Our wood and stone carving studios will be open to visitors, who are encouraged to cast their vote in the ever-popular two-day student carving competition, this year themed around Sir Christopher Wren in honour of the tercentenary of his death. As well as watching the historic craft skills of wood and stone carving in action, visitors can have a go at stone carving themselves. These activities and a host of others related to our specialisms are also part of the Art School’s London Craft Week 2023 programming. To find out more click HERE
For over 165 years City & Guilds of London Art School has played a vital role in passing on specialist craft skills and inspiring new generations of artists and makers to restore and conserve precious built and cultural heritage for all to see and enjoy.
The Carving department originated in the post-war effort to train professionals for the restoration of war-torn London. Today the courses – validated in 2019 as BA (Hons) Carving and MA Carving – are unique at this level in the UK and further afield and prepare students to work as professionals within the disciplines of woodcarving & gilding or architectural stone carving, able to replicate ornament and reinstate elements of figurative sculpture as well as create new works. By teaching a unique blend of skills, they play a crucial role in keeping alive and securing the future of specialist craftsmanship central to the preservation of historic monuments.