DUMFRIES HOUSE, SCOTLAND – 18 NOVEMBER 2025 | Community Jameel announced today the recent opening of the Jameel House of World Traditional Arts in Scotland, a new global school for international students to learn and practise the traditional arts.
Set in the grounds of Dumfries House, the 18th century stately home that is the headquarters of The King’s Foundation, the Jameel House in Scotland hosts education programmes for students from around the world in building crafts and other traditional skills supported by His Majesty King Charles III, ranging from stonecarving to carpentry - designed to support future generations of master craftspeople and traditional artists.
The centre recently hosted a successful three-week summer school for participants to develop their knowledge of traditional architecture, design, building and repair techniques and how these can be applied in the 21st century.
As well as the main building, which opened earlier this year as the venue for workshops and the teaching programme, the Jameel House in Scotland unveiled a residential centre in a converted farmhouse on the estate, providing accommodation for visiting students and practitioners.
George Richards, director of Community Jameel, said: “We are proud to announce the opening of the Jameel House in Scotland, which builds on our longstanding partnership with The King’s Foundation and our commitment to ensuring the preservation of the traditional arts. This school offers international students the opportunity to master their crafts, upholding our work with the Jameel Houses in Cairo and Jeddah and the continuity of traditional arts education for generations to come.”
Kristina Murrin, chief executive officer at The King’s Foundation, said: “It has been fantastic to welcome the first students to the new Jameel House in Scotland over the summer. As the headquarters of The King’s Foundation, Dumfries House is a very special place to learn and the natural landscape provides so much inspiration. We are pleased to be working with Community Jameel to provide more space and resources for our expert tutors to be able to train the master craftspeople of the future.”
The King’s Foundation and Community Jameel have a long history of partnership, over more than 15 years, anchored in a shared vision of the important role of traditional knowledge in tackling contemporary global challenges and a common commitment to providing new opportunities for the study and practice of the traditional arts.
The new school in Scotland is the latest addition to a network of Jameel Houses established by Community Jameel and The King’s Foundation worldwide.
In 2008, the Jameel House in Cairo was opened to sustain the practice of traditional arts in Egypt.
From 2015 to 2021, Community Jameel and The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts partnered on the Jameel House in Jeddah, a centre pioneering traditional arts education in Saudi Arabia.
Graduates from the Jameel Houses in Cairo and Jeddah are among those expected to study at the new global school in Scotland.
