Enthusiasts can learn from the best about garden design and garden sculpture with two new additions to the Whanganui UCOL Summer School of the Arts.

The week long school in early January, run by Whanganui UCOL, is regarded as the most innovative summer school in New Zealand. It offers 16 courses, covering most mediums, including painting, printmaking, sculpture, glass, jewellery, mosaics, textiles and design.

New additions for 2008 include a five day workshop by internationally experienced interior and landscape designer Gill Warren. Gill divides her time between a rural block in Pakiri, Rodney, and the tropical rainforest of Cairns in Queensland.  Her workshop will help those building, buying or renovating property create �barrier-free� design innovations.

Participants will learn how to make wise expenditure choices and how to raise the value of their properties. �I seek to create a holistic design solution for every project that is practical and affordable and will be a pleasure to live in,� Gill says.

Gill Warren�s Design for the Wise runs from 6 to 10 January 2008, with a maximum of 10 students.

Also new is a five day workshop on Outdoor Sculpture by Wellington-based sculptor and carver Aaron Frater. Aaron describes himself as a �maker of 3D objects�ranging from fine bone and shell jewellery to monumental sculptures in marble and Oamaru stone.�

The workshop will use the easily-worked medium of soft stone, with other materials such as wood, rope and found materials. �It will help participants explore outdoor sculpture through designing a piece for a real or imagined location, and then sculpting it in soft stone,� says Aaron.

The five day Outdoor Sculpture workshop runs from 6 to 12 January and is restricted to 12 students.

The Summer School is made possible with the sponsorship of the Akoranga Education Trust.

For further information contact Katrina Langdon 06 965 3801 extn 62000 [email protected], The Summer School brochure and enrolment form can be found at www.ucol.ac.nz