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The Value of Traditional Arts

March 2nd, 2013

The Prince of Wales’ School of Traditional Arts holds that the practice of the traditional arts is a contemplative process based upon universal spiritual truths. Art is seen as an integral part of everyday life and not a luxury; neither is it a subjective psychological experiment, nor a whimsical exercise in nostalgia.   

The School’s programmes aim to encourage an awareness amongst students that form, pattern and colour as manifested in the various branches of the traditional arts, are not simply pleasing to the senses, or demonstrations of good design, but are created to embody beauty — the beauty of the permanent that shines through into the world of the transient.  The distinction made today between ‘Fine Art’ and ‘Craft’ is entirely modern.  In a traditional society painting, pottery, carpentry, agriculture and music were all expressions of art or making and the artist’s practical activity was integrated, not only into the wider community but also into a more profound order.

An introduction to the school, with Prince Charles talking about sacred geometry:

6 Responses to “The Value of Traditional Arts”

  1. Beautiful!! Wish we had something like this here in Canada! It seems to me that HRH is not given the recognition he deserves as a deep mystic, but I suppose that’s to be expected in this day & age. Hopefully the pendulum is starting to swing the other direction in terms of recognizing & actively incorporating the sacred into so-called everyday life.

  2. Profound. Having been the ‘encourager’ of three artists in three mediums all of my adult life, and having to fight simply against the social conventions put upon artists here in America, to see art brought through to that depth and present it in that fashion is stunning.

  3. I think it seems like a lovely idea but I can’t help but wonder if there is an element of hypocrisy in saying: ‘Art is seen as an integral part of everyday life and not a luxury’ and then charging £6500-£10000 a year for course fees!

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