Why Art Schools Still Matter

In a world where almost anything can be learned from a screen, why do people still choose to spend a weekend at an art school?

Part of the answer is that making art is about more than learning techniques. It's about spending time with other people who are curious, creative and willing to have a go. It means asking questions as they arise, watching an experienced artist at work, and receiving thoughtful, individual guidance that responds to your own work rather than a generic demonstration.

At Higher Spargo, we keep our groups deliberately small so that everyone has time with the tutor. Whether you're picking up a pencil for the first time or developing an established practice, we want every participant to leave having learned something that is personal to them.

Our setting is part of that experience too. Surrounded by farmland, orchards and artists' studios, there is space to think, to look closely and to step away from the pace of everyday life. People often tell us that simply being here helps them to slow down and see differently. Creativity has a habit of flourishing when there's time to breathe.

Some of the best moments happen away from the easels and workbenches. Over long, shared lunches, strangers become friends, ideas are exchanged and conversations wander from art and books to gardens, travel and life. Those relaxed conversations are every bit as valuable as the formal teaching, creating the sense of community that so many people remember long after the course has finished.

An art school is much more than a place to learn a skill. It's a place to spend time well, to be inspired by others, and to rediscover the pleasure of making things with your own hands. That’s what we are here for.