thorp-perrow-project

Thorp Perrow Arboretum, Bedale, North Yorkshire, owned by Sir John and Niki Ropner sponsored over a four year period a live project for second year (level 5) Furniture Making students of the BA(Hons) in Furniture Making course at Leeds College of Art. The enthusiasm of the Ropners over the years to work with students was a real pleasure, and their support in this joint venture was of great benefit to the students. Live projects make the learning that students experience relevant to what they are likely to encounter when they leave education and move on to the next stage of their lives. Live projects such as this are one way of helping students develop an ability to work for

real customers.

This live project, in summary, asked students to design and make furniture or artefacts to place within the grounds of the arboretum. They had to work within a specified brief and budget set by the Ropners.

The main features of the sponsorship were:

Three awards, rising in value, for the student design presentations deemed to be the most professional and best satisfied the design brief.
The Ropners covered the material costs to a specified maximum for up to three of the submitted design proposals.

The students visited the arboretum and met the Ropners who introduced them to the design brief and indicated potential sites for artefacts. Some time after the site visit a design presentation took place at Leeds College of Art where the Ropners and teaching staff judged the designs submitted and allocated prizes and sponsorship of selected projects.

Students built their pieces which typically were installed at the arboretum in mid-March or early April followed by an inauguration ceremony.