Dear Friends,
As Easter approaches it may be time for us to delve into our wardrobes and seek out those Spring outfits – perhaps even to contemplate a trip to the shops! What will be this season’s favoured colour scheme? It seems that past fashions quite often re-emerge so you may find inspiration from this month's lecture.
March lecture
We explore the fascinating story of how dyes were discovered, made and used, focusing on some of the social implications of colour at different times in history. The lecture takes us from pre-historic man to the middle of the 19th century and from Europe to the Middle East, India, Turkey, North America, Mexico and Peru. It is a story of exploration, invention, war, the church, money, power and sex. Susan Kay-Williams is Chief Executive of the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Chartered Institute of Marketing and in 2015 was made a Fellow of the Society of Dyers and Colourists in recognition of her work on the history of dyes. Susan has a longstanding interest in textiles, especially colour. Her book The Story of Colour in Textiles was published in 2013. She has lectured extensively in the UK and across the world.
Join us on Wednesday 13th March for a chat over a glass of wine or soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.
Please take a moment to give us your feedback on the lecture. You can do this from the ‘Feedback’ icon on the home page of this website:https://www.theartssocietyebor.org.uk/Home.aspx The password this month is ‘colour’
For those who have booked for this month’s post-lecture supper, a reminder that we meet at the Museum Street Tavern – almost opposite the city library (YO1 7DT). You will have already made your menu choices.
Lecture Programme
Copies of the programme for our 2024/25 season will be available to collect this evening and at future meetings. The programme is also on our website. We hope to see many of you at the lectures and that you might bring friends along too!
Social Events
Our Summer Party on Tuesday 25th June returns to the York Medical Society in Stonegate where we can enjoy refreshments in the beautiful garden. Our Christmas Party will be on Wednesday 11th December. Further information to follow.
Future visits and trips
Thursday 19th March: Those who have booked to join the walking tour of Bradford, led by John Edmonds, will have received information about the meeting point and itinerary.
Thursday 16th May: There are still some places remaining on our day coach trip to visit the sites of three great Derbyshire entrepreneurs – David Mellor at Hathersage, Richard Arkwright at Cromford Mill and ‘Bess’ of Hardwick Hall. Details of the trip are attached in case you missed them in February. See the attached flyer.
Thursday 4th July Plans are well advanced for a coach trip to the world class Tiffany Glass collection at the Haworth Art Gallery, Accrington – a listed country-style Arts and Crafts House. We hope also to include a visit to the spectacular Grade 1 listed Town Hall at Rochdale, re-opened this month after a 4-year major restoration. Details to follow.
Early October: We hope to have a 5-day trip to Dublin, flying from Manchester.
Membership Renewal
This is the final lecture of our current season so, if you haven’t already done so, it is time to renew your membership for 2024/25. A membership renewal form is attached (both Word and pdf versions) and paper copies will be available at the next few meetings. Do please complete a fresh form as this ensures that we can keep our records up to date. Payment by BACS is preferred. We can accept cheques but not cash payments and we do not have Direct Debit or Standing Order facilities. We look forward to seeing friends old and new over the coming year – and do remember to invite a guest or two to join you at one or more of our lectures.
Arts Society Governance Review
Announced at the National AGM in May 2023, The Arts Society is reviewing the way it operates nationally, and local committees have been considering what effects there might be for our societies. The main constitutional change is the way the Board of Trustees is formed, from a current Board made up of elected member Trustees and some co-opted members, towards a Board comprised of independently recruited Trustees, with three places (out of a total of 9-15) reserved for appointees who are members of local societies.
At our regional meeting chaired by Claire Wesley on 4th March, Alison Watson, Vice-Chair of Trustees took questions and comments from local chairs and committee members. The primary concern is about the ability of local societies to influence Board decisions in the future and a lack of clarity about the ongoing relationship between the national society and local societies, particularly in relation to securing a future commitment to provide services (such as the Directory of Lecturers) and the form of agreement for charging for such services. Chairs of local committees are being asked to cast a vote in favour or against the governance proposals on 15th April and the Ebor committee will meet during March to agree a mandate for me to do so.
Janet Dean, Chair
Website
Our Newsletters, a printable copy of our programme, flyers for trips, photographic accounts of previous visits, membership forms, feedback about the lectures - and much more can be found on our website. Go to www.theartssocietyebor.org.uk - or point your smart phone at the QR code near the bottom of this page. There are now links to LinkedIn and Facebook on our Home page – and we like to be liked!
Finally, a message from John Staples: 'What a wonderful idea to dedicate two trees in Mary`s memory with the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust. Just the kind of cause with which Mary would identify. I`m grateful to you, Sheila and Ebor Arts for the thoughtful gesture and for those of you who came to the Memorial Service at Friargate. It was good to see so many from the Society there. I found it most supportive. Both Mary and I have gained much from our membership. Not only through the lectures and outings but in the friendship of members and the generally convivial atmosphere created at meetings. It has always been a pleasure to attend. Together with the information about the dedication came a handsome book by David Joy entitled "Discover Your Woods", wonderfully illustrated with images of trees and woods in the Dales. Many thanks for brightening an otherwise sad time. Warmest Wishes, John'
With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.