Before West Dean's celebrated Head Gardeners Jim Buckland and Sarah Wain retire at the end of March, on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 (between 7-10pm), there will be an Evening with Jim Buckland and Sarah Wain in the Old Library, West Dean College of Arts and Conservation.

Students in the Ceramics Conservation department at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation learn to conserve a wide range of objects from Chinese ceramics to Saxon glass, but it was difficult to say no when the family of a former College staff member now in a nursing home came to the College with a broken Father Christmas owned by a fellow resident.

Alison Richmond, the outgoing CEO of Icon (the Institute of Conservation) has become a newly
elected Trustee of The Edward James Foundation - the charity responsible for West Dean College
of Arts and Conservation. (Photo credit: Eric Richmond)

West Dean College of Arts and Conservation announces Renee So as Artist-in-Residence in 2019. The three-week residency in May 2019 will support a solo exhibition of So's work at the De La Warr Pavilion in Autumn 2019.

West Dean Tapestry Studio is working on a tapestry conceived and commissioned by the Charterhouse; the almshouse and heritage site in London with a strong emphasis on learning. Uniquely but fittingly, the Charterhouse has involved a team of children to create the design, working with the internationally acclaimed UK tapestry studio's expert weavers. The project has been funded by Neil and Emma Redcliffe.

West Dean College of Arts and Conservation announces Mary Hampton as the first ever Composer-in-Residence at the College. Throughout the year, Hampton will be curating Salon Imaginaire, a series of seven concerts at the College.

Elizabeth Neville MA ACR has been appointed the new Head of School of Conservation at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation. Elizabeth has over thirty years' experience as a book conservator, interspersed with teaching conservation to Graduate and Masters students.