- The perfect creative summer retreat -

West Dean College of Arts and Conservation has just launched their hugely popular Summer School programme for 2022. In the height of summer, this arts and crafts retreat in the glorious West Sussex countryside offers those keen to learn new skills or perfect existing talents, the chance to immerse themselves in their craft. Summer Schools run between Friday, July 22, 2022 to Thursday, August, 11, 2022, with 27 week-long courses to choose from ranging from printmaking, painting, sculpture, enamel, textiles, photography, tapestry, jewellery-making, pottery and ceramics; stained glass, stonecarving, silversmithing, blacksmithing, automata making, book making and creative writing. Eight of the courses are new for 2022 and offer the chance for students to escape everyday life to learn something new or begin a journey that could progress to a new passion, career or even further education. More details can be found at www.westdean.ac.uk.

Among the wide variety of new courses is: Gilded sculpture from found wood with Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva (July 22-28, 2022/ £876/ suitable for all); Enamel: imagery and effects with Sheila R McDonald (July 22-28, 2022/ £890/ suitable for all); Creative photography – making captivating photographs with David Clapp (July 22-28/ £830/ intermediate); Land art using natural materials – interventions and sculpture with Dan Lobb (July 29 – August 4, 2022/ £800/ suitable for all); Drawing to painting in oils – the figure in summer with Tim Patrick (July 29- August 4/ £905/ intermediate/ advanced) Fragile forms – in cloth and hand stitch with Amanda Clayton (July 29 – August 4/ £840/ suitable for all); Stone carving – flora, fauna and fungi with Paula Haughney (August 5-11, 2022/ £800/ suitable for all) and Writing from life – finding shape and form in your writing with Hannah Vincent (August 5-11, 2022/ £800/ suitable for all).

At a time when international travel may again be uncertain and stressful for many, the Summer Schools over a hassle-free option and chance to focus on creativity whilst making the most of the College’s beautiful gardens and surrounding landscape. Many students choose to go for early morning or evening walks in the award-winning gardens, while others spend their evenings chatting over a drink in the courtyard, or reading in the historic Oak Hall. Many of the courses embrace the College’s stunning surroundings, making use of the connection between both creativity and time spent outdoors to boost wellbeing. As Rosemary Marley, Short Course Manager at West Dean, explains: “West Dean’s Summer School attracts students from all over the UK, allowing students to nurture their creativity in an immersive week away from the pressures of everyday life. They are able to learn a new skill or hone their existing talents with intensive teaching and be inspired by the beautiful surroundings and artistic atmosphere.”

Alongside each course, students can also spend a short session in one of the other courses to learn something new and to complete the retreat-style atmosphere other highlights include the chance to attend evening talks by tutors; sign-up for an optional evening at Chichester Festival Theatre; go on a tour of West Dean Gardens, the historic rooms at West Dean College or West Dean Tapestry Studio. To benefit from the College’s art school setting students take part in end of week exhibitions and group reviews, with a celebration dinner on the final evening.

Other courses include: Exploring sculptural forms in woven tapestry with Cos Ahmet (July 22–28, 2022/ £854/ intermediate); Dynamic techniques for sculpting animals with clay with Susan Halls (July 22-28, 2022/ £920/ Suitable for all); Reshaping cloth – print and manipulation with Caroline Bartlett (July 29 – August 4, 2022/ £842/ suitable for all); Personalities in clay – developing your own way of throwing with Kyra Cane (July 29 – August 4, 2022/ £920/ intermediate to advanced); Silversmithing – create vessels and sculptural jewellery with Abigail Brown (August 5 -11, 2022/ £800/ suitable for all) and Making automata – mechanisms and kinetic artworks with Stephen Guy (August 5 – 11, 2022/ £850/ suitable for all).

To ensure a safe and welcoming campus, the College has put in place measures operating on a principle of the same as, or better than, national guidelines. This includes social distancing, self-opening doors, less students in workshops, and extensive cleaning and sanitising protocols to protect students and staff. For more details on Social Distancing and COVID-19 measures, please visit https://www.westdean.org.uk/coronavirus

Bursaries are available to help those who could not otherwise come on a course. Find out more about bursaries.

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