At this year's Arts and Craft Festival, West Sussex-based Abdollah, and his partner Kate, will be demonstrating three of the key elements of making a Sussex chair in Victorian times.
Tickets are now on sale for the West Dean Arts and Craft Festival, which will take place within the beautiful grounds of West Dean College of Arts and Conservation in West Sussex from Friday, May 31 - Sunday, June 2, 2019. The Festival, which is open each day from 10am - 5pm, offers visitors the opportunity to try their hand at something new in a fun environment and go home, after a bit of escapism, saying "I made that!"
Celebrate Easter by bringing family and friends to explore the award-winning West Dean Gardens. During the Easter holidays from 19 April - 22 April, 2019 between 9am - 5pm (Last entry 4pm), children can take part in a traditional Easter Trail around thegardens, which will have a sweet treat chocolate prize at the end. For the first time, Mary Dalton (a tutor in printmaking from West Dean College) will be running an Easter-themed arts and craft activity in the Gardens' classroom.
Dates have been announced for Line and Form 2019 - an exciting exhibition showcasing the diverse range of work from the full-time Visual Arts students at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation. It's an exciting opportunity to acquire drawings, textiles, prints and ceramics from emerging and early career artists at affordable prices.
With Mother's Day coming up soon on Sunday March 31 2019, West Dean Gardens near Chichester are offering an extra special Mother's Day gift that will last a season! All mums will receive a bunch of daffodils and a free Spring Pass* worth £19, for unlimited Gardens entry until 31 May 2019 (excluding Arts and Craft Festival).
West Dean Gardens are delighted to announce the appointment of Tom Brown as Head Gardener - he will start on May 7, 2019. Tom is joining West Dean Gardens from nearby Parham House, where he became Head Gardener in 2010. Prior to that, he worked at RHS Wisley Gardens for 10 years, latterly running the plant and vegetable trials. He is a regular contributor on BBC Radio Sussex and Surrey, a member of the RHS Herbaceous Committee and an RHS Show Judge.
Students from West Dean College of Arts and Conservation have travelled far and wide this term to highly respected institutions and museums, to work with the top conservators and experts in the field of conservation.
From the colour of the Chilli Fiesta to the creativity of the Arts and Crafts Festival to the relaxing Gardens and the diversity of the musical performances, throughout 2019, West Dean will be offering a wide variety of events.
For the 5th year, West Dean College of Arts and Conservation will be holding a series of courses devoted to The Preservation and collection care for libraries in collaboration with the British Library - the national library of the United Kingdom, and the second largest library in the world. These fascinating courses are for professionals, conservation students and those interested in continuing professional development in this area offering access to relevant training and expertise.
In the year that they retire, West Dean Gardens is establishing a fund and seeking donations, to establish a Trainee Horticulturalist post in honour of the legacy that Head Gardeners Jim Buckland and Sarah Wain have left in the gardens; to give someone at the start of their career, the chance they need to work towards managing a garden like West Dean.
