In our era of knee-jerk scientific scepticism and mass entertainment that relies increasingly on self-referentiality, it can seem hard to harness the sense of awe and wonder that drove the imaginations of our pre-Modern ancestors. For them, the thick forest next door was the lair of witches, goblins might lurk on dusky roads, and the most straightforward path to escaping the grim realities of life was through the flick of a wand of a fairy godmother. Their tales grew amongst the rolling hills and sweeping river valleys of central Germany, its ancient woodlands, its church spires and castle towers reaching for the sky.

It took two exceptional brothers—Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm—to commit the folk stories of their compatriots to paper. Two centuries later, and these same stories are known the world over: ‘Cinderella’, ‘Rapunzel’ and ‘Snow White’ continue to be household names.

Studio Education’s ‘Castles to Kingdoms’ aims to bring young students back to this crucible of the imagination, this crossroads at which landscape, culture, history and storytelling have fused together. By walking through one of the last remaining ancient beech forests in Europe or tarrying beneath the very tower said to have inspired the story of Rapunzel, students have the opportunity to expand their creative horizons and aesthetic vocabulary. The pastoral and academic support structure provided by experienced educators will furnish students with the optimal environment for profound and honest self-expression. In walking in the footsteps of the Brothers Grimm—and the ordinary folk whose tales they elaborated on—the very poetic spirit that dwells in each of us will be given the opportunity to flourish.

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