SPEAK FRENCH AS YOU MAKE YOUR MOSAÏC
in FRANCE!

Mosaïc Creative Breaks is a unique mid week holiday experience with a difference, merging your creative needs, with your erudite side.

Enjoy this short holiday course by making your chosen mosaic, but do it bathed in the French Language!!

This course is delivered in French – with an interpreter at hand at all times.

Make either the ‘sous plat’ on the right, or the mirror frame on the left, in the small town of Briare, which was in the 19th Century, the heartland of France’s Earthenware Industry. You will spend the three days of the course in the artist’s workshop in her own home, where she also has her gallery and a showpiece courtyard.

As well as Briare’s Aqueduct as the stunning backdrop for inspiration, the course will maximise your immersion into French culture. No prior French language skills are needed at all as an interpreter will be at hand at all times. Chipping in to help others or speaking out to check vocabulary and expressions, will both add to the overall camaraderie. It is the immersion in the french language combined with the artistic element that will make this mosaic creative holiday so unique and memorable.

The course is run over three days in the middle of the week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, which will allow you to arrive on Monday morning at your leisure. We meet for the first time for our buffet lunch in a local restaurant, after which you can make your own way to Briare’s two very informative museums and enjoy the unique Pont-Canal. Friday is left open for you to discover more of the region and we are there to help you organise what you would like to do.

The nearby town of Gien is well worth a visit, as is the Chateau de la Bussière and the Chateau de Sully-sur-Loire. Going on a dinner cruise from the Pont Canal in Briare, or just taking a couple of hours to cruise on the Loire may be your choice of how to spend Friday. There are links to some of the region’s places of interest under ‘Locations’ on the menu bar above.

ABOUT THE ARTIST…Nicole Dupeu has studied and taught art all her life. She now shares her creative passion through her own mosaic workshop, whilst continuing with her capacity as a freelance Mosaic Artist. Hugely talented, Nicole Dupeu has been involved in art projects all over the world.
She has extensive experience in leading and encouraging groups and it is impossible to not be inspired by the creativity and passion of her teaching. Her philosophy is simply to, ‘Bring your enthusiasm and your hands ready for creating”.

ABOUT THE INTERPRETER Catherine speaks fluent French and has many years experience interpreting on school trips to France. She is an experienced teacher, having taught in London primary and secondary schools for 30 years.
As an interpreter, she is sensitive to the needs of the group or individuals, and so will interpret on a need to basis relative to the task or the instructions being given at that moment.
Her main objective is to ensure that all guests enjoy their experience of being immersed in French, and that everybody comes away with a fabulous mosaic created through this enriched environment.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP…The mosaic workshop will take place over three days in the middle of your holiday, giving you a chance to settle in to the area of Briare and plenty of free time to explore at your leisure. Please see our Travel & Location page for ideas. During the workshop, Nicole Dupeu will invite you into her extraordinary home, gallery and art workshop to teach you fascinating techniques, share with you examples of her work, talk you through projects she has worked on and give historical explanations on the background of the art. By the end of the mosaic course you will have developed the skills to create your own mosaic masterpiece. All art materials and tools will be provided.

ABOUT BRIARE….The rustic and captivating town of Briare is located on the Loire River, 160km south of Paris, most famous for its Pont-Canal (by the Eiffel Tower) and its highly sort after mosaics, beads and button manufacturing capabilities. A beautiful holiday destination, Briare is situated on what was the heartland of France’s Earthenware Industry in the 19th Century. Briare’s charming and quirky features ensure it is the perfect place to gather inspiration for your mosaic creation.