The 2025 Furniture Makers‘ Programme is a 32 week intensive course designed and developed by practising furniture makers and teachers intended for the serious woodworker.
The programme provides an unparalleled opportunity for students who want to get to grips with the essence of fine furniture–making with an emphasis on the mastery of traditional woodworking skills and processes.
The programme broadly speaking has two aims; firstly, to teach students to become proficient in a wide range of technical woodworking disciplines, and secondly, to give students the skills, understanding and confidence to design and develop their own work.
The focus of the early part of the course is for students to develop hand skills, accuracy and gain confidence and competence in using the fundamental woodworking machinery. As the programme progresses into the second term there is more and more freedom for students to challenge themselves with their own design and constructional decisions in producing work which clearly shows the extent to which their skills, personal approach to fine woodworking and design style has developed.
By the end of the programme, each student will have created a collection of work which will be the foundation of their own portfolio, with all work being professionally photographed.
For some it will provide a firm foundation from which they may go on to build careers in the field, either through setting up their own workshops or initially taking their experience to work alongside other established designer/furniture–makers. For others it may be used to enormously enhance the pleasure they get from their own personal woodworking practice.
Either way, it will undoubtedly be a life–changing and enriching experience.
Browse through the gallery pages of our website to see graduate student work from previous years.
Enrolment and Course Fees:
We are now accepting expressions of interest in the 2025 Furniture Makers‘ Programme and places are are strictly limited to a maximum of eight students. The 2025 confirmed dates, application form and course fees will be finalised in early 2024. On the acceptance of your application a non–refundable registration fee of $350 is payable to reserve your place until the 25% deposit of the full course fee is payable on 1st December 2024. The full balance of the course fee is payable on 1st February 2025.
The Prospectus is available to download although this may be subject to change - please review it as a guideline.
The course fee does not include the cost of timber but does include the cost of most consumable materials i.e. glue, sandpaper, screws, etc. As students are given a wide choice of timber options these are calculated and invoiced term by term.
Term by Term Enrolment:
Students may be able to enrol for individual terms and/or courses within the full time programme. Students who have not previously attended an introductory / beginners course here prior to enrolling in more advanced courses within the full time programme will need to discuss with us their skill level and experience. However, please note that priority is always given to those students completing all four terms.
If you require any further information, please complete the form below or call (03) 545 2674.