Courses in areas such as office and creative skills are frequently offered in the Cayman Islands. Check out The Visual Arts Society on Facebook, www.artscayman.org and www.nationalgallery.org.ky to see what creative events and activities are going on.
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Refer to the Cultural Activities and the Sports & Fitness sections for other extracurricular courses and activities.
Art Classes
Art Nest offer
a variety of weekly evening and weekend classes for both adults and children. Their
adult classes are sociable and fun and include wine and snacks while
doing a painting, pottery, photography or embroidery theme. Their children's
classes are held on Sundays and they also offer camps in the school
holidays. They are located in Elizabethan Square, 80 Shedden Road,
George Town. Tel: (345) 927 2258 or visit www.artnestcayman.com for a full schedule of monthly events.
The National Gallery intermittently runs workshops throughout the year based on their temporary exhibitions series. Workshops for adults cover a wide variety of art-related topics from ceramics to photography, abstract painting, assemblage and more. To view the current programme of events and for a list of workshops, visit www.nationalgallery.org.ky.
3 Girls & A Kiln offer
a wide selection of adult evening art classes two to three nights a
week plus afternoon classes at the weekends. Classes include glazing,
macrame, sign making on wood planks, fluid art and more, plus they often
have interesting guest artists to change things up. They also host
bi-weekly classes for families/children and on different festive
holidays you can make glazed pumpkins or glazed Christmas trees which
then light up. You can see their monthly schedule on their website or
you can call them on (345) 640 9990. They are located on the waterfront in downtown George Town in the pink and turquoise building located between Hard Rock Cafe and Guy Harvey Gallery.
Kara Julian Art is a small boutique art studio, specialising in unique hand painted glassware, fine art, painting and DIY workshops as well as unique hand-painted signs and home decor by Cayman artist, Kara Julian. Each month they host different inspiring classes for DIY enthusiasts and aspiring artists. No painting experience is needed! Classes are held during the day, the evening and at the weekends. You can also visit www.karajulianart.com for more details and to see their monthly schedule or email: karajulianart@gmail.com or call (345) 925 6840 with any queries.
The Visual Arts Society (VAS)
is an active non-profit promoting “Art for Everyone”, including artists and those who appreciate and support art. VAS runs workshops throughout the year based on community interest. They cover a wide variety of art-related topics from figure drawing, abstract art, photography, jewellery making, batik and ceramics. VAS has a strong expertise in pottery and ceramics (the studio is equipped with potters wheels, a kiln, tools, glazes and clay can be purchased) and they offer workshops along with an open studio for adults. On occasion, they offer workshops to artists on how to present their artwork, market themselves, use social media to benefit your art sales and how to prepare for an exhibit. VAS has a prominent presence at the Wednesday Farmers and Artisans Market located in Camana Bay. Email: visualartcayman@yahoo.com, visit on Instagram @vascayman or see www.facebook.com/visualartcayman.
Computer Classes
Computer and software courses in Microsoft Word, Excel, QuickBooks, Photoshop, InDesign, FrontPage and web design are all available. Click for information on ICCI and UCCI. Inspire Cayman Training, through its partnership with Ed2Go, has hundreds of online courses to choose from.
The Public Library Service offers a free introduction to computers course at all six libraries, though these are infrequent. Check social media for upcoming classes. For more information, email: libraryprogrammes@gov.ky or call (345) 949 5159.
Cooking Courses
Cooking classes are very popular in Grand Cayman. For more information see the Food and Drink section or check out the Cayman Good Taste website at www.caymangoodtaste.com. There are also many online cooking courses, including the very affordable ones from Egg & Soldiers, which will give you a thorough grounding in how to cook - an absolutely essential life skill.
Darkness to Light Training Courses
Darkness to Light (D2L) Stewards of Children is a child sexual abuse prevention programme for adults aimed at empowering individuals and communities to prevent child sexual abuse. Stewards of Children is an evidence-based programme that informs and teaches adults on how to protect the children in their care and community. The Cayman Islands Red Cross, working in partnership with numerous agencies, offers these courses free of cost to the community. Pre-registration is required. Email: childprotection@redcross.org.ky for their schedule or visit www.d2l.org to sign up. You can also see a lot more information on what the Ministry of Education and Training requires from all volunteers and staff, who work in an educational institution, in the way of child safeguarding training. Please see the bottom of this page on Professional & Vocational Training.
Diving Courses
Diving certification courses for adults are widely available in Cayman and many offer residents’ rates. Once you are an Open Water certified diver, other courses available include Advanced Diver, Nitrox and even Trimix courses.
You can talk to Divetech (Tel: (345) 946 5658 or 1(877) 946 5658), Wall to Wall Diving (Tel: (345) 916 6408), Sunset Divers (Tel: (345) 946 6789 or 1 (800) 854 4767) or Seahorse Diving School (Tel: (345) 328 2778 or email: seahorsedivingschool@gmail.com). See the Diving section for more information.
Drama & Storytelling Workshops
The Cayman Drama Society offers regular acting classes for adults and children and they cover training, voice work, performance skills, confidence building and improvisation. They also host summer camps, performance opportunities throughout the year and weekly acting classes open to all. The society occasionally teaches stage management, directing and technical theatre. Their highly respected educational programme is run by a full-time education officer. For more information see their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/caymanacting. They are located at 223B Shamrock Road, Red Bay. For more information, visit www.cds.ky and click on the training tab or email: training@cds.ky.
HIV, AIDS, Gender & Sexuality Training
The Cayman Islands Red Cross offers a basic information course on HIV and AIDS, as well as courses on gender and sexuality, healthy sexuality and sexualisation, and stigma and discrimination. Courses are offered regularly, and groups and other organisations can also request special presentations/workshops free of cost. Email: deputy@redcross.org.ky for more information.
First Aid & Basic Life Support
There are various training providers for First Aid, CPR/AED and aquatic emergencies. The names and content of these courses vary according to the accrediting body and syllabus, but for the most part the course content is very similar and aims to arm participants with the knowledge and skills to be able to respond to a medical emergency. Certifications are usually valid for two years after which one must do a refresher. Some will teach kids as young as nine, others prefer them to be at least 15. For a very comprehensive list of individuals and organisations that can ensure you get certified, please see our dedicated page on First Aid & Basic Life Support.
Music Lessons
There are multiple ways for children and adults to learn to play a musical instrument, whether through school or with a private music tutor. Twice a year, examiners from Trinity College London fly to Cayman to offer exams to students who have been preparing according to the Trinity music syllabus.
Musical instruments are duty-free and prices of instruments are reasonable.
See the Shopping section for where you to buy musical instruments and the Adult and Children’s Activities section for information on music lessons. For piano tuning and repair services contact Pianotech.ky on (345) 925 4535 or email: pianotunacayman@gmail.com.
Language Courses
Spanish and French are offered from Kindergarten to A Levels in most of the private schools, however, fewer schools offer French at early childhood level. Most of the government schools now offer Spanish classes as part of the regular curriculum from primary school but classes are limited to one hour per week per year group. For adults or children who would like to learn a new language or need tutoring, there is the Modern Language Institute which offers various courses in Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic and English. They also provide interpreters and translation services. For more information call (345) 943 8254 or email: modernlanguages11@yahoo.com.
French classes from beginner to advanced levels are available at French Tuition Cayman. Tel (345) 928 7526 or email: frenchtuitionky@yahoo.com.
Leadership Development
The YMCA also offers the Teen Lead On Programme which utilises adventure-based elements across the Island to provide teens with speciality leadership training. Teens who complete the programme will receive an official YMCA Leadership certificate that will assist with school and job applications in the future. The teens can also volunteer in YMCA programmes, with an expectation that they serve a minimum of 30 hours within three months of programme completion. The programme is offered free of charge to teens, aged 13-17 and requires an application and an interview process for successful participants. For more information, visit www.ymcacayman.ky/teens.
Water Rescue Courses
Fitness Connection also teaches ASHI CPR /AED courses as well as SAI Safety Training Aquatic Rescue Courses and Starguard Life Guard training. Tel: (345) 949 8485, email: fitness@fitness.ky or visit www.fitness.ky.
The Cayman Islands Red Cross offers a basic water rescue certification where you will learn how to rescue victims from pools and open bodies of water and participants are taught how to react in these situations. See www.redcross.org.ky to book a course or for more information.
Wine Courses
The Academy of Wine and Spirits offers wine, spirit and cocktail courses and provides CPD-certified qualifications that are globally recognised. Courses vary in duration and attract students from restaurants and hotels, as well as the general public. Visit www.academyofwineandspirits.org to find out about upcoming course dates.
The Grand Old House also offers wine tastings and wine courses. Reach out to Luciano de Riso, their General Manager, for more information by emailing him on luciano@grandoldhousewharf.com.
