Echoes of the Bronze Age at Chelsea College
Representatives of the Founders’ Company were delighted to visit Chelsea College of Arts to see Echoes of the Bronze Age, a practical metal casting showcase hosted by artist and educator Katie Surridge.
The course brought together eight students for a hands-on exploration of casting and metalworking techniques. First, the group prepared and dried out their furnaces before successfully bringing one up to casting temperature to melt bronze in a crucible. Over the following days, students operated a series of working furnaces in the College's parade ground, carrying out live metal casting demonstrations (much to the interest of passing students, who now want to have a go!)
The visit offered a great opportunity to see students engaging directly with the craft of casting, learning both historic techniques and the practical skills that continue to underpin modern foundry practice. The enthusiasm of the students and teaching team demonstrated the enduring appeal of metal casting and its importance as both a craft and creative discipline. We were also lucky enough to be given a tour of the facilities to see the new extraction system. This is an crucial improvement as without it, casting on scale simply cannot happen.
Founders were invited as part of an ongoing collaboration with the University of the Arts London (UAL), through which the Company supports programmes that introduce young people to design, casting and foundry processes. Since 2024, this collaboration has helped provide opportunities for students to develop practical skills, explore traditional techniques, and gain an appreciation of the role that casting continues to play in art, design, and industry.
A huge thanks to the team at UAL for welcoming us to see casting in action.