What is the history of Madrid Flower School?
Madrid Flower School was founded in 2019 by Sylvia Bustamante Gubbins, a Chilean-Peruvian historian and journalist who discovered her passion for floral design during a stay in New York. After training at FlowerSchool New York and London Flower School, Sylvia moved to Madrid and, unable to find a school offering the approach she was looking for, decided to create one.
Since then, Madrid Flower School has become a space dedicated to floral design education, combining classic and contemporary techniques and bringing together students and teachers from different parts of the world. Its mission is to promote floral design as an art form and a means of expression, training designers with a contemporary, responsible outlook.
Who are the instructors and what is their professional background?
Our team brings together floral designers and professionals from a range of creative disciplines, trained and experienced across Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Chile. With backgrounds spanning color correction, banking, journalism, art galleries, and magazines, each instructor brings a distinct perspective, instilling a multidisciplinary approach in our students.
Beyond our in-house team, Madrid Flower School collaborates with specialists who lead dedicated masterclasses, including Anthony Prévost, photographer and instructor at the University of Westminster, London, and Cristina Sanz, a specialist in digital marketing.
What style and philosophy define the school?
Madrid Flower School is an international hub for floral design excellence. Our approach blends classic and contemporary techniques with sustainable practices to elevate floral design to an art form by igniting and nurturing the creativity within each student. Beyond teaching flower arranging, we believe in the power of floral design as a means of communication, a tool for expression and a manifestation of creative freedom.
Is the school open to international students?
Madrid Flower School is an international institution, with more than three out of four of our students coming from outside of Spain: 77% of our last intake was international, with 22 nationalities across four continents.
Where is the school located?
We're in the Chamartín district, right by Prosperidad metro station. The school is well connected to the city center by several metro lines. (4 and 9)
Can I visit the school before enrolling?
Please do! Send us an email at hola@madridflowerschool.com and we'll arrange a time for you to come and see the school and talk to us in person.
THE CLASSES
How long is a course?
Our longest course is the Professional Program: four weeks, with class every morning from 9:30 to 14:00. The same content in condensed form is the Intensive Professional Program: two weeks, with afternoon classes as well. We also run short courses, from one to three days.
What is the enrollment process?
All you need to do is create an account on our website, select the dates you're interested in and reserve your place by paying the deposit. You can pay the rest whenever you like, as long as it's 7 days before the class starts. A few days before your classes start you'll receive a newsletter and we'll add you to a WhatsApp group to keep you posted.
What is the cancellation policy?
A deposit is required to secure your spot and is non-refundable. Changes to your reservation date can be made up to 7 days before the course begins, after this, we're unable to change the date or issue a refund.
Do you offer or recommend accommodation?
We can recommend hotels, apartments and Airbnbs close to the school. Please write to hola@madridflowerschool.com for more information.
THE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM
What will we do day by day in the program?
The Professional Program is divided into four cycles, Introduction to Floral Design, Creativity and Avant-Garde, Weddings and Events and Floral Business. You can take the full Program, or any of the cycles individually, depending on what you’re most interested in. The full content for each week is available here.
What is the format of the program?
The course is taught in person. We treat floral design as an art form, so we teach its history alongside its practice. Each class opens with a brief introduction and demonstration, then moves fully hands-on.
Do I have to do the whole program in one go? Can I do one week now and another a year from now?
You can take one week now and the next whenever suits you. There's no set order to the weeks, but the final cycle, Floral Business, can only be taken after completing at least one other week, so you're prepared to work on your final project.
Do I need previous experience to take part?
No previous experience is needed. You can come as a professional looking to refresh and update your technique, or as a complete beginner, and you can choose any of our courses, you'll learn everything here.
What language are the classes taught in?
Our courses alternate month by month between English and Spanish. Check the calendar to see which language the course is taught in for the month you'd like to come.
What flowers will I work with?
We work with seasonal flowers, so your recipes depend on the time of year you attend. Our flowers arrive three times a week from Holland. We work with wholesalers who bring us the most exquisite and rare varieties on the market. New recipes and designs are prepared for every class, so you'll never work with the same set twice.
What certificate do I receive at the end?
On completing the Professional Program you'll receive a diploma recognized within the international floral industry. You'll also become part of our Alumni community; a network that helps you make contacts, stay up to date, and where we share news and job opportunities in floral design.
How many students are there per class?
Classes range usually from 8 to 12 students, with a maximum of 15.
What does the price include?
The price covers flowers and a tool kit, including a Madrid Flower School tote bag, apron, and tools. Over the full Program, you'll also receive a kenzan, glass, and artisan flower vases. Meals and accommodation are not included.
What is the final project?
It's a creation of your own. Whatever project you want to create, this is your chance to put everything you've learned into practice and to get real feedback on logistics, budget, technique and every aspect of the work.
Does the program cover business?
You'll have classes with marketing and business experts, and with teachers who have worked in those fields. If you're planning to open your own shop, you can present your business project to them. And with the final project you'll have the chance to go through every aspect of a complete floral job with the teachers.
YOUR CAREER
What floral arrangement techniques are taught at the school?
The school covers a range of floral design disciplines, from installations and bouquets to styling and contemporary design, with techniques spanning sustainable methods, chicken wire, kenzans, and modular reusable structures, to wiring and spirals.
Are there weekend workshops?
We don't run weekend workshops, but we can offer private classes tailored to your interests,
Is this training suited to working florists or to beginners?
It's designed for both. The Program is built for those starting from scratch and for those who work in the field and want to bring in new techniques and design processes.
What do graduates do after the course?
Many of our former students have successfully opened their own flower shops, others work as freelancers, and some have even gone on to become teachers themselves.