West Dean College of Arts and Conservation have now announced their 2020 Summer Schools, which take place from July 24 to August 13, 2020.

It’s not long until Christmas, and we all start to worry what to buy the person who has everything! West Dean College of Arts and Conservation offers a wide variety of short courses (ranging from one to four days) that gives the opportunity to make a one-off item, or by giving a place on a course - a friend or family member could start 2020 by learning a new skill and feeling a sense of accomplishment. There are over 800 courses to choose from every year ranging from millinery to blacksmithing to painting to basket making.

As we ease into Autumn we need to have something to look forward to and inspire us into the Winter months. West Dean College of Arts and Conservation's programme of short courses from October 2019 - March 2020 is now live online, and among the 430 courses on offer are 89 new ones. Trends this season include the Autumn landscape, re-using and extending the life of materials, and courses inspired by the earth during with an Earth Matters week of courses in February.

More of us are opting to enrich our lives through arts and craft practices, unlocking creativity as well as escaping the pressures of daily life. This is exactly what the new Autumn/Winter short course programme at West Dean College aims to deliver; a way to find a new craft or develop an existing skill, all the while enhancing quality of life.