Full Time Diplomas

awarded by the University of Sussex

awarded by the University of Sussex

awarded by the University of Sussex

The first six weeks of the autumn term will introduce you to four key textile media taught by leading practitioners in these fields: Tapestry Weaving, Stitch, Print and Felt. The Materials and Techniques unit will form the basis for exploration of the creative possibilities of textiles and to track a way forward for innovative individual work.

Throughout the remainder of the year, a combination of taught units in contextual studies, drawing and professional practice will be offered alongside technical instruction and the time and space for creative individual work.

You are encouraged to work together with students across the all diploma programmes at West Dean. Life drawing classes and seminars are attended together with students from Painting & Drawing and Sculpture.

awarded by the Univesity of Sussex

The Graduate Diploma in Visual Arts is a University of Sussex interdisciplinary one year programme which provides a route into postgraduate study. You can choose to specialise in Painting and Drawing, Sculpture or Tapestry and Textile Art. The programme is designed for students whose practice is not ready to sustain postgraduate study but whose potential to work at that level is evident. Students on all Visual Arts programmes work together in an atelier culture.

awarded by the Univesity of Sussex

Study Block 1
Material and techniques.
Contextual Studies 1.
Drawing.
Studio Work 1.

Study Block 2
Contextual Studies II.
Studio Work II

Study Block 3
Professional Practice I
Studio Work III

Study Block 4
Professional Practice II
Contextual Studies III
Studio Work IV
End of Year
Exhibition of Work

Project Development
Research project proposal
Visual research and idea generation.
Making and Implementation
Research report.
Project consolidation.
End of Year
Exhibition of Work

Visiting Lecturers: Michael Brennand-Wood, Heather Belcher, Carole Waller and Kathy Barker.

Following successful completion of a Postgraduate Diploma you can, through additional taught units and an individual project, extend your studies to a calendar year to gain an MA in Visual Arts. Those who wish to sustain a focus upon their specialist studio practice can progress to a Masters in Fine Art (MFA)* for a further full academic year.

*Subject to validation by the University of Sussex

The West Dean Tapestry Studio was established in 1974 in response to the demand for high level craft based programmes in woven tapestry, and has become one of only a very small number of such studios worldwide. It accepts both public and private commission on a large and small scale, from hospitals and cathedrals to private individuals including architects and interior designers. Tapestries woven by the studio hang in the Palace of Westminster, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Chelmsford Cathedral. As well as working on new designs, the West Dean Tapestry Studio is also currently working on recreating the 16th century ‘Hunt the Unicorn’ tapestries as part of a twelve year project for Historic Scotland, for the refurbishment of Stirling Castle. All students will have the opportunity to observe client-led projects at close hand and to have a dialogue with our professional weavers.

All Visual Arts students have access to over 700 short courses run by the College throughout the year.

Thomas Cronenberg, Tapestry Weaver
Studied Postgraduate Diploma in Tapestry Weaving

Fascinated by textiles since a child, I realised I needed to do something about a long-held wish to learn how to weave tapestry “properly”. I had regularly read about West Dean so it seemed a natural starting point. I was interested in tapestry-as-art, and the West Dean course offered a solid grounding in the art and the craft side. The College’s short courses and modules provided me with my initial entry-point and I attended a seven-week module, where I found myself simultaneously learning tapestry technique and being introduced to as yet unknown-to-me realms of contemporary art. But I was hooked, and decided to return to study on the full-time programmes. The combination of the practical and the intellectual makes the West Dean programme so attractive. Having your own studio space with access from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. including weekends was another big draw. Only when I returned to Hamburg did I realise how valuable all that weaving time was: I had learned to “see” in weaving terms. I have now set up my studio in Hamburg and exhibit extensively in Europe and North America.