
A conference with a difference; two days of playful discussion about
play and playwork in the open air, the Beauty of Play has been running
since 2003. Themes have covered Beauty, Playing with Feeling, The
Senses, The Elements, Creativity, Wildness and Everydayness.
BoP attracts a broad range of speakers, some first
timers, many published authors and playwork theorists and have included
Bob Hughes, Gordon Sturrock,
Annie Davy, Perry Else, Ali Wood, Arthur Battram, Bridget and Alyson
Christy, Di Murray, Heather Knight, Hilary Kneale, Iain Dimmock, Jacky
Kilvington, Jane Flood, Joel Seath, John Fitzpatrick, Julia Sexton, Liam
Delahoy, Lily Horseman, Louise Kennedy, Lucy Coyne, Lynne McDermott,
Maggie Fearn, Mark Sainsbury, Martin Boroson, Martin Maudsley, Matt
Laurie, Meynell Games, Morgan Leichter-Saxby, Pete Darlington, Pete
King, Sarah Goldsmith, Sheena Barlow, Steve Smith, Stuart Lester, Susie
Dadd, The Team from Meynell Games, Tony Delahoy, Tracey Collins.
Fri-Sunday 7-9
Sept 2012
The Essence of Play
The
Beauty of Play 2012
will examine and explore the ‘real’ meaning of play, its core, its
spirit – the soul of play.
Let’s go for
it. Jumping off cliffs is much more interesting than jumping off a
table. Terry Gilliam
(2011)
‘Beauty of Play’ (BoP) takes place every
September, perfect to help you reflect on your practice after a busy
summer. Many delegates go back to work recharged and re-energised.
We have arranged to return to our special play
location in Staffordshire for the weekend of 7-9 September 2012.
The
original ‘conference under canvas’ will be a playful mix of workshops
and outdoor activities.
Starting Friday night and running through to 2pm Sunday, there will be
playful activities, discussions, workshops, music, fire and
storytelling.
BoP attracts a broad range of speakers, some first
timers, many published authors and playwork theorists.
Some of what’s happening this year... to be confirmed!
Plus
campfires and stories and walks and tents and games and
trees...
The cost of the weekend is £150 (£120 if booked before 21 June) per person for
Friday eve to Sunday afternoon. The fee includes access to drinks and
snacks in the communal kitchen, meal morning, lunch and evening and one
copy of the conference notes. For more info and to make a booking,
see
Booking Form

© BoP09/Images:
Kindling Play
Training
- for
more photos, click on the images >>>
For a report on the 2011 conference click
here

For a report on the 2010
conference click
here

For a report on the 2009
conference click
here
For a report on the 2007 conference click
here
What people
have said previously about the ‘conference with a difference’:
-
Beauty never lets us down. There’s always a good
mix of old and new, practical and theory
-
Excellent time… Just gets better every year
-
I leave much more aware and playful
-
I would like to say how much I gained from this
year’s Beauty of Play gathering, it was one of the best weekends I’ve
had in years
-
It was a wonderful re-creating event yet again.
Lots of things to think about and lots of playing
-
Just wanted to say thank you again for last
weekend! I was a bit unsure of what to expect but found the whole thing
wonderful. I walked away feeling excellent and have thought about the
Beauty of Play every day since
-
Saturday night around the bonfire was such a
fantastic gathering of talent
-
So inspiring
-
Thank you so much for a lovely weekend, it was
invaluable to reconnect to ideas and people
-
Thanks for another excellent opportunity to revisit
the child within, reflect on the thoughts of others, learn new things
and generally have fun. Its aura does not seem to diminish
-
The conference is a truly unique one and one that
you can truly relax and gain so much from the conversations around the
table and the relaxed atmosphere
-
The experiences will stay with me and feed into my
practice for a long time to come
-
Getting to know other playworkers. Getting new
ideas and re-jigging our memories of things we’ve done before but not
done for a while
-
Sharing ideas and concepts about play
-
People are always very friendly. Workshops are
interesting and relevant. Such a lovely weekend not just for the
conference but meeting people as well
-
Very enthusiastic tutors running the course
-
Friendly, interesting people, beautiful place to
be, great fun
-
Each year I
feel a little more present, and connected. I am so proud to be
involved in Beauty.

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