As we reach the end of 2019, Alison Baxter, Head of School of Arts, reflects on some of the School's highlights from the year.

Some five years ago, West Dean College of Arts and Conservation took the decision to embark on a project to make recordings of memories of our founder Edward James, conscious that people who had known him were no longer youngsters. British Library trained Oral Historian, Jackie Herrington, has captured just under 30 hours of recordings from 24 different individuals, and there are more individuals to be interviewed. Find out what we have learnt about Edward James so far in this blog.

Earlier in 2019, West Dean College of Arts and Conservation were contacted about conserving a selection of painted plaster figures from a Nativity scene. Potentially dating from the Nineteenth Century, the figures had been residing in local church, St Mary The Virgin, Upwaltham (West Sussex).

Sharon Duggal tells us about her experience as Writer in Residence at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation during November 2019. 

Peter Grimwood is one of just two Orrery makers in the country and he recently spent a day (on November 21st) at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation explaining how to make an Orrery to students.

Full-time Fine Art students from West Dean College of Arts and Conservation recently made a group visit to the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-upon-Sea. David Stent, Fine Art Subject Leader, tells us all about it in this blog post.

Interview with Sarah Plested – Open Learning Garden Design Student of the Year 2016

On November 4 2019, conservators around the world participated in Ask a Conservator day. A day that encourages international collaboration and knowledge exchange. 

Tutors and students from our School of Conservation tweeted via the College’s Twitter profile to answer questions and share insights into their experiences in the Conservation sector.

West Dean College of Arts and Conservation MFA alumnus Laura Luna Castillo has just been awarded the 'Best VR Award' by the Nexon Computer Museum in South Korea for her immersive Virtual Reality work developed in August 2019 for the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology at Virginia Tech.