News
The Prince of Wales meets graduates at The Prince's School of Traditional Arts
7th July 2011
The Prince of Wales praised talented art students for the "crucial" work they do in preserving the world's traditions when he visited an exhibition today.
Paintings, calligraphy, geometric designs and mosaics were on display from the eight postgraduate students.
They all studied at the Prince's School of Traditional Arts, established by The Prince in 2004.
The school aims to teach arts and crafts skills which have their roots in all the major faiths. Topics covered include Islamic architecture, icon painting, tile-making, stained glass and mosaic craft.
At the exhibition in Shoreditch, East London, The Prince praised the students for the "quality and diversity" of their work.
He said: "I so look forward to coming each year to this degree show and to have a chance of meeting the incredibly dedicated students and to see their work and to hear about their aspirations.
"One of the great things the school has been trying to do for so long is to maintain the living traditions that have been passed down from one generation to the other for thousands of years, all around the world, which have tended to become abandoned.
"So it seems absolutely crucial to find a way of maintaining the golden threads."
He joked: "You may be amused to hear that I am patron of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and as far as I am concerned you are part of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust - as am I."
Artist Amber Khokhar, who graduated from the institute in 2005 and now teaches there on a freelance basis, said she was delighted that Charles took the time to engage with the students.
The Prince was so impressed with Ms Khokhar's work when he met her on a previous occasion that he recommended she design a new 40 metre carpet for the picture gallery at Buckingham Palace.
"It was a fantastic project," she said.
"The people at the palace are among the nicest I have ever worked with.
"It is lovely that he remembers people and takes time to talk with them. He genuinely engages with people and takes an interest in what they are doing."
The Prince also met student Basia Goodwin, who showed him the work she created for her Masters in Traditional Art.
The 27-year-old, from Manchester, focused on Christianity for her final work and created a number of stained glass windows.
"I went on a pilgrimage to Santiago De Compostela in Spain and was really moved by some of the windows in the cathedral," she said.
"I really like stained glass. It is traditional and still really relevant. "
He mother, Barbara Goodwin, from Poland, said she "cried and cried" when she saw her daughter's work.
"I am so proud of her," she added.
"And meeting The Prince - it was like a dream come true."