Apprenticeships, Artist’s Residencies and Short Courses in 2024
TRAINING AT THE CHICHESTER WORKSHOP
We believe the best way to train liturgical artists is in the context of a thriving workshop. We offer practical training in a variety of media in this context. The training we offer includes occasional taught courses but our focus is on providing apprenticeships within a workshop setting.
WHO CAN APPLY?
If you have an interest in the techniques of traditional Christian iconography and want to broaden your practical experience, then these training opportunities are for you.
HOW IS TRAINING FUNDED?
Apprenticeships are a mixture of one-to-one tuition, practical studies and, where projects allow, paid work. There is currently funding available via a charitable trust to cover tuition and material costs.
WHERE IS THE CHICHESTER WORKSHOP?
The workshop is currently in the village of South Harting in the South Downs National Park, UK. South Harting is a 10 mins drive from Petersfield which is around an hour from London Waterloo by train. Our aim is for the Workshop to be situated within walking distance of Chichester Cathedral from Spring 2025.
WHEN WILL APPRENTICESHIPS BE ADVERTISED
We intend to advertise for 2025 apprenticeships opportunities in the near future and will send out information via our newsletter (please sign up below if you haven’t already) as well as posting here. Please scroll down for details of the short courses we are running in 2025.
OTHER QUESTIONS?
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch at info@chichesterworkshop.org.
PAST APPRENTICES Since 2023 we have welcomed ten apprentices to the Chichester Workshop. Short apprenticeships, lasting up to three months, have usually been based around current commissions. Each apprentice has brought with them a different professional experience that they have sought to build on while learning how to apply their skills to liturgical work.
Our apprentices to date have included a Coptic iconographer who came to study the techniques of Byzantine mosaic; a cabinet maker who undertook three solid weeks of gessoing; a classically trained sculptor who wanted to learn more about egg tempera by assisting in the painting of a life-size crucifix; and a professional gilder seeking ways to broaden her practice. We have learnt as much from them as they have from us.
Training opportunities are flexible, so if you think you might benefit from a time in the Chichester Workshop please get in touch through the email address below.
SHORT COURSE: BYZANTINE & EARLY CHRISTIAN MOSAIC
5 days
17–21 February 2025
This five-day workshops will be taught by Martin at the Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts in London and provide an introduction to all aspects of traditional mosaic. By making two small mosaics, students will learn the principles with which Byzantine mosaics were designed and the techniques employed to realise them.
Students will use traditional materials, including glass tesserae from Murano in Venice and hand tools that have been in use since Roman times.
Full price: £385 (concessions available)
To book and for more info please visit the PFSTA website.
SHORT COURSE: ICON PAINTING
5 days
19-23 May 2025 &
15-19 September 2025
In 2025 Aidan Hart will be running two five-day icon painting workshops at Walcot Hall in Lydbury North, Shropshire (www.walcothall.com). In the May workshop students will concentrate on the face by painting a head or a bust, and in September will paint a full figure with an emphasis on proportion and drapery. There will be a talk with slides at the beginning of each workshop.
The course caters both for the inexperienced and the more experienced, on a first-come-first serve basis.
Price of tuition plus lunches: £550
Optional cost of on-site accommodation: £335
For more info and to apply please visit Aidan’s website.
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