and emotions beyond words. This supportive, artist-led group is for people with an existing drawing practice who would benefit from additional guidance, new methods and encouragement. Rather than following a formal lesson plan, sessions will be shaped around participants’ needs and interests. A model will be provided most weeks, with occasional sessions exploring self-portraiture, drawing one another or working off-site. Participants should bring and work with their own preferred drawing materials. Sharing techniques and approaches will be encouraged, allowing group members to learn from and inspire one another. The group will be facilitated by Nina Cook, a practicing artist and teacher with decades of experience. Her deep technical knowledge of figurative drawing and painting and her teaching experience will create a rich and supportive learning environment. Limited to 12. Registering your interest via email is essential.
Jump to form.
The format to date has been a short presentation about the issue followed by a discussion about how to submit and key points to include. If you would like to be notified of future events like this please let us know by emailing info@cwea.org.nz . Similarly, if you are passionate about an issue currently being debated either locally or nationally and would like to host a workshop and encourage people to submit, please let us know.
We are a group of WEA members who have developed and now maintain the Edible Gardens at the back of the property. We welcome anyone who enjoys gardening to join us for regular working bees or to weed before or after their other courses. For more details contact margaret@cwea.org.nz or call 366-0285.
Meets Saturday mornings from 10am at previously arranged painting places. Weekly from Programme displayed at WEA. Join our private Facebook page link here https://www.facebook.com/groups/1244625574384218 for details of planned trips. We each bring our own supplies.
This idea has been put forward from within our WEA community. Very much in the ideas phase, if this is of interest please do get in touch.
With the election year underway – are you interested in being part of a group of people to support activists and activism groups in Christchurch/Canterbury area?
Many of us are getting too old to walk the streets, climb trees or even wave flags and banners in the weather we’ve been having – but we want to help and support those who can. Perhaps we can use our skills to write slogans and paint banners and placards, to help create and spread posters and material around the city, help out at Rallies, bring cups of hot soup to people on picket lines, or sing songs of action – and other activities which have not been thought of yet. We will offer our services to existing groups (several of which already meet at the CWEA) and will do what we can, when we can, as the need arises – or head out on our own, if that’s what the group wants. We need to change the status quo, get New Zealanders thinking and caring about each other and working towards a kinder society (not a divided one falling off the tracks), challenge climate change inaction, challenge the current pay (non) equity, and, of course, call for world peace. We will gather at the WEA in Gloucester Street on day and time for an open facilitated discussion, and then get a plan of action, depending on who can do what and how. If this sounds like you, email Margaret to register your interest.
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