For those inspired by Sky TV’s The Prince’s Master Crafters: The Next Generation, in collaboration with the Heritage Crafts Association, which begins on Sky Arts on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, West Dean College of Arts and Conservation in West Sussex offers short courses in several crafts on the Heritage Crafts Association’s Red List of Endangered Crafts.  

Aiming to help ensure the survival of these important traditional techniques, the courses range from fan making to straw hat plaiting to letterpress printing to passementerie (tassel making) to marbling and Sussex trug making and will run throughout the rest of 2022. Students have the chance to learn from master craftspeople, and to contribute the passing of skills to new generations, whether as a hobby, passion or new career.  

May 27 - 30, 2022 - An introduction to chasing and repousśe in copper with Bryony Knox (Suitable for all) £456 

August 18 - 21, 2022 - Mokulito printmaking with Mary Dalton (Beginners/ Intermediate) £421 

August 26 - 28, 2022 - Passementerie - grand tassels with multiple moulds with Anna Crutchley (Beginners/ Intermediate) £271 

August 29, 2022, Passementerie – make a cotton key tassel with Anna Crutchley (Suitable for all) £143 

September 10, 2022 - Decorative fan making in Perspex and polypropylene with Sarah Macrae (Beginners) £163 

Also on the Endangered List is Clockmaking, the College offers a Foundation Degree in Clocks which is a two-academic year level 4 & 5 Foundation Degree validated by the University of Sussex. It will equip students with the hand-skills, knowledge and professional practice necessary for a career in clock making.  There is also a Foundation Degree in Metalwork, which offers the opportunity to study all aspects of metalwork, silversmithing and coppersmithing for students to progress to a career as a craftsperson or to further study.  Other Foundation Degree courses include Furniture and Musical Instrument making, which also focus on teaching traditional making methods and hand skills.  

West Dean College of Arts and Conservation has an international reputation for excellence and is a full partner of the University of Sussex. Students benefit from fully equipped workshops, expert tutors and lecturers, and access to material from the College’s amazing Collection and Archive. There are over 800 creative short courses on offer each year in a range of subjects. Craft Foundation Degrees include Metalwork, Furniture, Clocks and Musical Instruments, for more information on these, short courses and other Conservation and Fine Art study opportunities, see West Dean College.  

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