Gafricom's Visual Arts Workshops include: Tie and-Dye, Batick, mask making, Pottery, Storytelling, Drama and Music and Dance Performances.

Music and dance forms are at the centre of African arts and culture as a learning method for children, teaching them a selection of songs and dances in the original languages. This is the most effective, exciting part of the project. Here the participatory nature of our work is stressed. Pupils learn to play a range of musical instruments from the famous Talking Drums to the African xylophone. Dances and Songs are then taught to the accompaniment of the strong rhythms of this music, with the drummers and dancers communicating between each other through the drumming and dancing steps.

A performance-accompanied by an exhibition of children's artworks-is the culmination of the project.Before an audience of their friends and family the children show and celebrate all that has been learnt through the project. Fully dressed in African costume and accompanied by African drumming, they perform stories drawn from the African tradition. This vibrant mixture of music, dance,and song provides a unique and memorable event that the whole community can experience, enjoy and talk about for a long time.

Designs and patterns are created on fabrics with dyes. This is a simple and effective introduction to our visual arts that provides colourful fabric pictures that children can treasure.

Uses a resistant method of dying where wax prevents the dye from entering the fabric. Using representation of African motifs and images.

The African Oral Tradition is one of narration, poetry, proverbs, jokes and riddles. Storytelling times are designed to be interactive and the stories are dramatised using music, dance, and movements sometimes with masks. Literature from the Kongo Kingdom, the Chewa, the Zulu, the Ndebele, the Shona, Swahili and Lodzi are presented to the children.

Mask making, wire artworks, copper, bronze, stone and wood carving are probably what Africa is most famous for in the west. We introduce children to representation of African masks and sculpture and help them to make their own masks using paper mache, clay or plaster. These are then painted for exhibition at the end of the project alongside all their other work.

The forms of drama used in Africa are different from the forms used in the west. In Africa a drama is usually inclusive of music and dance. Classes listen to the stories and consider the personalities involved. They dramatise a selected story with supportive song, music and dance.

Music and Dance forms are at the centre of African arts and culture. Specifically they are for each individual occasion; this programme uses traditional African music, songs chants, dance and masquerades.

Because of our strong belief in creativity, GAFRICOM Arts runs regular workshops in traditional African drums and dance at anytime anywhere in Gateshead and its surrounding area.