Bedales School builds for the Arts

PETERSFIELD, U.K. - July 1, 2014 - PRLog -- Today Bedales, the school with the Arts at its heart, launches a campaign to fund an inspirational new Art & Design building in the very centre of the school. Planning permission has been granted for a two-storey barn that will enclose an open courtyard. A large and spreading oak tree is in the middle of this grassy quad and will dominate the development.

This building will combine all the Art and Design disciplines taught at Bedales – painting and fashion, industrial design and sculpture, woodwork, jewellery, ceramics, print-making, sculpting and drawing. These will all be studied in one integrated building that will reflect excellence in teaching and in which students can maximise development of their skills and nurture their talents.

A fundraising campaign to raise £3.5 million is underway.  Once funding is secured, construction will begin in Spring 2015 and the new building will open its doors to students in the Autumn term 2016.

Commenting on the public launch of the project, Keith Budge, Headmaster Bedales Schools, said: “Bedales is constantly evolving. In 2006, Bedales Assessed Courses were introduced as a better alternative to some GCSEs and this enabled Art and Design students to play to their strengths and gave ample scope for ambition and creativity. The truth is, however, that the buildings in which we teach Art and Design are tired. They are struggling to remain weatherproof and there is simply not enough space to accommodate all the students who wish to take these subjects. A new Art & Design building, combined with our first class teaching, will be a powerful combination.”

Patron of the Bedales Art & Design building project and Old Bedalian, David Linley, said: ”This is the most exciting building , an inspired take on the arts and crafts tradition at Bedales. New generations of students will love to study here and will produce great work. My only regret is that I myself will not be getting down to business in the sunlit studios and workshops “.

To find out more about the project, please visit www.bedales.org.uk/art-design/ or contact Veryan Vere-Hodge, Head of Development, Bedales Schools, vverehodge@bedales.org.uk.