Autumn Term 2019 TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS STUDYING ON A DEGREE OR DIPLOMA PROGRAMME Discover More West Dean Summer Show, Phoebe Connolly, DACC, 2019

The new academic year is now well-established. Already, Fine Art students have enjoyed a series Mary Hampton, In October 2018, Mary Hampton became of workshops in printmaking, the first ever Composer-in-Residence tapestry, painting and stone Composer-in-Residence, at West Dean College. The College’s carving to gain an understanding writes a new carol inaugural Composer-in-Residence of the materials which can inform programme provides musicians with their studio practice. In the School for West Dean the opportunity to research, reflect and experiment in order to develop the of Conservation, students are The Friends of West Dean Carols by possibilities of their own practice. The making use of a brand new facility the Christmas Tree, on Thursday 12 Composer-in-Residence is enriching the for science and research with December 2019 in the Oak Hall, included learning environment for the College’s arts space for laboratory teaching the first performance of a new carol and conservation students. Throughout and analytical work. The facility They all were looking for a king. This was this year and next, Mary has arranged supports MA project research and specially written for the occasion by Mary Salon Imaginaire, a wonderfully varied enables staff to conduct research Hampton, West Dean Composer-in- series of concerts at the College. in the fields of conservation and Residence, for the Winterbourne Singers Forthcoming concerts: heritage science. and West Dean Viol Players to perform. Sunday 5 January 2020, 4.00-5.00pm 16th to 18th Century music As we continue to chart an ambitious Mary talked to us about her commission: Performed by Alison Crum and Roy Marks trajectory of growth for the College, I am on a range of early instruments delighted to announce that Professor Paul “Since becoming Composer-in-Residence O’Prey CBE has been at West Dean, I’ve been frankly Sunday 5 January 2020, 4.00-5.00pm appointed Chair of the overwhelmed by how many creative 16th to 18th Century music Board of Trustees for The possibilities surround me from day to day, Performed by Alison Crum and Roy Marks Foundation within the house and grounds, the library on a range of early instruments which is responsible for and archive, and amongst the various West Dean College of specialisms of the students and teachers Arts and Conservation. that come and go here. And while I’ve been enjoying experimenting with new With an extensive Paul O’Prey career in higher education, latterly as Vice- techniques and approaches in my own practise (in the spirit of Edward James), I Chancellor and President of the University confess I jumped at the chance to make of Roehampton, London, Professor O’Prey this quieter, more traditional piece for the is well-positioned to support the strategic Winterbourne Singers. ambitions of the College. A few years back, I had the pleasure He replaces the Hon Peter Benson LVO MA of being involved in a Christmas Eve FCA who has stepped down after seventeen broadcast for Radio 3, for which I years as a Trustee, ten of them as Chairman. performed a great old folk song called During that time, Peter has driven progress the Cherry Tree Carol, and since then towards a more sustainable business model I’ve found a new appreciation for carols for the Foundation and leaves us in excellent in general. Of course, it’s difficult to bring shape to deliver on the key strategic new words to bear on such a well-worn objectives of Vision 2027. theme, so I went back to my own roots to find the unusual lyrics for They all were looking for a king, by George MacDonald, a notable Victorian inhabitant of the house in Hammersmith where I grew up; I think Alex Barron they still speak very clearly to our times.” CEO

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read. It’s the thing that most writers want, Spotlight on... for readers to like their writing. You mention the creative process of Jim Green, MA Creative writing, can you expand on that? Writing & Publishing One particular thing about West Dean for creative writers is the emphasis on engaging What brought you to West Dean authors and artists with each other which College? puts a very real-life aspect into our work. There are many similarities between what I’ve lived near West Dean for fifteen years they are doing and what we are doing; and have done a number of short courses, structure, planning, perseverance, acquisition keen to get inside the main door. I’ve had of a creative skill. This isn’t about learning by a Creative Writing MA in my sights since rote, but rather a carefully crafted, thought 2008, but because of my job I wasn’t able provoking, lifetime process. to go full-time, so I looked at other ways of learning online and at other colleges. To my Tell us about your work. What are your aims for the course? mind, what they offer doesn’t come close to I’m writing fiction, in the crime/domestic Over the two-year course I will have West Dean. noire genre, drawing partly from worked on a single book aiming for a For me, it’s important I can say I did my MA autobiographical material which can be an minimum of 60,000 words. Although I here. It’s not just about creative writing but issue if I stay too close. My main character had the idea before the course started, also the broader West Dean experience; is a GP. I have a particular interest in family, my aim by the end, is to have a reasonably being part of its artistic community. There health and social issues, looking through a finished and polished second draft that is something about the sense of place here, criminal eye, taking quite a dark position. I I can confidently send out to agents and which is engaging in its own right. The envisage this as a series. The first book is publishers. history, the variety of things going on, the about assisted death, exploring the nature Getting published will be the final stage people you meet, all fire the imagination. of both the subject’s position and those of what we call, ‘becoming a writer’. Another big thing about the West Dean that might be willing to help. It is a moral I believe this is achievable given that we course is its publishing element as that’s tale as well as fiction; exploring questions are tutored by, constantly engage with where I’m aiming; to get published. I want about rights and wrongs, without imposing a and learn from real life authors, editors, to produce something that people want to judgement. publishers and agents.

well as impacting on individual artists, artist Banner Culture at the British Bauhaus: Art and groups, and collectives. Textile Biennial Education Symposium Visitors heard from Professor Jeremy The British Textile Biennial 2019 Aynsley from the University of Brighton, took place in October and featured a Professor Gavin Butt from Northumbria banner made at West Dean last year University and Sarah Kate Wilson from the as part of the Processions celebration Camberwell College of Arts who discussed of Women’s suffrage. her students’ experiences working at the new Bauhaus Museum in Dessau, Germany. We really wanted to celebrate In the final panel of the symposium, Lauren women’s rights and also draw Godfrey, a London-based artist discussed attention to contemporary issues In Spring 2019, West Dean College work she produced for the De La Warr around equality, the gender pay welcomed Renee So as Artist-in-Residence, Pavilion earlier this year, focusing on how gap, and the #metoo movement. as part of a collaboration between the her artistic practice was opened up to The workshop acknowledged that, College and the De La Warr Pavilion to collaboration and interaction, drawing although much has been done toward mark the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus. parallels with the Bauhaus approach to gender equality over the past century, Founded in Germany in 1919, the Bauhaus making and teaching. This was one of there is still some way to go. We can remains one of the most important and several projects taking place at the Pavilion do that creatively, and in cooperation, influential art schools of the twentieth through the year to mark the centenary of to make our voices heard. century, from its avant-garde arts and crafts the Bauhuas School. beginnings to its radical approach to uniting You can visit Renee’s exhibition ‘Ancient Sarah Hughes, Curatorial Assistant, art, technology and everyday life. and Modern’ at the De La Warr Pavillion West Dean College. until Sunday 12 January 2020. In October 2019, we welcomed Renee West Dean colleagues marching at Processions in June 2019. back to the College amongst a number It showcases the new body of work she of other prominent guest speakers for created during her time as Artist-in- a one-day symposium entitled Bauhaus: Residence at West Dean, in which she Art and Education. At a time of increased responded particularly to the legacy of pressure on universities and arts education female makers of the Bauhaus, many of in particular, this symposium explored how whom are lesser known than their male early experiments in pedagogy continue counterparts, and who were often pushed to inspire our institutions of education, as towards craft practices within the school.

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Meet new Trainee Horticulturalist Laura Mellor as she settles into life at West Dean Gardens

Q: How have your first couple of Q: What does the traineeship mean months been? to you? A: Amazing! I have thoroughly enjoyed A: It’s a complete starting point for me, every day so far. West Dean is an coming to a garden like West Dean, I incredibly vast place and I am still have realised how many elements there getting to know where everything is are to horticulture. There is a huge but everyone has been so warm and variety of skill involved and I am excited friendly. to learn about each area of the gardens and to see which pathway I will be Q: What have you been up to since drawn to. you started? A: I have been helping tend to plants Q: What are your future career goals? Your response to the Trainee in the glasshouses, taking cuttings, A: I want to work in a large established Horticulturalist appeal in recognition moving plants, washing inside and garden, I’m not yet sure exactly which of Jim Buckland and Sarah Wain’s great outside of the glasshouses. I’ve also path I will take, but being here for two contribution as Head Gardeners at West had the chance to spend some time in years is fantastic as I can learn all of the Dean was amazing! You joined them to the Arboretum learning about all the areas in year one and specialise in a give a new trainee early-career experience different species of trees. specific area in year two. I would like to working in a great historic garden, and here thank everyone who has helped make she is.... this possible for me.

Alumni – where are they now? Edward James and Daniel Ravizza (MA, Conservation “A very successful failure” Studies specialising in Metalwork, 2016) is the Objects Conservator In November, Caroline Hamilton has been able to study at the Smithsonian Institution’s Caroline Hamilton, the wealth of cultural materials in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in PhD candidate Edward James Archive and through the Chantilly, Virginia, the extension of at the University letters, photographs, music manuscripts the National Air and Space Museum of Brighton and and programmes she has pieced together in Washington, D.C. His role has Royal Pavilion and the story of Les Ballets. A selection of these included unusual tasks such as Museums, gave a items were on display in the Old Dining moving Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit, and examining clothing belonging to very informative Room to complement the talk. famed aviator Charles Lindbergh. illustrated talk on Through his involvement with Les Ballets, her current doctoral Daniel received funding from The Sidney Edward James met many leading artists Sanders Charitable Trust Scholarship research into of the day, including the painter Pavel and The Leche Trust bursary in 2015/16. Edward James and Tchelitchew, composers and Les Ballets 1933. Darius Milhaud, librettist , After Sergei Diaghilev’s death in 1929, designer André Derain, the dancer, Tamara the great Ballet company he had founded, Toumanova and singer, . Ballet Russes, disbanded and the members Sadly, it did not lead to Edward and Tilly’s of the company scattered across Europe. reconciliation, and Les Ballets was short- Finding there was little work for them, the lived - just twenty performances of six choreographer, Georges Balanchine and ballets in Paris and London - but Edward dancer, Boris Kochno, set up their own Anna Rolls (Postgraduate Diploma, James’ financial support, which he claimed Les Ballets 1933 Conservation Studies specialising in company, . They drew to have been as much as £100,000, proved Metalwork, 2008) is Curator of the together young dancers, librettists, set and very significant. Caroline concluded that Clockmakers’ Museum. Recently, costume designers and makers, were full of Edward James and Les Ballets 1933 was “a it was announced that the Space ideas for the company, but had no money very successful failure”. Les Ballets paved the Traveller II, an intricate watch to pay anyone. Enter Edward James into way for Georges Balanchine’s future career. handmade by British watchmaker the story, who agreed to fund them. His George Daniels, will be on public Lincoln Kirstein, impressed by Balanchine’s marriage in 1931 to the dancer, Tilly Losch, display here for the first time for a choreographer for Les Ballets, invited him to minimum of three years. was proving tempestuous. Edward thought New York. Ballachine went on to found the Anna was funded by the South Square by giving patronage to a ballet company renowned Ballet, where he Trust Scholarship and QEST in 2007/08. where Tilly could have a leading role, he remained Artistic Director for more than could win her over again. 35 years.

3 Autumn Term 2019 Impact 2018-19 – at a glance TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS STUDYING 7006 98 ON A DEGREE OR DIPLOMA PROGRAMME STUDENTS 811 SHORT COURSES RARE OR UNUSUAL COURSES HISTORIC INCLUDING FORE-EDGE PAINTING, A BOOK ART WHICH APPEARS ON CRAFT THE ENDANGERED CRAFTS LIST, AND MAKERS SKILLS IN BASKET-MAKING WHICH ARE 42 11 IN DANGER OF BEING LOST 28 STUDENTS COMPLETING PROFESSIONAL 9 MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN BUILDING conservators INSTRUMENT CONSERVATION MASTERCLASSES OR & collections MAKERS OBJECT AND MATERIALS CONSERVATION managers 329 OR BRITISH LIBRARY MASTERCLASSES 28 FINE ARTISTS

8 CREATIVE TEACHERS AWARDED SHORT COURSE BURSARIES TO TAKE SKILLS WRITERS 17 BACK TO TEACH THEIR OWN PUPILS YOU HELPED FUND SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES TO ENABLE 64 STUDENTS TO GAIN A QUALIFICATION

FUNDRAISING HOW WE INCOME - RAISED IT: £516,000 HOW IT WAS SPENT

scholarships 84,101 and bursaries educational projects GARDEN and equipment Friends gardens & historic buildings Individuals VISITORS general funds Trusts & Foundations

For further information contact the Development Office: West Dean College and Gardens are part Group Head of Fundraising - [email protected] Helen Saelensminde, of The Edward James Foundation Ltd, Jane Meechan, Development Manager - [email protected] a charitable company limited by guarantee. Ellie Foster, Fundraising Officer - [email protected] Company no. 6689362 Charity no. 1126084 Penny Sydenham, Memberships Officer - [email protected] West Dean College of Arts and Conservation, The Edward James Foundation, West Dean, Chichester, PO18 0QZ T. 01243 818265 westdean.org.uk

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