VISUAL THINKING STRATEGIES
AND THE SOCIAL BRAIN
FACILITATOR Course
foundation level
This course covers the theory and practice of facilitating group conversations with visual art or complex imagery using the Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) method. VTS conversations guide people through a process of curious exploration, critical reflection and collective meaning-making. This evidence-based professional development programme is tailored towards fostering collaborative, inclusive, community-building dialogue. The course is particularly relevant for (arts) educators, but will also be of use to artists and therapists or anyone interested in developing their own critical thinking, visual literacy, and collaborative communication skills.
The Thinking Eye offers this training course in 3 formats: Online, In Person (2 consecutive days at a gallery/museum), and Hybrid (1 day online and 1 day at a gallery/museum). Facilitating VTS online requires an overlapping, but different skillset from in person VTS conversations and the different training formats address this. Participants are strongly advised to choose a training format that aligns with the context in which they intend to use VTS.
The course is taught through lectures (30% theory and research related to the VTS method) and practice (70% coached practical sessions as a group). Using a selection of artworks and complex images, participants take turns applying the VTS methodology with the rest of the group while being coached.
By taking part, participants will:
Develop practical skills in the basic techniques of facilitating group conversations around visual artworks and complex images with the VTS method.
Gain knowledge of the theoretical and research framework behind the VTS method.
Learn more about how art engages the social brain.
Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Certificate of Training and a VTS handbook with the covered theory and techniques.
upcoming courses
winter 2024
Online VTS Facilitator Course - Foundation Level
16 Janury 2024 - 20 February 2024
The Winter 2024 | Online VTS Facilitator Course - Foundation Level consists of 6 weekly sessions on Zoom. The course starts on 16 January 2024 and will take place every Tuesday evening between 18:30 - 20:30 UK time (BST/GMT).
Costs: £300
Available places: 10
NB. This course needs a minimum of 3 bookings to take place.
Hybrid VTS Facilitator Course - Foundation Level
13 March 2024 - 30 March 2024
The Winter 2024 | Hybrid VTS Facilitator Course - Foundation Level consists of 3 weekly online sessions on Zoom, which will take place on Wednesday 13, 20 and 27 March 2024 between 18:30 - 20:30 UK time (GMT). The final session will be in person and will take place on Saturday 30 March 2024 at Tate Britain, London, between 10:00 - 16:30 UK time (GMT).
Costs: £325
Available places: 8
NB. This course needs a minimum of 3 bookings to take place.
Feedback from Participants
Online VTS Facilitator Course - Foundation Level
‘Thank you for a really inspiring and informative session - brilliant to have the opportunity to have so much practice.’
‘Very enriching! I'd love to attend this kind of course in real life with real artworks.’
‘I really enjoyed understanding the 'proof' of why we see things in our own perspective.’