WORKSHOP IDEAS 2024
Looking for a workshop or event? Here are some ideas for workshops I'm booking in 2024, and more are in the works. I'd love to talk more about tailoring something for your group! NEW for the fall: Nature inspired workshops!
Looking for a workshop or event? Here are some ideas for workshops I'm booking in 2024, and more are in the works. I'd love to talk more about tailoring something for your group! NEW for the fall: Nature inspired workshops!
| Joanne Brokaw nature_based_workshops_2024_fall.pdf |
| Joanne Brokaw_general_ workshops_2024.pdf |
| Joanne Brokaw_community_creative_events_2024.pdf |
WHAT IS A TEACHING ARTIST?
“Teaching artists—also known as arts educators, cultural bearers, or community artists—are practicing, professional artists who have dual careers as educators...teaching and integrating their art form, perspectives, histories, and skills into a wide range of learning settings.”
- from The Teaching Artist Guild website
I'm an award-winning writer, performer, and artist who use uses the creative arts to help people of all ages:
How can a teaching artist enhance the classroom or workshop experience?
My workshops are interactive, fun, safe spaces for participants to explore and make mistakes as they connect more fully with themselves and the world around them. Workshops can be reflective and generative to explore self, spur creative thinking, and fuel curiosity, or more focused to enhance teamwork by fostering collaboration, building confidence, and strengthening communication. Together, we can use the creative arts to reach the goals you have for your coworkers, employees, conference or workshop attendees, students, and more.
“Teaching artists—also known as arts educators, cultural bearers, or community artists—are practicing, professional artists who have dual careers as educators...teaching and integrating their art form, perspectives, histories, and skills into a wide range of learning settings.”
- from The Teaching Artist Guild website
I'm an award-winning writer, performer, and artist who use uses the creative arts to help people of all ages:
- Connect more deeply with themselves and their community;
- Inspire them to follow their curiosity, embrace their purpose, and amplify their voices;
- Change the world.
How can a teaching artist enhance the classroom or workshop experience?
My workshops are interactive, fun, safe spaces for participants to explore and make mistakes as they connect more fully with themselves and the world around them. Workshops can be reflective and generative to explore self, spur creative thinking, and fuel curiosity, or more focused to enhance teamwork by fostering collaboration, building confidence, and strengthening communication. Together, we can use the creative arts to reach the goals you have for your coworkers, employees, conference or workshop attendees, students, and more.
HOST A CREATIVE WORKSHOP
A creative workshop incorporating writing, improv, art or other collaborative creative experiences is great for:
Some past workshops, classes, and events include:
Current and past clients/creative partners include: St. David's Christian Writers' Conference; National Society of Newspaper Columnists; Monroe County Library System; HealthiKids/Connected Communities Grand Ave Sidewalk Painting project; East High School, Rochester, NY; Seneca Park Zoo; Our Lady of Mercy High School; Focus Theater, Rochester, NY; Barnes & Noble, Pittsford, NY; Writers & Books, Rochester, NY; Gates Chili High School; Pittsford's Odyssey of the Mind group; and local girl scout troops.
Workshop and class participants have said:
"Joanne presented a wonderful and enlightening program! She is a talented and compassionate creative who uses her improv experiences to deepen writing creativity. Her gentleness and fun energy make her a terrific teacher. I was able to get insights and writing fodder for future projects from her workshop. I'd attend another session by her."
Suzette Martinez Standring, award winning author of The Art of Opinion Writing
"Joanne's workshop on implementing humor in writing was both informative and entertaining. Her friendly, vivacious teaching style encouraged the class members to use their imaginations and experiences to make whatever they wrote--fiction or nonfiction--more 'human' and more fun. I give her five stars!"
Carrie Anne Noble, award-winning YA author
"Joanne creates fun wherever she goes. If you perform with her, she makes you feel like a partner. If you take a class from her, she makes you feel like a learner. If you create with her, she makes you feel like a writer. She drops bits of golden wisdom wherever she walks. Follow her, pick up the droppings, and use them to find your own path."
Ward Hartenstein, artist/educator
"I love--and envy just a bit--Joanne and her quick wit and her wisdom of the comedy field. Okay, I really hate her, as she is so much funnier and informative than me. But, as a conference director, I have to highly recommend her!"
James Watkins, author of Writing with Banana Peels and Co-director of Taylor University's Professional Writing Conference
"Joanne has an excellent energy and a wonderful way she provides encouraging and meaningful feedback. She is very talented in her gifts for creativity and as a teacher. I am inspired by participating in her program."
France McCloskey, MA, CBIST, Owner of Learning & Motivation Specialists
"I've been in several workshops and classes with Joanne, she really helps you get out of your comfort zone and your head as you do a variety of fun exercises that strengthen team building and idea generation. I'm a better improviser because of her."
Dan Shea, writer and improvisor
“I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the class on Saturday. I went with some trepidation, but you quickly allayed my fears and I was impressed with how well you dealt with the class dynamic. I marveled at how you just went with the flow and by the end of the class how everyone was laughing and having a good time. I did send a message to the folks at Writers & Books and hope that my evaluation gets to the right person as I truly hope they do more classes like this!”
Sue S., Improv for Writers workshop attendee
“The improv workshop with Joanne was fun! Joanne knows so much but makes you feel comfortable to express yourself and experiment. She’s an awesome teacher who allows the participants to find their voice and ability to play.”
T. Kravetz, Improv for Writers workshop attendee
“As writers, we can trip ourselves up with a tendency to self-edit. The techniques Joanne shares in Improv for Writers help us to get our of our own way and free up our natural story-telling skills.”
Jan M., Improv for Writers workshop attendee
“Workshop was AWESOMEEEE. Everyone raves about it. Constant fun, but also very insightful. Joanne was lovely and real and great to work with.”
Jill D., corporate team building event at Focus Theater
A creative workshop incorporating writing, improv, art or other collaborative creative experiences is great for:
- retreats
- conferences
- writing groups
- book clubs
- women's events
- corporate team building events
- scout troops
- classrooms
- let's customize something for your event!
Some past workshops, classes, and events include:
- Pour Painting: A Lesson In The Art Of Letting Go
- Exquisite Collaborative Poem Project
- Tell Yourself A New Story
- Recharge Your Creativity & Gallery Write Nite
- Improv for Writers
- Write Like A Mad Scientist
- Intro to Improv for Teens & Tweens
- Intro to Improv for Stand Up Comics
- Short Form Improv - Level One
- Custom workshops designed specifically for writers groups, businesses, theater groups, and more
Current and past clients/creative partners include: St. David's Christian Writers' Conference; National Society of Newspaper Columnists; Monroe County Library System; HealthiKids/Connected Communities Grand Ave Sidewalk Painting project; East High School, Rochester, NY; Seneca Park Zoo; Our Lady of Mercy High School; Focus Theater, Rochester, NY; Barnes & Noble, Pittsford, NY; Writers & Books, Rochester, NY; Gates Chili High School; Pittsford's Odyssey of the Mind group; and local girl scout troops.
Workshop and class participants have said:
"Joanne presented a wonderful and enlightening program! She is a talented and compassionate creative who uses her improv experiences to deepen writing creativity. Her gentleness and fun energy make her a terrific teacher. I was able to get insights and writing fodder for future projects from her workshop. I'd attend another session by her."
Suzette Martinez Standring, award winning author of The Art of Opinion Writing
"Joanne's workshop on implementing humor in writing was both informative and entertaining. Her friendly, vivacious teaching style encouraged the class members to use their imaginations and experiences to make whatever they wrote--fiction or nonfiction--more 'human' and more fun. I give her five stars!"
Carrie Anne Noble, award-winning YA author
"Joanne creates fun wherever she goes. If you perform with her, she makes you feel like a partner. If you take a class from her, she makes you feel like a learner. If you create with her, she makes you feel like a writer. She drops bits of golden wisdom wherever she walks. Follow her, pick up the droppings, and use them to find your own path."
Ward Hartenstein, artist/educator
"I love--and envy just a bit--Joanne and her quick wit and her wisdom of the comedy field. Okay, I really hate her, as she is so much funnier and informative than me. But, as a conference director, I have to highly recommend her!"
James Watkins, author of Writing with Banana Peels and Co-director of Taylor University's Professional Writing Conference
"Joanne has an excellent energy and a wonderful way she provides encouraging and meaningful feedback. She is very talented in her gifts for creativity and as a teacher. I am inspired by participating in her program."
France McCloskey, MA, CBIST, Owner of Learning & Motivation Specialists
"I've been in several workshops and classes with Joanne, she really helps you get out of your comfort zone and your head as you do a variety of fun exercises that strengthen team building and idea generation. I'm a better improviser because of her."
Dan Shea, writer and improvisor
“I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the class on Saturday. I went with some trepidation, but you quickly allayed my fears and I was impressed with how well you dealt with the class dynamic. I marveled at how you just went with the flow and by the end of the class how everyone was laughing and having a good time. I did send a message to the folks at Writers & Books and hope that my evaluation gets to the right person as I truly hope they do more classes like this!”
Sue S., Improv for Writers workshop attendee
“The improv workshop with Joanne was fun! Joanne knows so much but makes you feel comfortable to express yourself and experiment. She’s an awesome teacher who allows the participants to find their voice and ability to play.”
T. Kravetz, Improv for Writers workshop attendee
“As writers, we can trip ourselves up with a tendency to self-edit. The techniques Joanne shares in Improv for Writers help us to get our of our own way and free up our natural story-telling skills.”
Jan M., Improv for Writers workshop attendee
“Workshop was AWESOMEEEE. Everyone raves about it. Constant fun, but also very insightful. Joanne was lovely and real and great to work with.”
Jill D., corporate team building event at Focus Theater