Furniture Making
Furniture Making/Restoration Practices Diploma
West Dean College Award
1 academic year
Furniture Making Professional Development Diploma
West Dean College Award
1 academic year
ENQUIRIES:
Telephone: +44 (0)1243 818208 or 811301
Email: diplomas@westdean.org.uk
Applying for these programmes?
Link to more information on our application process
Link to downloadable application and referees forms
Link to request or download a West Dean College prospectus
TUTORS
Norbert Gutowski, Tutor is a specialist in traditional woodworking techniques and decorative finishes. After an apprenticeship in Germany, Norbert was awarded a BADA/West Dean Diploma in Restoration of Antique Furniture in 1984. This was followed by a number of employments as a restorer and instructor with companies in the UK, Switzerland and Thailand. He was course director of the HND courses at Rycotewood College in Thame, Oxfordshire and then returned, in 1996, to West Dean College to teach on the Conservation of Furniture and Furniture Making programmes.
FACILITIESThe programme is delivered in a purpose-built, furniture conservation workshop, which benefits from excellent natural and artificial light. You will have your own workbench, and storage for personal tools and equipment. Specialist facilities include a finishing room with fume extraction, stores for timber, materials and furniture. There is an analytical laboratory directly adjacent to the workshop.
PROGRAMME CONTENT
Furniture Making/Restoration Practices Diploma
West Dean has recently diversified its offerings in furniture study, with its first diploma course in furniture making.
The backbone of the department is a validated relationship with the University of Sussex that results in an MA in Conservation Studies with a concentration in furniture and related objects. This university-validated track includes a percentage of both decorative arts history and scientific study, which inform the traditionally strong practical teaching West Dean is known for. One aspect of the new diversification is in the area of historic craft study. Conservation students are expected to be conversant in historic furniture making practices, and each is given an element of this subject to research and develop their own skills in.
Inspired by this historic craft study in conservation, West Dean now offers a one year college-validated diploma in Historic Furniture Making Practices.
The stated goal of this diploma is to provide students, who do not have extensive prior woodworking experience with the training needed to pass the skills test that is required of all applicants to the university validated programme. Non-conservation track students will use this diploma course to upgrade their skills and understanding of historic furniture practices.
Furniture Making Professional Development Diploma
If you have considerable experience in a relevant industry, or successfully completed an appropriate qualification, you can embark on a one year professional development diploma based upon a specific project or research idea that you have. You’ll be able to utilise all the facilities and expertise that West Dean College has to offer.
ENQUIRIES
Telephone: +44 (0)1243 818208 or 811301
Email: diplomas@westdean.org.uk
