Attingham Study Programme

Attingham Summer School

Royal Collection Studies

Since its foundation in 1952, THE ATTINGAM SUMMER SCHOOL has enjoyed outstanding success and is highly regarded by museums, universities and historic preservation societies throughout the world for its careful selection of members, and sustained academic standards.

The School has three main purposes:

To EXAMINE the architectural and social history of the historic house in Britain and its gardens and landscape setting.

To STUDY the contents of these buildings – their paintings, sculpture, furniture, ceramics, silver, textiles and other applied arts – as well as the planning, decorative treatment and use of the interiors.

To STIMULATE debate on problems relating to the conservation and presentation of the country house and its contents.

The programme in 2012, based at three centres, will give members a chance to study about twenty-five historic houses – usually on specially arranged visits – accompanied by specialist tutors and visiting lecturers.

Seminars and lectures set the country house in a broader artistic and social context, and time is given for discussion and for developing contacts, a popular and important ingredient of the course.

A specialism cannot always be studied in depth, but there are excellent opportunities to broaden one’s knowledge of architecture and the decorative arts.

The Attingham Summer School offers a unique, if strenuous, approach to art education for museum curators, architectural historians, conservationists and teachers.

THE 61st ATTINGHAM SUMMER SCHOOL

Over the course of 18 days the 61st Attingham Summer School will visit country houses in Sussex, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Dorset.The Summer School begins in Sussex, based in the beautiful surroundings of WEST DEAN, latterly the home of the great Surrealist collector, Edward James, and now an educational trust. During the first week the School will visit a number of properties nearby, including ARUNDEL CASTLE, the home of the Dukes of Norfolk for over 700 years and GOODWOOD HOUSE, which will expose the School to fine portraits, tapestries and an important collection of Sèvres porcelain. A whole day at PETWORTH combines the Baroque magnificence of the 17th century with a picturesque landscape, and a visit to UPPARK asks important questions about restoration.These visits will be supplemented by a corresponding series of lectures.

The next leg of the course goes north, via the ancient seat of Lord and Lady Saye and Sele at BROUGHTON CASTLE and on to properties in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.The most prominent visit will be two full days of unparalleled access at CHATSWORTH, providing opportunity for seminars on the collections of the Dukes of Devonshire from the 16th century to the present day, and to discuss methods of presentation and education. Other highlights include a full day at HARDWICK HALL and a chance to see the magnificent Neo-Classical work of Robert Adam at KEDLESTON.

The School will draw to a close with a few days in Dorset, one of the most unspoilt counties of England. On the journey south the School will stop at the magnificent 18th-century landscape and house of STOURHEAD before also visiting another NationalTrust property at KINGSTON LACY with its exceptional paintings and library demonstrating the changing tastes of the 18th and 19th centuries. A number of private houses will also be visited, including SHUTE and MELBURY before ending at WILTON HOUSE, the seat of the Earls of Pembroke, and its exceptional example of the Palladian architecture of Inigo Jones and John Webb and the award-winning newly-restored ground floor rooms.

Throughout the course, lectures and seminars will be held on aspects of historic country houses, including their collections, the development of gardens, parks and domestic services. The Summer School also gives the opportunity of studying a number of private collections, particularly in the last part of the course, details of which will be given during the programme.

The Attingham Trust reserves the right to make adjustments to the above information in the final programme.

Enrolment and Course Fees

The cost of the 18-day residential course includes tuition, most meals, accommodation, admission to houses and travel by private coach. Not included is the cost of drinks, laundry, guide books and membership of the National Trust (UK) / Royal Oak Foundation (US). The course will disperse in Salisbury on 23rd July.

Applications from the United States
Application forms are available from the website or from Cheryl Hageman, Administrator, American Friends of Attingham, 307 Seventh Avenue, Suite 1201, New York, NY 10001, USA. Email: attingham@verizon.net. The cost for general enrolment, which includes the US handling fee, is $5,290.

Applications from Britain, Europe and all other countries
Application forms are available from the website or from Rebecca Parker, The Attingham Trust, 70 Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6EJ. E-mail: rebecca.parker@attinghamtrust.org. The cost for general enrolment is £3,070.

To qualify for a scholarship

Several scholarships are offered to candidates on the 2012 Summer School in addition to general enrolment.

To qualify for a scholarship, applicants should be in full-time employment in a museum or art gallery, or with a conservation body, or equivalent organisation. Alternatively they should be practising architects concerned primarily with conservation or be teachers of the fine and decorative arts. They are asked to supply a statement of financial need with their applications.

Candidates, other than those from the USA, awarded a full scholarship either wholly from The Attingham Trust, or in combination with their institution or a separate funding body, are asked to make a personal contribution of £200 to support the work of the Attingham charitable trust.

Closing dates for applications

The closing date is 31st January 2012. Completed forms must be accompanied by a statement of how attendance at the Attingham Summer School may benefit the applicant’s career, together with letters of reference in suppor t of the application, and a statement of financial need if scholarship assistance is required.

All applicants will be notified by mid-March whether they have been accepted.To secure their places, course members should make an immediate deposit of $500/£350 (where applicable).

The balance of the fee is due without further notice by 30th April 2012. Participants are strongly advised to insure against cancellation as no refunds will be made once a place has been confirmed.

The Council of The Attingham Trust reserves the right to adjust fees if there is a substantial change in the exchange rate as these were assessed on the basis of assumptions made in September 2011. Should this prove necessary, members will be informed by 1st April 2012.

DIRECTORS OF THE SUMMER SCHOOL
Helen Jacobsen, MA, D.Phil
Andrew Moore, Ph.D, FSA

ADMINISTRATOR
Rebecca Parker, MA

Applicants from all countries except the United States Download PDF Application Form

Applicants from the United States Download PDF Application Form