• Duration: 1.5 hours
  • Tickets: Free - please book your place
  • Details
  • Parking & Access

Details

Two free workshops from the Gardening Drawing Club. Donations are welcome, to support The Gardening Drawing Club and help the project thrive.

About the workshops: Delightful Herbs 2 & 3

Morning: Children (with carer) + young people under 14 (with carer)
Afternoon: Adults and teenagers over 14 (any under-18s must be accompanied by a carer).

Join us in this (free) workshop to learn how to divide and sow spring herbs successfully. Wishing to address and soothe all senses, we will debut our time together by drinking two organic herbal teas and discussing their flavours and our relation to these. Drawings and paintings on paper inspired by the herbs and the tactical experience of planting will be created by the participants in the second part of this workshop.

Herbs are herbaceous plants (annual or perennial) with savoury or aromatic properties, at times both. Herbs have been used for centuries across cultures and continents for their aromatic, culinary, medicinal and spiritual properties.

We will employ veganic soil with British-grown organic basil and oregano seeds, amongst others. Art materials provided in this workshop include plant-based paints. Artist Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck will facilitate this workshop.

Important: Following The Gardening Drawing Club’s effort to reduce waste and use of single-use items, please bring a teacup. All other materials are included, and no prior experience is required. As we will spend time in the terrace garden of Old Fire Station, we recommend dressing according to the weather.

About The Gardening Drawing Club

The Gardening Drawing Club is a series of unique events with a holistic approach offering free access to arts and horticulture in Britain. With monthly happenings, The Gardening Drawing is hosted in a broad range of locations, from art centres to community gardens and temples; the events range from workshops to talks and experiences. Veganic gardening methods are employed through The Gardening Drawing Club, advocating for gentleness and compassion while supporting seed sovereignty, racial, climate and land justice and reparation, biodiversity, and animal liberation.

The Gardening Drawing Club has a shared mission to integrate the joys of gardening and drawing in others’ lives for individual and community well-being. It was founded in 2021 by artist Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck.

About Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck

Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck (b.1990, Strasbourg, France) is a painter, transdisciplinary artist and cultural practitioner artist based in rural Oxfordshire (England). Her practice composed of painting, drawing, installation, sculpture, film, photography and writing often conceals ecological messages, rendered in soft and delicate methods. In several of the artist’s projects, interaction with the environment and others plays a central role.

Solo and duo exhibitions include Dreaming About Tomorrow at Nidi Gallery in Tokyo and Caring & Tender at Terrace Square Photo in Tokyo. Books on her practice have been published by InOtherWords Imprint, Chose Commune and Jane & Jeremy.

In 2014, Johanna founded the positive and collaborative cultural project Poetic Pastel. In 2018, the artist co-founded the publication series Journal du Thé – Contemporary Tea Culture. In 2021 she founded The Gardening Drawing Club. Johanna is currently leading a one-year project at Camden Art Centre involving arts, gardening and learning.

Parking & Access

Parking

There are a number of Blue Badge parking spaces nearby on Beaumont Street, and more on New Inn Hall Street and St Giles.

The closest car park is Gloucester Green Car Park, accessed via Gloucester Street.

If you have any questions or concerns, the City Council’s Access Officer can be reached at 01865 249811.

Getting here

We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint, but we need your help. Use ecoway, our sustainable travel planner, to see the most eco-friendly options for your journey to Old Fire Station, and plan a bespoke and flexible route. ecoway is easy to use and you’ll be kept up to date with any disruption or changes to your journey plan.

Car parks in Oxford Blue Badge information Public transport in Oxford

Access

Disabled patrons are eligible for one free companion ticket with their booking. To book this, contact the ticket office: tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk or 01865 263990.

There are two entrances to the Old Fire Station: 40 George Street via the foyer, and on Gloucester Green via the shop. Both are step-free. If you are coming to a show, we ask that you use the George Street entrance, as the Gloucester Green entrance is not always open.

Events in the Theatre

There is level entry to the foyer of the Old Fire Station, and step-free access to the main Theatre (where most shows take place).

If you are a wheelchair user attending a sit-down show, space will be reserved for you. If you are attending a standing gig, please contact us (call the ticket office on 01865 263990 or e-mail tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk) and we will talk with you about your needs.

Events in the Studio

There is level entry into the foyer of the Old Fire Station, and step-free access to the Studio.

Events in the Loft

There are six steps leading up to the Loft space, with no lift. If you would like to discuss this to find out more, please get in touch.

The Gallery

There is step-free access to the Gallery – level entry through the George Street entrance, and via lift from the Gloucester Green entrance.

Facilities

Accessible toilet
There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor, accessible via platform lift. Other toilets are in the basement (accessible via lift).

Hearing assistance system
The Theatre is equipped with a hearing assistance system. If you have any questions about using it, please e-mail us at tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk or phone 01865 263980.

Assistance dogs
All types of assistance and guide dogs are welcome at the Old Fire Station. It would be great if you could let us know in advance if you will be bringing a working dog to any performances – just e-mail tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk.

Strobe lighting
We will warn visitors on the website and in the foyer of the venue if a performance is going to contain strobe lighting. If lighting affects you, and you have any concerns, please call the ticket office on 01865 263990 or e-mail tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk.

Chairs in the theatre
Our chairs are a standard dining-chair size, measuring 40cm deep by 37cm wide, with a metal frame. Some have arms, and some do not. They are all joined together at the sides, to form rows. If this is likely to pose a problem for you, please email tickets@oldfirestation.org.uk and we can discuss how to make your visit more comfortable.