Australian artist Will Maguire leads the inaugural masterclass delivered thanks to the Andrew Basnett Fund

Sixty-five artist blacksmith undergraduates at Hereford College of Arts enjoyed a unique opportunity to learn from distinguished Australian artist Will Maguire and collaborate with him on the creation of a new permanent artwork.

The five-day inaugural Masterclass has been made possible thanks to the Andrew Basnett Fund. Managed by Herefordshire Community Foundation, the new Fund has been set up in memory of former HCA student Andrew Basnett to support new blacksmithing talent in Herefordshire. Following his studies, Basnett ran his own forge for nearly 30 years and his work can be seen at landmarks including St Paul’s Cathedral, Beamish Museum, the Jorvik Museum and York Railway Museum.

Will Maguire worked with the students to create a new artwork which will be installed in the Main Courtyard at HCA’s College Road campus in April. Titled De-centred Cubic, it envisions a collaboration between minerals and animals, embracing the uncontrollable nature of steel and the inevitable impact of human interaction. 

The work joins human activity with the inherent activity of iron, challenging the notion of the maker’s primacy and the material’s passivity. If the alignment of iron and the stars is just right, it will present a glimpse of material magic, where the whole exceeds the sum of its parts.

Managed by Herefordshire Community Foundation, the special Fund will support the annual Andrew Basnett Blacksmith Masterclass; offer bursaries to HCA students on the Blacksmith MA course who are need; and also provide discretionary grants to other initiatives and individuals focused on developing the craft of blacksmithing.

Andrew Basnett’s family commented: “Andrew Basnett was a talented blacksmith who studied blacksmithing at Hereford College of Arts.

"He sadly died in 2021 leaving a small legacy. We were determined that this should be used to support young blacksmiths and after a lengthy search were thrilled to meet with and be inspired by the enthusiastic and talented degree students at HCA. The family are now proud to be supporting the annual Andrew Basnett Blacksmith Masterclass and are very much looking forward to working with the College on this and other initiatives. 

"The family was expertly guided through the process of setting up the endowment by the Herefordshire Community Foundation.”

Bridie Sullivan, Chief Executive of Herefordshire Community Foundation, said:

“It’s an immense pleasure to work with the Basnett family to create a memorial fund that honours the memory of Andrew and his wonderful contribution to the art of blacksmithing. His legacy will live on in supporting the talents of future blacksmiths.”

To find out more and to donate to the Andrew Basnett Fund, visit herefordshirecf.org/funds/andrew-basnett-fund