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[1] The Attingham Summer School, June 28–July 13, 2025.
Deadline: January 31, 2025.

Since its foundation in 1952, THE ATTINGHAM 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 72nd Attingham Summer School, a 16-day residential course directed by David Adshead and Tessa Wild, will visit country houses in Sussex, Oxfordshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire. From West Dean, our first base, we will study, amongst other houses and gardens: the complex overlays of Arundel Castle, the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Norfolk; Petworth House, where the patronage of great British artists such as Turner and Flaxman enrich its Baroque interiors; Parham, a fine Elizabethan house in an unrivalled setting; Standen, an Arts and Crafts reinterpretation of the country house and Broughton Castle, a moated and fortified manor house with a chapel first consecrated for Christian worship in 1331.

In the Midlands a series of related houses will be examined: Hardwick Hall, unique amongst Elizabethan houses for its survival of late 16th-century decoration and contents; Bolsover Castle, a Jacobean masque setting frozen in stone and Chatsworth, where the collections and gardens of the Cavendishes and Dukes of Devonshire span more than four centuries. Other highlights include Robert Adam’s crisp neo-Classical interior and Fishing Pavilion at Kedleston Hall.

The final part of the course will explore the rich estates and collections of Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire. Our itinerary will include the superb state apartments created for the visit of William III in 1695, fine collections and landscaped gardens at Boughton House – ‘the English Versailles’; Burghley House, a great Elizabethan ‘prodigy’ house, with its striking Baroque interiors, outstanding collections and Capability Brown-designed landscape; and Deene Park, originally built as a medieval manor house and aggrandised and remodelled by successive generations of the Brudenell family since 1514.

Course Director, The Attingham Summer School: David Adshead, FSA.
Course Director, The Attingham Summer School: Tessa Wild, FSA.
Course Coordinator: Sabrina Silva.

Enrolment and Fees: NB. Much of the information below is applicable to non-US applicants only. US-based applicants for the Summer School must apply and enquire about scholarships through the course page on the American Friends of Attingham website.

The cost of the residential course is £5,300. This includes accommodation, breakfast, lunch and most dinners. Tuition, admissions and travel by private coach during the course are also included. Accommodation throughout will be in single-occupancy rooms with en-suite facilities. The standard of the accommodation varies throughout the course. Not included is the costs of drinks, laundry, guide books and membership of the National Trust/Royal Oak Foundation, which is obligatory.

Applications: The deadline for applications is Friday 31 January 2025. All candidates will be notified by the end of March 2025 if they have been awarded a place. Payment of fees in full will be due by Wednesday 30 April 2025, and should be made by bank transfer. Participants are strongly advised to insure against cancellation, as no refunds will be made following payment, unless the place can be filled by another suitable candidate. In such a case, an administrative fee of £150 will be made.

Scholarships for applicants from countries other than the USA or Australia: Applicants who are unable to meet the fees are first encouraged to approach their institutions for full or partial financial assistance before applying for the course. Some scholarship funding through The Attingham Trust is available thanks to the generous support of various individuals and charitable foundations. Any candidate wishing to apply for a scholarship must complete the scholarship application at the bottom of the application form and provide details of his/her current salary.

Any queries can be directed to Sabrina Silva: sabrina.silvaattinghamtrust.org.

Scholarships for applicants from the USA: US Applicants seeking scholarship support should apply directly to the American Friends of Attingham using the specific scholarship form, available online at: www.americanfriendsofattingham.org/courses/summer-school.

Scholarships for applicants from Australia: For applicants from Australia seeking scholarships, please refer to: www.coplandfoundation.au by Thursday 28 November 2024.

French Porcelain Society Scholarship: Applicants who are members of the French Porcelain Society and have a professional or academic interest in ceramics are eligible for the French Porcelain Society Summer School Scholarship. All such applications should be sent to The Attingham Trust. Applicants for this scholarship should state clearly that they are an FPS member.

Silver Society Scholarship: Applicants who are professionally or academically involved in the world of silver are eligible for the Silver Society Summer School Scholarship in memory of Timothy Arthur Kent. All such applications should be sent to The Attingham Trust, stating that this scholarship is being applied for. Applicants can be of any nationality but need to be resident in the UK. They do not need to be members of the Silver Society.

[2] Royal Collection Studies, August 31–September 9, 2025.
Deadline: February 14, 2025.

The Royal Collection is one of the world’s leading collections of fine and decorative art, with over one million works from six continents, many of them masterpieces. Working in partnership with The Royal Collection Trust, this ten-day residential course offers participants the opportunity to study the magnificent holdings of paintings, furniture, metalwork, porcelain, jewellery, sculpture, arms and armour, books and works on paper and to examine the architecture and interiors of the palaces which house them.

Based near Windsor, the course also examines the history of the collection and the key roles played by monarchs and their consorts over the centuries. Combining a mixture of lectures and tutorials, visits to both the occupied and unoccupied palaces in and around London and close-up object study, Royal Collection Studies aims to give experienced professionals in the heritage sector a deeper understanding of this remarkable collection.

The course is intended to be interactive, with participants asked to contribute and participate in group discussions. As with all Attingham courses, the group is encouraged to engage with current curatorial debates, questions of display and interpretation and, in this instance, the issues surrounding a working collection. During the course, members find that they build an invaluable network for the ongoing exchange of ideas and expertise.

Royal Collection Studies is organised on broadly chronological principles, developing an understanding of the changing function and character of the British Royal Collection. The course is held when the Royal Family is not in residence and Windsor Castle is the central focus. The programme explores palaces past and present and five centuries of collecting and display, covering all aspects of the collection.

Established in 1996, Royal Collection Studies is organised by The Attingham Trust on behalf of The Royal Collection Trust. The course is directed by Dr Helen Jacobsen, and lecturers and tutors include the Director and senior curators of The Royal Collection Trust, Historic Royal Palaces, and other key specialists. Past participants have come from all over the world and include museum and historic palace directors and curators, heritage site managers, decorative arts specialists, conservators, academics and architects. Some scholarship assistance is available.

Course Director, Royal Collection Studies: Dr Helen Jacobsen FSA.
Course Coordinator, Royal Collection Studies: Beatrice Goddard.

The cost of the course is £4,650. This includes accommodation, breakfast, dinner and most lunches. Tuition, admissions, guide-books and travel by private coach during the course are also included. Participants stay at Cumberland Lodge, a former Royal residence situated in Windsor Great Park and now a comfortable and well-equipped conference centre. All bedrooms are for single occupancy and have en-suite facilities.

Applications: The deadline for applications is Friday 14 February 2025. All candidates will be notified by the end of March 2025 if they have been awarded a place. The full fee is payable no later than Wednesday 30 April 2025 and payment should be made by bank transfer. Participants are strongly advised to insure against cancellation as no refunds will be made following payment, unless the place can be filled by another suitable candidate. In such a case, an administrative fee of £150 will be applied.

Scholarships for applicants from other countries other than the USA and Australia
Applicants who are unable to meet the fees are first encouraged to approach their institutions for full or partial financial assistance before applying for the course. Some scholarship funding through The Attingham Trust is available thanks to the generous support of various individuals and charitable foundations. Any candidate wishing to apply for a scholarship must complete the scholarship application at the bottom of the application form and provide details of his/her current salary.

Any queries can be directed to Beatrice Goddard: beatrice.goddardattinghamtrust.org.

Scholarships for applicants from the USA: US Applicants seeking scholarship support should apply directly to the American Friends of Attingham using their specific scholarship form, available online at: www.americanfriendsofattingham.org/courses/royal-collections.

Scholarships for applicants from Australia: For applicants from Australia seeking scholarships, please refer to: www.coplandfoundation.com.au by Thursday 28 November 2024.

[3] New Perspectives in Country House Studies, September 21–25, 2025.
Deadline: February 14, 2015.

Based in Yorkshire, this intensive five-day themed short course will focus on a series of new and emerging perspectives that are currently informing country house studies. Like all Attingham courses, the study of the architecture, interiors and objects in situ will drive the programme. It is intended for anyone who has a professional or academic interest in the arts and heritage, and we welcome all applications including those at the early stages of their career, in the process of completing their academic studies, and from backgrounds underrepresented in this field.

The themes to be explored cover a wide range of topics, each informed by the historic houses we visit. We will be looking at the global and colonial contexts of objects; we will focus on craftspeople and makers, both then and now; we will look at women as patrons, as collectors and as instigators of change in the country house; we will examine how the buildings were actually lived and worked in, and how they reflect both the lives of their occupants and wider social change. The course will encourage discussion and reflection, and it is hoped that members will participate fully in the debates.

We will explore a series of large and smaller Yorkshire country houses in different types of ownership to consider their contents, architecture and wider landscapes from multiple viewpoints. Houses are likely to include Castle Howard, Wentworth Woodhouse, Shibden Hall, Burton Constable Hall, Kiplin Hall and Harewood House and, as with all Attingham programmes, we will be supported by a team of expert lecturers and onsite speakers.

Some scholarship assistance will be available.

Director, New Perspectives in Country House Studies: Elizabeth Jamieson.
Course Coordinator: Rita Grudzień.

Enrolment and fees: The cost of the residential course is £2,350. This includes accommodation, breakfast, most lunches and dinners. Tuition, admissions and travel by private coach during the course are also included. Accommodation throughout will be in single-occupancy rooms with en-suite facilities. The fee does not include travel to and from the course, which will take place in Yorkshire.

Applications: The deadline for applications is Friday 14 February 2025. All candidates will be notified by the end of March 2025 if they have been awarded a place. Payment of fees in full will be due by Wednesday 30 April 2025, and should be made by bank transfer. Participants are strongly advised to insure against cancellation, as no refunds will be made following payment, unless the place can be filled by another suitable candidate. In such a case, an administrative fee of £150 will be applied.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR APPLICANTS FROM COUNTRIES OTHER THAN THE USA: Applicants who are unable to meet the fees are encouraged to approach their institutions or other funding bodies for full or partial financial assistance before applying for the course. Some scholarship funding through The Attingham Trust is available thanks to the generous support of various individuals and charitable foundations. Any candidate wishing to apply for a scholarship must complete the scholarship application at the bottom of the application form and provide details of his/her current salary.

Any queries can be directed to Rita Grudzień: rita.grudzienattinghamtrust.org.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR APPLICANTS FROM THE USA: US Applicants seeking scholarship support should apply directly to the American Friends of Attingham. For more information, see the website https://americanfriendsofattingham.org/

Scholarships for applicants from Australia: For applicants from Australia seeking scholarships, please refer to: www.coplandfoundation.com.au by 28 November 2024.

[4] The Attingham Study Programme, Spain: From Granada to Madrid, October 12–18, 2025. Deadline: February 14, 2025.

‘To be ennobled by learning and enlivened by every kind of pleasure’ (Jan Morris, Spain, 2008) is the spirit that pervades the Alhambra palace complex in Granada, where this intensive seven-day course will begin. Built in a spectacular setting from 1238 for the Nasrid rulers of Al-Andalus, the last independent Muslim state in western Europe, it continued as a royal palace for Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who commissioned a new Renaissance-style palace on the site in 1526. Renowned for its architectural and decorative beauty, the Alhambra also provides contextual background for the later architecture and decorative art that we will study in Madrid, especially for the great collections of the Habsburg monarchs during the 16th and 17th centuries.

En route from Granada to Madrid we plan to explore more Spanish Renaissance architecture of the 16th century, including the palace of the Marqués de Santa Cruz in Viso, with its outstanding Mannerist frescoes. In Madrid the Study Programme will offer a mix of architecture, interiors and works of art, with a focus on the exceptional European decorative arts in Spanish royal and aristocratic collections. In the company of curators from the Patrimonio Nacional, we shall spend time examining the stunning new Royal Collections Gallery, opened in 2023 to showcase the highlights of the collection, such as the world-class tapestries, furniture, sculpture and paintings that were assembled by successive Habsburg and Bourbon monarchs.

Visits will include the Royal Palace, built for Phillip V from 1738 by Italian architect Filippo Juvarra and his pupil Giovanni Battista Sacchetti, with its magnificent interiors enriched with paintings, textiles, furniture, clocks and porcelain reflecting the taste of his son, Charles III, and subsequent monarchs until the abdication of Alfonso XIII in 1931. Outside Madrid, planned visits include El Escorial with its sumptuously furnished Bourbon apartments; former royal hunting lodge, El Pardo, and its exquisite garden pavilion, the Casita del Príncipe; and the eighteenth-century summer palace and celebrated gardens of Aranjuez. During the week, Spanish private collecting will be studied through lectures and visits to houses and, as with all Attingham courses, the course will be supported by local curators and experts and will include visits with privileged access.

Course Directors: Annabel Westman FSA, Dr Helen Jacobsen FSA.
Course Coordinator: Cristina Alfonsín.

ENROLMENT AND FEES: NB. Much of the information below is applicable to non-US applicants only. US-based applicants for the Study Programme must apply and enquire about scholarships through the course page on the American Friends of Attingham website.

The cost of the course is £3,900. This includes standard accommodation, breakfast, most lunches and dinners. Tuition, admissions and travel by private coach during the course are also included. All bedrooms are for single occupancy and have en-suite facilities. The cost of flights to and from Spain is not included.

Applications: The deadline for applications is Friday 14 February 2025. All candidates will be notified by the end of March 2025 if they have been awarded a place. Payment of fees in full will be due by Wednesday 30 April 2025, and should be made by bank transfer.

Participants are strongly advised to insure against cancellation, as no refunds will be made following payment unless the place can be filled by another suitable candidate. In such a case, an administrative fee of £150 will be applied.

Scholarships for applicants from countries other than the USA or Australia: Applicants who are unable to meet the fees are first encouraged to approach their institutions for full or partial financial assistance before applying for the course. Some scholarship funding through The Attingham Trust is available thanks to the generous support of various individuals and charitable foundations. Any candidate wishing to apply for a scholarship must complete the scholarship application at the bottom of the application form and provide details of their current salary.

Any queries can be directed to Cristina Alfonsín, cristina.alfonsinattinghamtrust.org.

Scholarships for applicants from the USA: US Applicants seeking scholarship support should apply directly to the American Friends of Attingham using the specific scholarship form, available online at: www.americanfriendsofattingham.org/courses/study-programme.

Scholarships for applicants from Australia: For applicants from Australia seeking scholarships, please refer to: www.coplandfoundation.com.au by Thursday 28 November 2024.