The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts

The Prince's Foundation School of Traditional Arts is part of a group of charities which reflect The Prince of Wales's profound interest in some of the most relevant and pressing challenges facing the world we live in today. Tradition is central to our identity as an institution. The inspirational journey of the School is a continuous, cyclical evolution, based on the understanding of Tradition as the path of continual renewal. The School's understanding of this concept of Tradition allows us to return to the principal roots of an idea, or to the archetypal origin of a form, to realise the underlying timeless principles they express. This allows it always to be relevant in the contemporary context.

The School of Traditional Arts has, for a number of years now, pioneered practical post-graduate degrees, at Masters and Doctoral level, in the traditional arts of the great civilisations of the world. The School emphasises the importance of integrating the theoretical study of the traditional arts with their practical application. One of the School's main objectives is to encourage an awareness of the holistic nature of the traditional artist, whose inspiration derives from the highest sources and whose skill and dedication creates masterpieces which we can all recognise as part of our world heritage.

By learning and practising traditional arts as living skills that can be applied in contemporary design, students at the Prince’s School create beautiful objects – ceramic tiles and bowls; stained glass and wood marquetry; oil paintings, icons, miniatures and frescoes; carving, furniture and buildings. There is beauty in the students’ steady, disciplined practice of crafts and skills that is deeply-rooted in the inspirational principles common to all traditional cultures. 

Students learn the techniques of some of the 14th-17th century's master painters - from grinding and preparing pigments to formulating a range of traditional recipes essential to egg tempera and oil painting. The techniques of preparing a gesso panel and gilding are also taught.

This course covers the essentials of egg tempera painting, especially as used in traditional Orthodox sacred icons. The course begins with discussions about elements essential to any sacred art.

This course opens with a brief overview of the different schools and styles of miniature painting and manuscript illustration, focusing mainly on the Persian tradition. It goes on to explore the themes, colour symbolism and patronage within the tradition. Design layout composition and spatial relationship, are also considered.

Students are introduced to the practice of Indian miniature painting through a series of demonstrations and slide lectures. The technique is illustrated step-by-step so that each aspect of the craft, from the initial preparation of colours to the final detailed painting, is revealed. The experience enables students to understand both the practical and philosophical wisdom that lies within this ancient tradition.

Islimi, sometimes referred to as “arabesque,” are biomorphic forms based on geometric principles. 

Students learn to experiment with all aspects of design and manufacture, including the production of 'the cut line' of a chosen image, selecting colours, cutting the glass, and then leading and soldering the glass together.

Students learn the process of veneering, with a focus on parquetry and inlay. By way of introduction, the history, methods and materials of wood inlay, and its application in interiors and furniture, are presented.

Students learn design and practical painting skills to produce beautifully decorated ceramic plates, and geometric tiles.

Study trips provide invaluable, up-close and memorable experiences that give enormous inspiration to the students’ own work. 

The Open Programme at The School of Traditional Arts is accessible to anyone who is interested in learning more about the traditional arts and wants to practise them. The structure of the Open Programme reflects the curriculum of our masters degree course in its core modules. These are: Geometry, Painting, Decorative Ornamentation, Applied Arts and Calligraphy.