The Arts Society Ebor

Monday, 06 July 2026

July 2026 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Clear skies provided an opportunity this week to observe the ‘Strawberry Moon’ – when the full moon close to the summer solstice remains low in the sky all night so that it appears unusually large and orange. The name relates to the season rather than the colour of the moon. Members of the Lunar Society in the 18th century may well have remarked on this same phenomenon. An exhibition of Joseph Wright’s works ‘From the Shadows’ recently moved from the National Gallery to his home town and is open in the Derby Museum and Art Gallery until 1 November. A self-guided tour of Derby is also available to visitors – highlighting places that he would have known. So, good reasons to join us for this month’s lecture!

July Lecture
In an age of discovery where science and industry went hand-in-hand, 18th century England saw not only the flowering of the Industrial Revolution, but also that of the self-made man who came not from money but from industry. It was a time of gentlemen’s clubs, in their true original meaning rather than the corruption of this term we experience today, and one of these clubs would become synonymous with investigation and discovery characterised by the individuals that were associated with it.

Art historian, Leslie Primo is an author and broadcaster who specialises in early Medieval Art and Architecture, Italian Renaissance art, German art in the age of Reformation, Medici & Patronage, and mythology in the work of Peter Paul Rubens. Leslie lectured at the National Gallery, London for many years, and has appeared on the BBC speaking in Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty, and on the Life of Michelangelo. He presented Turner: Light and Landscape. He has written and contributed to several publications. His book, ‘The Foreign Invention of British Art’ was published in 2025.

Join us on Wednesday 8th July for a chat, a glass of wine or a 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 our website:https://www.theartssocietyebor.org.uk/Home.aspx The password this month is ‘Derby’

We take a break in August but return on 9 September for a lecture that celebrates the centenary of Winnie the Pooh!

Our lecture venue
We meet in The Merchant Taylors’ Hall in Aldwark. Please note that there is No Parking at the Merchant Taylors Hall. If you have a particular mobility problem then please contact Peter Burnett at drpburnett@btinternet.com

Social Events
Once again we had a warm and sunny afternoon for our Summer Party on Wednesday 17 June so that we could enjoy the garden, with strawberries and cream, a glass of Prosecco and lovely harp music from Emma Yates. We were also treated to a fascinating talk by Jacob Bolda, a PhD student at the University of York, about the many interesting old medical instruments and artifacts housed in the YMS rooms. It was pleasing to learn that there are plans to make these more readily accessible to the public, with updated displays.

Visits
A score of members are looking forward to our trip to Cornwall in October (now fully booked) and the ‘Trips and Events’ team are exploring other potential visits.

Supporting local arts initiatives
The Arts Society Ebor is pleased to support the Richard Shephard Music Foundation with a donation of £250 for 2026. Our Chair, Janet Dean attended the Make Musicday of celebration for the schools supported by the Foundation at the University of York St John on Wednesday 24 June. As well as learning more about the forty schools supported by the Foundation across York, North Yorkshire and Teesside, and meeting other supporters, she also enjoyed seeing children participate in workshops on The Magic Flute and Creating Music for Film. On a very hot day, Janet was impressed by how much energy and enthusiasm the children were able to display well into the afternoon - they were clearly inspired by music! We have been pleased with the engagement the Foundation has offered us as first-time donors and will consider whether this might be a longer term commitment. You can find out more about the Richard Shephard Music Foundation here: https://www.rsmf.org.uk/. We are always pleased to hear from members about arts-related organisations that you would like to see us support.

The Arts Society
A further reminder that, as members of our own local group you are also members of The Arts Society and can subscribe (free) to their newsletters and other occasional mailings: https://theartssociety.org/ You should have received a postal copy of their latest magazine.

Membership Renewal – thank you!
Thanks again to those who have renewed your membership – and a warm welcome to those who have joined us for the first time. We look forward to enjoying your company at lectures, visits and events over our 2026-27 season. Please consider inviting friends to join us as guests at a lecture or as members – this is, by far, our best recruitment method!

Can you help?
Perhaps you could help with serving wine/soft drinks before lectures? Could you join the team who work to keep your society running smoothly? There are ways you might become involved without making too many demands on your time. Speak to any of the current committee members if you would like to know more.

Website: Our Newsletters, a printable copy of our programme, flyers for trips, photographs of previous visits, membership forms, - and much more can be found on our website. Go to www.theartssocietyebor.org.uk .

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Wednesday, 10 June 2026

June 2026 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Current world events have caused many to consider a ‘staycation’ rather than risk the uncertainties of foreign travel – especially by air. We are fortunate that there are treasures aplenty to explore and discover here in the UK. Many are free to access and, with a little effort, it is possible to reach some outdoor sites that are less visited. On June 20th/21st access to Stonehenge is open to all and crowds will gather to watch sunset and sunrise at the Summer Solstice – as they have done for millennia. So, this month’s lecture is particularly appropriate.

June Lecture
This lecture explains why Stonehenge must be regarded as architectural in its layout and construction, embodying techniques that for centuries convinced antiquarians that it could not have been built by ‘primitive’ ancient Britons but must be a product of ‘sophisticated’ Romans. We then explore how this iconic structure has inspired painters, potters and poets. Blake, Turner, Constable and Moore are amongst those who have all contributed to a diverse catalogue of images and impressions. As a professional archeologist, Julian has worked for English Heritage, for the BBC and as an independent. He is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1992 has an honorary doctorate at Lincoln Bishop University. He has lectured widely and presented Meet the Ancestors and Blood of the Vikings for BBC2, and Mapping the Town for Radio 4. He is the author of a number of English Heritage publications on Stonehenge

Join us on Wednesday 10th June for a chat, a glass of wine or a soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Social Events
There is still time to book your place at our Summer Party on Wednesday 17 June from 3-6pm at the Medical Society in Stonegate. We hope to maintain our record of bright sunshine so that we can enjoy the garden, with, strawberries and cream, a glass of Prosecco and some harp music from Emma Yates. You may have seen the extensive collection of old medical instruments and artifacts on display in the YMS rooms. Dr. Susan Reany from the University of York, and one of the postgraduate History of Art students who has been cataloguing the items will give us a brief talk about the collection during our afternoon. Cost £17.50pp – details on the attached flyer.

Visits
Several members enjoyed a superb trip toThe Auckland Project on 20 May. We had excellent and very knowledgeable guides in the Spanish Gallery followed by lunch and a free afternoon to explore the Bishops’ palace and gardens and the Mining Museum. The area offers more and merits another visit!

The Arts Society Leeds have arranged an afternoon ‘Behind the Scenes with Opera North: The Sound of Music’ on Tuesday 7 July at Leeds Grand Theatre. A flyer is attached. If you would like to join TASL for this event, please contact: susan.mackintosh5@btinternet.com

The Arts Society will hold their 2026 AGM in the Tempest Anderson Hall (Museum Gardens) on Thursday 25 June

All members are invited to attend and will be able to hear from the President, Hilary Kay.

The provisional timetable is as follows:
From 10am - Arrival & Registration
11.15am - Morning Session: Presidential Address & presentation of Marsh Awards
12.30pm – Lunch Break
2pm - Afternoon Session: AGM – with opportunity to ask questions

‘As part of our booking with the Yorkshire Museum, we can provide free tickets for delegates wishing to visit the Museum on the day. The tickets will enable access between 10am and 5pm and we can organise visits in groups before the morning session begins and during the lunch break. There is no charge to attend the AGM but please register in advance so that we have numbers for the venue. Please register using this Google form’

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Wednesday, 06 May 2026

May 2026 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

I was sorry to miss our April lecture – ‘How to look slowly’ – but am pleased that it was so well received. Delyth and I were visiting family in Southampton and we took time out to visit the penultimate day of the Turner and Constable exhibition at Tate Britain. A worthwhile visit, but too busy to allow ‘slow looking’. This week, nearer home, we enjoyed a more leisurely afternoon in York Art Gallery to see ‘Making Waves’, a fascinating insight into the art of Japanese woodblock print. It is then serendipitous that this month’s lecture brings us to consider what lies behind the staging of major exhibitions. We are grateful to Linda, our programme secretary, who was able to engage Anna Bianco to introduce us to the subject after our original speaker withdraw at fairly short notice.

May Lecture
How long does it take to put together a major exhibition? Who decides what subjects will be explored and which objects will be included? How do you get an object from the Vatican to the British Museum? Are there contrasts between exhibition and permanent display curating? Packing crates, climate control and even insurance – drawing on her experiences at the Wallace Collection, Courtauld Institute, British Museum and her own gallery, Anna Bianco will share with us the trials, tribulations and joys of getting from the idea to the opening night of a ‘blockbuster’ exhibition.

Anna is a freelance curator, writer, lecturer, tour guide and art historian who also loves storytelling. Her greatest passion is bringing artworks and objects to life through the stories of the people who made them.

Join us on Wednesday 13th May for a chat, a glass of wine or a soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Social Events
Our Summer Party will be on Wednesday 17 June from 3-6pm at the Medical Society in Stonegate. We hope to maintain our record of bright sunshine so that we can enjoy the garden, with a glass of Prosecco, strawberries and cream, and some harp music from Emma Yates. Dr. Susan Reany from the University of York, with one of her postgraduate History of Art students, has been cataloguing the extensive collection of old medical instruments and artifacts that you may have noticed in the display cases in the YMS rooms. We are delighted that she will give us a brief talk about the collection during our afternoon. Cost £17.50pp – details on the attached flyer.

Visits
Bishop Auckland on 20 May and Cornwall from 5 - 10 October.
Both of these trips are now fully subscribed. Contact Peter (for Auckland) if you wish to go on a waiting list in case of cancellations. As always, we welcome suggestions from you about places you might like to visit.

Friends of York Art Gallery have arranged a trip to Sussex from 28 September to 2 October and have issued an invitation to members of TASE to join them. A flyer is attached and full details of the trip are on the Friends website www.friendsofyorkartgallery.co.uk/event/friends-tour-to-sussex/
or contact Tim Kendall 01904 621769 / 07855914662 timkendall52@gmail.com

The Arts Society
A reminder that, as members of our own local group you are also members of The Arts Society and can subscribe (free) to their newsletters and other occasional mailings: https://theartssociety.org/

The Arts Society will hold their 2026 AGM in the Tempest Anderson Hall (Museum Gardens) on Thursday 25 June

All members are invited to attend and will be able to hear from the President, Hilary Kay.

The provisional timetable is as follows:

From 10am - Arrival & Registration
11.15am - Morning Session: Presidential Address & presentation of Marsh Awards
12.30pm – Lunch Break
2pm - Afternoon Session: AGM – with opportunity to ask questions

Membership Renewal – thank you!
Thanks to all those who have renewed your membership – and a warm welcome to those who have joined us for the first time. We look forward to enjoying your company at lectures, visits and events over our 2026-27 season.

Can you help?
Perhaps you could add your name to the list of those serving wine/soft drinks before lectures? Could you join the team of committee members who help to keep your society running smoothly? There are ways you might become involved without making too many demands on your time. Speak to any of the current committee members if you would like to know more.

In Memoriam
We were saddened to learn recently of the death of Professor Anthony Ogus – a long-standing member and staunch supporter of the Society.

Website: Our Newsletters, a printable copy of our programme, flyers for trips, photographs of previous visits, membership forms, - and much more can be found on this website. Just follow the links from the tabs at the top of the page.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Tuesday, 07 April 2026

April 2026 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

The clocks have gone forward, the grass is growing, the birds are in full voice and look stunning in their Spring plumage and the tourists are flocking to our beautiful city. So, there is a buzz of activity all around us. However, our lecturer this month reminds us that it is worthwhile to pause sometimes – to stand back and ‘look slowly’ at things around us. We wish you peace and tranquility over the Easter holiday period.

April lecture
The wide reproduction of paintings by Georges Seurat and Vincent van Gogh has led to a sense of familiarity and, potentially, a diminished desire to look closely at the art itself. Yet when van Gogh visited Seurat’s studio, he remarked upon the ‘fresh revelation of colour’ in Seurat’s work. This presentation aims to rejuvenate our interest in looking slowly with a curious eye to discover how works by both artists were both extraordinary and pioneering. In their short artistic careers, Vincent van Gogh and Georges Seurat made extraordinary contributions to the development of modern art, each through their own distinctive and experimental approaches to picture making. Our guide is Jo Rhymer. Since completing an MA in the History of Art: Modernism and the Politics of Representation, Jo has held various roles at the National Gallery and, in a freelance capacity, at many leading galleries and museums in London as well as leading group excursions in the UK and abroad. She also lectures at universities in Cambridge and York.

Her areas of specialism include 19th century and early 20th century French art and her interest include the visual skills involved in sustained looking at paintings.

Join us on Wednesday 8th April for a chat, a glass of wine or a soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Please note that our lecturer for May has cancelled at short notice, but we have found an excellent replacement. Anna Bianco will present a lecture, ‘Behind the Scenes: Curating the Museum. Details here and in your May Newsletter.

Social Events
We had an enjoyable post-lecture supper at Little Italy in March and will use the same venue later this year.

Our Summer Party will be on Wednesday 17 June (note change of date) at the Medical Society in Stonegate. Details to follow.

Visits
Malaga and Granada. Our travellers have returned and had a good trip. Please read the record of the visit here. Some pictures can be viewed on the Gallery pages of this website.

Bishop Auckland – Tuesday 20 May. A day trip by coach to include some of the spectacular local sites - The Bishops Palace, gardens and grounds, the Spanish Gallery, the Faith Museum and the Mining Art Gallery. Cost £55pp.
Contact Peter Burnett to reserve a place. See the flyer for full details

A rail trip to Cornwall – Monday 5 - Saturday 10 October. Details of this exciting trip are now finalised – please see the attached flyer. Places are limited to 20 and last date to register is 20 June, to ensure the rail bookings.

Dorothy Nott has provided information about a trip to Stourbridge via Calke Abbey and Ironbridge, organised by Friends of York Art Gallery. There are some places available and, if our members would like to join, then please contact Nottie.
A flyer is attached with this Newsletter.

As always, we welcome suggestions from you about places you might like to visit.

Membership Renewal – final call!
April marks the start of our 2026-27 season of lectures and events. So, if you haven’t yet renewed your membership, NOW is the time to do so! Our programme of lectures for 2026-27 is available at the membership desk and is on our website. The membership fee - £58 and £110 for single and joint membership respectively – covers lecturer fees and expenses and venue hire. It also includes the fee we pay to our parent body – The Arts Society. That fee, currently £16.20 per member, covers the Directory of approved lecturers, insurance and the 4-monthly Art Society Magazine. It is eligible for Gift Aid for those who are UK taxpayers. You will understand therefore that we must keep our membership list up to date and so avoid paying a fee to the Arts Society for people who have not renewed their membership with us. Membership forms are attached and copies are also available at the membership desk and on our website here. Please do complete a form even if your contact details are unchanged.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Tuesday, 10 March 2026

March 2026 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

What a pleasure to see crocuses and daffodils in full bloom – and in the sun too! We are fortunate to have access to a wealth of cultural delights in and around York - music, art, theatre, museums, cinema and more. All of this among some spectacular buildings and green spaces. Our lecture this month brings together two of these elements – painting and music – a real treat in store.

March lecture
Music was a constant theme in Edouard Manet’s life and art. Regular musical soirées were held at the Manet family home. His pictures of musicians and their audiences range from early canvases depicting itinerant gypsy musicians and Spanish dancers, through to paintings encompassing the full range of Parisian musical culture. Bringing together Manet’s art and the music that inspired him (including Spanish flamenco, Wagner piano reductions, café songs, and opera highlights) this lecture immerses you in Manet’s world. Dr Lois Oliveris Professor in History of Art at the University of Notre Dame in London, and a Visiting Lecturer at the Courtauld Institute. She has worked as a Curator at the V&A, the National Gallery, and the Royal Academy and enjoys creating audio and multimedia tours. She is also a keen violinist. Her PhD thesis was on The Image of the Artist, Paris 1815-1855.

Join us on Wednesday 11th March for a chat, a glass of wine or a soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Our lecture venue
We meet in The Merchant Taylors’ Hall in Aldwark. Information about the hall – facilities, location and car parking options – is attached to this Newsletter. Please note that there is No Parking at the Merchant Taylors Hall. If you have a particular mobility problem then please contact Peter Burnett at drpburnett@btinternet.com

Social Events
We look forward to meeting those who have booked for supper at ‘Little Italy’ after this month’s lecture.

Our Summer Party will be on Wednesday 24 June – a date for your diary! Details to follow.

Visits
Malaga and Granada. We trust that those departing soon for this trip will have an enjoyable time and we look forward to their report and pictures in due course.

A rail trip to Cornwall – Tuesday 6 - Saturday 10 October. There is some uncertainty about this trip because of disruptions to the railway line following storm damage. Look out for updates.

Members may be interested in the ‘Making Waves’ exhibition at York City Art Gallery that is now open. Ann Simpson, one of our members, has also reminded us of a display there of work by Harold Gosney along with information about an interesting exhibition at the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds. I have attached Ann’s notes to the email Newsletter.

There are a few other ideas that we are exploring – and we always welcome suggestions from you!

Membership Renewal
This month sees the end of our 2025-26 season of lectures and events. Thanks again to those who have already renewed your membership and to those joining us for the first time. Our programme of lectures for 2026-27 is available to pick up at the membership desk and is on our website. The membership fee - £58 and £110 for single and joint membership respectively – covers lecturer fees and expenses and venue hire. It also includes the fee we pay to our parent body – The Arts Society. That fee, currently £16.20 per member, covers the Directory of approved lecturers, insurance and the 4-monthly Art Society Magazine. It is eligible for Gift Aid for those who are UK taxpayers. You will understand therefore that we must keep our membership list up to date. If it has slipped down your ‘To Do’ list, NOW would be a good time to complete your renewal form and make your payment online or by cheque!

Membership forms are available as follows: a Word version that you can complete and return electronically is available as an attachment to the email version of this newsletter and a pdf version if you prefer to print here. Copies will also be available at the membership desk. Please do complete a form even if your contact details are unchanged.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Monday, 09 February 2026

February 2026 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

There is not much brightness around at present, with leaden skies, grey drizzle and a seemingly endless run of grim news. It’s good however to see the snowdrops and even some early daffodils. So we look forward to our next lecture that looks to bring us some welcome colour – and perhaps a little intrigue!

February lecture
Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky, and his pioneering use of digichromatography, created stunning colour photographs decades before colour photography was supposedly invented. He dazzled Russian royalty with his photographs and was commissioned by the Tsar to traverse the largest continual Empire in the world to document its land and peoples. He was enabled to travel widely in restricted areas, furnished with a whole railway carriage transformed into a dark-room. He captured traditional ways of life from as far afield as Samarkand and the desert oases of the Turkmens and Tajiks, soon to be swept away by the Bolshevik revolution. Our guide to his life and work, Chris Aslan, was born in Turkey and spent his childhood there and in war-torn Beirut. After studying Media and Journalism at Leicester University he lived and traveled across Central Asia for several years and takes tours to the region, returning whenever he can, having left a large chunk of his heart out there. His latest book, Unravelling the Silk Road, is published by Icon Books.

Join us on Wednesday 11th February for a chat, a glass of wine or a soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Social Events
We have arranged a post-lecture supper on Wednesday 11 March at ‘Little Italy’ in Goodramgate, just opposite Aldwark. Details are attached. To reserve a place, please contact Joanna with your menu choices by 5 March.

Our Summer Party will be on Wednesday 24 June – a date for your diary! Details to follow.

Visits
Malaga and Granada – 17-21 March – flying from Leeds Bradford. There are just a few spaces remaining. Details are available to download here and can be viewed here. Contact John Edmonds to check remaining availability.

A rail trip to Cornwall – Tuesday 6 - Saturday 10 October, starting with the GWR Night Riviera Sleeper from Paddington, and visiting Penzance, St Ives and Falmouth. Look out for updates.

There are a few other ideas that we are exploring – and we always welcome suggestions from you!

Membership Renewal
Our 2026-27 season begins on 1 April. Thanks to those who have already renewed your membership! We have an excellent programme of lectures, events and visits already planned for the year – and thanks to Linda Ward for putting the lecture programme together. You can pick up a copy at any of our lectures. We have had to raise the membership fee this year to cover increases in lecturer fees and expenses and a small increase in venue costs. So, single and joint membership fees will be £58 and £110 respectively. We hope that you will agree that this still represents good value and that we can look forward to your continuing support through 2026/27.

Membership forms are available as a downloadable pdf here. Copies will also be available at the membership desk. Please do complete a form even if your contact details are unchanged.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Friday, 09 January 2026

January 2026 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Welcome to this, our first Newsletter of 2026 – and A Happy New Year to you all. Let us hope that our world becomes less troubled as the year progresses – more art and less conflict!

January lecture
To think of St Pancras International or New York Grand Central is to imagine long romantic journeys, promising excitement and adventure. There are dozens of other glorious stations around the world and we will visit some of the most evocative and splendid of them. We will look at the magnificence of the architecture and brilliant engineering but will also discover artworks within the stations as well as many depictions of stations in art – like Claude Monet’s Gare St Lazare or William Powell Frith’s Paddington. Definitely rather lavish, colourful and fun. Ian Swankie is a Londoner with a contagious enthusiasm for art and architecture. He is an official guide at Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Guildhall Art Gallery and St Paul’s Cathedral and is a freelance London tour guide.

Join us on Wednesday 14th January for a chat, a glass of wine or a soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Remember - this month we return to the Merchant Taylors’ Hall in Aldwark

Our lecture venue
For this, and future lectures, we will meet in our new regular venue - The Merchant Taylors’ Hall in Aldwark. Further information about the hall – facilities, location and car parking options is available here.

Social Events
Our annual Christmas Party in the Belfry Hall was again a jolly occasion with a buzz of conversation, mulled wine and mince pies. Thanks to Joanna and Marilyn for another interesting and challenging quiz - we will now be wandering the streets of York looking up at buildings, so apologies in advance if we bump into you! Congratulations to the prizewinning team.

It was a pleasure too to get to know some of our newer members over a meal in town and we will arrange a post-lecture supper before too long.

Visits
We have some exciting trips in planning for this year, including:· A 3-night trip to Malaga, flying from Leeds Bradford – probably in March

· A 2-day coach trip to Bishop Aukland, Newcastle, The Woodhorn Museum and the National Glass Museum in Sunderland – May 20/21 (before the NGM relocates in July)

· A 7-day rail trip to Cornwall, starting with the GWR Night Riviera Sleeper, and visiting Penzance, St Ives and Falmouth.

Look out for updates on all of these.

AGM

We held our AGM immediately before the November lecture. Thanks to members for a good turnout and to all those who have taken on roles to help keep the Society running smoothly. We are always looking to have new people on the committee – please consider stepping up! The AGM reports are on our website.

In Memoriam
Members will be saddened to learn that Bridget Barry died on 1 December following a heart attack a few days earlier. Bridget was a long-standing member of our Society and a warm, gentle friend to many. We offer our condolences to Bridget’s family.

Membership Renewal
Our 2026-27 season begins on 1 April so it is time to consider renewing your membership! We have an excellent programme of lectures, events and visits already planned for the year – and thanks especially to Linda Ward for putting the lecture programme together. You can pick up a copy at any of our lectures from this month. We have had to raise the membership fee this year to cover increases in lecturer fees and expenses and a small increase in venue costs. So, single and joint membership fees will be £58 and £110 respectively. I hope that you will agree that this still represents good value and that we can look forward to your continuing support through 2026/27.

Membership forms are available electronically – a Word version that you can complete and return electronically is attached to the January 2026 email and a pdf version if you prefer to print. Copies will also be available at the membership desk. Please do complete a form even if your contact details are unchanged. The pdf verson for printing is available here

Website: Our Newsletters, a printable copy of our programme, flyers for trips, photographs of previous visits, membership forms, - and much more can be found on this website.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Wednesday, 05 November 2025

November 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends,
Welcome to your November Newsletter. Please note that this month’s lecture will be held in the Community Hall Priory Street – see details below.

We are in the season of harvest festivals, Halloween, fabulous autumn colours, bonfires and shorter days. The commercialisation of Christmas has already been underway for weeks and seems to begin earlier every year. In our November lecture we will hear about the origins of many of our Christmas traditions.

November lecture
Early Christians celebrated Christmas at the same time as the ancient Romans were feasting and partying for their pagan Saturnalia festival. Many of the pagan habits were therefore absorbed into our Christmas traditions. Present-giving, holly and even party hats all have their origins in this 2,000 year old party. This talk will revel in artwork both ancient and modern as we un-wrap the images and stories behind our festive season.

Gillian Hovell is a lecturer for the British Museum and York University, an award-winning writer and author who specialises in relating the ancient world to our modern lives, in person, in the field, on line and in the media (most recently on BBC radio). She has several publications, and lectures widely.

Join us in the Community Hall in Priory Street on Wednesday 12th November for a chat with a glass of wine or a soft drink from 6pm. Party hats are not required! Our AGM will be held at 6.20pm before the lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Lecture venue
It was uplifting to have such a large attendance for our October lecture and there seemed to be general satisfaction with our new regular venue in the Merchant Taylors’ Hall, despite some minor teething problems. We have learned from these and things should run more smoothly in future. Because of a previous booking, the Merchant Taylors’ Hall is not available to us in November so we will meet in the Community Hall in Priory Street – off Micklegate. This was a venue that we considered when we were seeking a new permanent home. It has a good-sized room and audio-visual equipment. There is no on-site parking but the public car park in Nunnery Lane is very close. A map of the venue and nearby car parks is attached with this newsletter mailing.

We will return to The Merchant Taylors’ Hall from January 2026

Visits
Members of Arts Society Ebor and friends had a fantastic autumnal trip to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, engagingly led by textile travel writer and Arts Society lecturer Chris Aslan. His connections and fluency in Uzbek made this a trip with a unique insight into a rapidly changing part of the world. The group also had opportunities to see many craft workshops and silk carpet production from worm to knotting. A memorable experience.

Social Events
The Christmas Party in the Belfry Hall, Stonegate will be on Wednesday 10th December from 3 - 5.30pm. There will be mulled wine, mince pies and ‘nibbles’, some seasonal background music – and, of course another prize quiz! Cost £15pp. Please book your place with Peter Burnett: drpburnett@btinternet.com Pay by BACS if you can, using your surname and Xmas as identifier. An invitation is attached and payment details are on the back (page 2 of the pdf).

Our next post-lecture supper will be in the New Year. Watch out for more information in your January newsletter.

AGM
We will hold our AGM at 6.20pm, immediately before the November lecture. Our constitution requires that, to be quorate, one third of the membership must be present at the AGM so do please come along. We promise to be brief! The accounts and committee reports are attached with this Newsletter. Contact Sheila Bartlett, Honorary Secretary, before the meeting if you wish to raise any matters: sheilabartlett@btinternet.com.
Please consider joining the team who organise lectures, events and trips – any help will be appreciated!

Membership Offer
A reminder that, from the halfway point in our 2025-26 lecture programme, we offer a ½- price fee for those joining the society for the remainder of the year. Apart from the lectures, members have access to all of our trips and events and we think that this is great value for money! Bring a friend along to any of our lectures and they will be exempt from the usual guest fee if they join the society. Membership forms showing the ½-year discounted rates will be available at the membership desk from October and will appear soon on our website.

The Arts Society
As members of our own local group you are also members of The Arts Society and can subscribe (free) to their newsletters and other occasional mailings. You will also receive The Arts Society magazine (3 issues/year): https://theartssociety.org/

The final issue of 2025 should have been delivered to you during the past month.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Team.

Wednesday, 01 October 2025

October 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Welcome to this October Newsletter that begins with news of a new venue for future lectures - The Merchant Taylors’ Hall in Aldwark. Please read below for further information.

October lecture
'The Night Watch' of 1642 is Rembrandt's greatest painting and the most famous in the Netherlands. But why is it so special? How was it commissioned and constructed? How did Rembrandt paint it and where has it hung throughout its life? Who are these characters? Why is there a lone woman and what is meant by the dead chicken trussed up in her waistband? What does this all tell us about changing Dutch society? This work redirected how group portraits were conceived. The traditional Dutch 'schutterstuk', a military group or shooting piece, became majestic and grandiose in Rembrandt's hands. Hilary Williams was formerly a curator and Print Room Superintendent at the British Museum, and is now Art History Education Officer in the Department of Learning & National Partnerships at the Museum. She lectures for the BM and Wallace Collection, is a specialist in 17th century art and has published on Rembrandt.

Join us on Wednesday 8th October for a chat with a glass of wine or a soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Remember - this month we are in the Merchant Taylors’ Hall in Aldwark

Future lecture venue
You will recall from the September Newsletter that we can no longer use any of the facilities at St Peter’s School for committee meetings and lectures. We are grateful to those several members who sent in suggestions for alternatives. I am pleased to report that we have secured The Merchant Taylors’ Hall in Aldwark for this October lecture and from January until at least July next year. The hall meets our requirements well and at a competitive cost. We think that members will be pleased with this choice. Please find further information about the hall – facilities, location and car parking options - attached to this Newsletter. Unfortunately the hall is unavailable for our November lecture and for that we will use the Community Hall in Priory Street (another venue on our short list) – watch out for details in your November Newsletter.

Visits
The intrepid Uzbekistan travellers have just returned and we look forward to hearing about their experience.

The Hepworth appeal
Following the successful appeal to ensure that this iconic Hepworth sculpture can remain in the UK, ‘Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red’ is now on display in the Hepworth Gallery, Wakefield until March 2026. Some members may have already been to gallery, where there are many other splendid artworks, and we hope to arrange a visit for The Arts Society Ebor in the New Year.

Social Events
The Christmas Party in the Belfry Hall, Stonegate will be on Wednesday 10th December from 3-6pm. There will be mulled wine, mince pies and ‘nibbles’, some seasonal background music – and, of course another quiz! Cost £15pp. Please pay by BACS if you can, using your surname and Xmas as identifier.

Our next post-lecture supper will be in November. Full details to follow.

AGM Notice
We will hold our brief AGM immediately before the November lecture. The accounts and committee reports will be circulated with the November newsletter. Contact Janet Dean, Chair of the Society, before the meeting if you wish to raise any matters. Please consider joining the committee – any help will be appreciated!

Membership Offer
As we reach the halfway point in our 2025-26 lecture programme, we are pleased once more to offer a ½- price fee for those joining the society for the remainder of the year. Apart from the lectures, members have access to all of our trips and events and we think that this is great value for money! Bring a friend along to any of our lectures and they will be exempt from the usual guest fee if they join the society. Membership forms showing the ½-year discounted rates will be available at the membership desk from October and will appear soon on our website.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Monday, 01 September 2025

September 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Welcome to this September Newsletter. Please note that we return to the Memorial Hall in the main St Peter’s School building this month.

Perhaps you have been to St Ives – well worth a visit – and seen the studio in which Barbara Hepworth and her associates met and worked. One of our daughters was taught flute by Louisa Creed, who had close family connections to the Nicholsons (and who created some fabulous rag rugs). I was privileged to see on the walls of Louisa’s home, then in Bishopthorpe, some Nicholson artworks. So I know that we are in for a treat in our September lecture. See also, later in this Newsletter an update of the campaign to keep one of Barbara Hepworth’s sculptures in the UK.

September lecture
The arrival of Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth and Naum Gabo in St Ives marked a significant moment, both for them and for the artists already living and working in the small Cornish town. These three artists were key players in British modernism, inspiring a younger generation of artists before they too were challenged by new ideas. This lecture will chart the rise of St Ives as a centre for modern art after the war and discuss how these and others artists’ success led to St Ives becoming a focal point for post-war avant garde art. Our guide, Sarah Burles, studied History of Art at Cambridge University before doing a master’s degree at University College London. She went on to have a career in museum and gallery education, establishing new services in three different museums before working at the Fitzwilliam Museum for many years. She runs tours and courses at home and abroad.

Join us on Wednesday 10th September for a chat with a glass of wine or a soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

NB: This month we are in the Memorial Hall in St Peter’s School. Enter from the main building on Bootham

Future lecture venues
We were disappointed to be told, at very short notice, that we can no longer use any of the facilities at St Peter’s School after this September lecture and we must look for another venue. We have been fortunate to have somewhere that is convenient and well equipped since our society was incepted – and at a cost that will be difficult to match. We are urgently exploring options. We require somewhere that is accessible for members, within easy reach of the station as most of our lecturers prefer to catch the 8pm train to London rather than have accommodation in York overnight. Good audio-visual projection facilities are essential – and we all enjoy the social chat, with a glass of wine or soft drink, before each lecture. Your committee is working hard to find somewhere that meets all, or most, of these needs before our October meeting and if anyone has ideas, or useful contacts, then please do let us know.

Visits
Those members who went on our trip to Manchester and Salford in August had a most enjoyable time – as evidenced by the smiles in the photograph on our Gallery page here. The hotel accommodation was excellent, there was much to see and there were no worries about rain!

Later this month a group of intrepid travellers will set off for Uzbekistan. We look forward to seeing pictures and hearing about their adventures in a region with some stunning sights.

We are still exploring options for a trip to Bishop Auckland, perhaps to include Durham. ‘Watch this space’!

The Hepworth appeal
With only days to go, it was heartening to learn that the appeal to raise over £3.8 million has succeeded, thus allowing this iconic sculpture to remain in the UK and, in due course, to be available for all to see. I know that some members made individual donations and there was support for our proposal to contribute from Arts Ebor funds. As it happened the target was reached before we could donate.

It is anticipated that the sculpture will be exhibited at the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield. The Arts Society Ebor has visited there in the past - since then the gallery and surroundings have been extended and refreshed - and we look forward to a return visit in 2026.

Social Events
We will arrange another post-lecture supper before the end of the year.

Our Christmas Party on Wednesday 10 December will be in the Belfry Hall in Stonegate – full details to follow.

The Arts Society
A reminder that, as members of our own local group you are also members of The Arts Society. You will receive the Arts Society Magazine and can subscribe (free) to their newsletters and other occasional mailings: https://theartssociety.org/

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Thursday, 03 July 2025

July 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Welcome to this July Newsletter. Please note that we return to the Memorial Hall in the main St Peter’s School building this month.

While York was sweltering in hot sunshine, here in North Wales we glimpsed the sun for only a couple of hours over the past ten days, the temperature just nudged above 20° and the mountains remained largely hidden under low cloud. We even contemplated opening a can of soup indoors rather than enjoying a cold drink in the garden! However, the nearby coastline – such a rich, ever-changing subject for artists – is a joy in any weather and there are some good local galleries to visit.

July lecture
Andy Warhol is remembered as the king of pop art who embraced celebrity and consumerism, and would become an American icon. Yet there is a lesser-known side to him: the shy, gay son of immigrants whose prolific, experimental and inclusive artistic practice enabled a counterculture that would play a part in transforming modern art.

After early retirement from a career in finance and commerce, Bill Powell was able to indulge his love of Modern Art, visiting galleries across the globe. He has lectured on cruise ships and around the world, talking about Modern Art and his other great passion, Rock and Roll music.

Join us on Wednesday 9th July for a chat with a soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

NB: This month we return to the Memorial Hall in St Peter’s School. Enter from the main building on Bootham

We take a break from lectures in August and hope that we may be able to return to the Shepherd Hall for the September lecture if work there has been completed.

Social Events
We were fortunate, yet again, to have a glorious afternoon in the garden of York Medical Society for our Summer Party on 18 June. Prosecco, strawberries and cream in good company added to our enjoyment.

Visits
On Wednesday 16 July we have a day in Beverley. This market town has many attractions, including an excellent lunch venue. We will visit the two outstanding churches, beginning in St Mary’s Parish Church at 10.30am. After lunch in The Beverley Arms at 12.30pm we move to Beverley Minster at around 2.00pm. John Edmonds will be our guide for the day. As Wednesday is a market day, car parking may not be easy but the town is well served by the X46/X47 buses and car-sharing should be possible. Full details will be sent separately to those who have booked and the flyer is also attached with this Newsletter. Cost, including lunch, is £30pp. Contact Peter Burnett to book your place: drpburnett@btinternet.com Use surname and Beverley as reference when paying by BACS.

Our trip to Manchester and Salford in August is now fully subscribed.

There may still be places available on the trip to Uzbekistan in September. Members of Epsom AS have given glowing reports of their trip recently, using the same travel company and guide. Contact Joanna if you would like details: joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk

We are exploring options for a trip to Bishop Auckland, perhaps to include Durham. ‘Watch this space’!

Would you like to do more for The Arts Society Ebor?
Everything we do for The Arts Society Ebor is on a voluntary basis. If you would like to support our hard-working Committee, please let us know. Many members already do a lot to promote our lectures and trips, recruit and engage new members, and serve drinks before lectures. We are keen to do more to connect with our local community, and assistance with our lecture programme would also be helpful. If you think you can help, email our Chair, Janet Dean: jd@deanknight.co.uk or speak to any member of the Committee.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Wednesday, 04 June 2025

June 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Welcome to this June Newsletter. Please note that, because of ongoing work at St Peter’s School, this month’s lecture will be held at Bootham School – see below for more details.

On long journeys I always take a book or other reading material. However, I almost never read! I am instead irresistibly drawn to the passing landscape, with constant changes of scenery, of light, of buildings, people and animals. Through the ages, landscape artists have captured snapshots, putting their own interpretations on what the eye perceives. This month’s lecture looks at the works of Danish landscape artists in the 19th century. You will enjoy it!

June lecture
In the 19th century, Denmark lost its territories and regional power, but produced its finest art - and it’s an absolute revelation. This talk examines how artists in the Danish Golden Age of painting used landscapes to create a new national story, alluding to the country’s heroic past and its agricultural future. It looks at the change in style of Danish landscape painting over the 19th century, from the magnificent plein air works of the Skagen school to more psychological studies by Danish symbolists, and explores new ways of interpreting landscape art. James Vaux is a researcher and lecturer specialising in Nordic arts, culture, design and history. He focuses on understanding artistic achievements through their historic, cultural and political context, exploring the 'why' and the 'how' instead of the conventional 'who', 'what' and 'when'. James has lived and worked in Scandinavia and his MA dissertation was on Swedish design. He has provided a handout that is attached to this Newsletter

Join us on Wednesday 11th June for a chat with a soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

NB: This month we meet in the Arts Centre at Bootham School. The Arts Centre is an excellent venue. It is on the first floor but there is a lift. Access to the school is by Portland Street (off Gillygate) or by Photographic Lane, opposite St Mary’s Tower on Bootham (alongside the Wandesford Almshouses). There is no car parking in the school grounds. Nearby public car parks include Bootham Row, Marygate and Clarence Street. Bootham school does not permit the serving of alcohol but we have some tasty non-alcoholic alternatives – and our usual good company!

Social Events
There is still just time to book for our Summer Party at York Medical Society (Stonegate) on Wednesday 18 June from 3-6pm. Enjoy strawberries and cream with a glass of prosecco in the garden – a hidden gem in the city centre. Cost £17.50pp. Payment by BACS preferred (use surname and party as reference). Contact Peter Burnett to book your place: drpburnett@btinternet.com

Visits
On Wednesday 16 July we have a day in Beverley. This market town has many attractions, including an excellent lunch venue. We will visit the two outstanding churches, beginning in St Mary’s Parish Church at 10.30am. After lunch in The Beverley Arms at 12.30pm we move to Beverley Minster at around 2.00pm. John Edmonds will be our guide for the day. Car parking may not be easy but the town is well served by the X46/X47 buses. Full details to follow. Cost, including lunch, is £30pp. Contact Peter Burnett to book your place: drpburnett@btinternet.com

Use surname and Beverley as reference when paying by BACS

Our trip to Manchester and Salford in August is now fully subscribed.

We are exploring options for a trip to Bishop Auckland, perhaps to include Durham. ‘Watch this space’!

York Festival of Ideas
This annual series of events, led by the University of York, comes to an end next week. A couple of events that may be of interest to our members include:

Two Treasures of Herat Tuesday 10 June, 7.30pm - 8.30pm: Join Barbara Brend, a specialist in the field of Persian painting, as she examines two manuscripts illustrated in late 15th-century Herat.

Big Science and Bold Futures in India Tuesday 10 June, 12pm - 1pm (online): Jahnavi Phalkey, Founding Director of Science Gallery Bengaluru discusses the intersection of science, art and society, and examines the opportunities and challenges facing India’s scientific landscape in the 21st century.

Micklegate Arts Trail, Throughout the Festival: Local artists, makers, performers and traders collaborate in a street-long celebration of the arts, devised by the York collective Navigators Art.

The full Festival programme can be explored at yorkfestivalofideas.com

The Arts Society
Our parent body, The Arts Society, has emerged from a somewhat turbulent period with a fresh look. Hilary Kay (Antiques Roadshow expert) is the new president. As members of our own local group you are also members of The Arts Society and can subscribe (free) to their newslettåers and other occasional mailings. The AS is also looking to recruit new Trustees to join the board and all members may apply (deadline 7 July). Visit the website at: https://theartssociety.org/

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Tuesday, 13 May 2025

May 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Welcome to this May Newsletter. What glorious weather we are having – such a contrast with this time last year. So, perhaps your thoughts turn to trying on a new Spring outfit. Of course, there’s only one place to go for that – Liberty’s, where you can mingle with the rich and famous!

May lecture
Liberty of London remains a byword for luxury and innovation. Founded in 1876, it was an immediate success. Its Oriental textiles, Middle-Eastern rugs, and Artistic accessories and dress were widely admired and it counted the painter J M Whistler and the critic Oscar Wilde among its patrons. During the 1890s Liberty’s association with Art Nouveau became so strong that the style became known as Stile Liberty in Italy. The spirit of innovation continued with the shop's promotion of the Art Deco, Op and Pop designs. Today, collaborations include everyone from Vivienne Westwood and House of Hackney to Hello Kitty and Florence Welch! This lecture marks the 150th anniversary of Liberty and tells the story of a business whose rich history and legacy continues to inspire people all over the world today.

Jo Banham is a freelance curator, lecturer and writer. She has had leading roles at the Victoria & Albert Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, Leighton House and the Whitworth Art Gallery. She has published on many aspects of Victorian and early 20thC decoration and interiors. She recently curated an exhibition on William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement for the Juan March Fundacion in Madrid and the Museu Nacional d’Art Catalunya in Barcelona and she is currently writing a book on the History of Wallpaper.

Join us on Wednesday 14th May for a chat over a glass of wine or soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

NB: This month we meet in the Memorial Hall, accessed through St Peter’s School main entrance on Bootham

Lecture Programme
If you haven’t already picked up a printed copy of our 2025/26 programme you can do so at the membership desk before each lecture. The programme is also on our website here.

Social Events
We return to the York Medical Society for our Summer Party on Wednesday 18 June from 3-6pm. Enjoy strawberries and cream with a glass of prosecco in the garden – a hidden gem in the city centre. Cost £17.50pp. Payment by BACS preferred (use surname and party as reference). Contact Peter Burnett to book your place: drpburnett@btinternet.com

Visits
Fourteen members enjoyed a wonderful few days in and around Dublin recently. Fine weather, an excellent guide, some great art and, of course, a glass or two of Guinness. We also managed to fit in a play at the Abbey Theatre and an evening of Irish music and dance. A vibrant city that would repay a second visit.

This week also saw our visit to Nun Monkton church where Suzanne Fagence-Cooper talked to us about the history of the church and the remarkable William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones stained glass.

We will post some photographs from these visits on our website shortly.

On Wednesday 16 July we have a day in Beverley. This market town has many attractions, including an excellent lunch venue. We will visit the two outstanding churches – St Mary’s Parish Church and Beverley Minster. John Edmonds will be our guide for the day. Car parking is not easy but the town is well served by the X46/X47 buses. Full details to follow.

On Tuesday-Thursday 12-14 August we plan to visit Manchester and Salford. Both venues offer many sites for art lovers and we will include the Lowry Gallery in Salford and a Blue Badge guided tour of Manchester city centre. The itinerary and details of 2-night accommodation are on the attached flyer and places are filling up – so contact Joanna before 30 May to book a place: joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk

Supporting Arts initiatives
The two that we have been pleased to support this year:

Art Bytes: (https://artbytes.co.uk/), helping pupils in Years 5 and 9 to develop their artistic and creative skills. Voting has now closed but on the website you can still see the art work submitted by school pupils – and some of it is of a very high standard.

Koestler Arts and the Baltic (Koestler Arts Almost Home | Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art) showcases artwork made in criminal justice settings in the North East of England. The exhibition closes this weekend.

Membership Renewal
Thanks again to those who have renewed membership for 2025/26 and a warm welcome to our new members. We look forward to getting to know you.

The Arts Society
Our parent body, The Arts Society, has emerged from a somewhat turbulent period with a fresh look. Hilary Kay (Antiques Roadshow expert) is the new president. As members of our own local group you are also members of The Arts Society and can subscribe (free) to their newsletters and other occasional mailings. Visit the website at: https://theartssociety.org/

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Monday, 07 April 2025

April 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

I trust that you are enjoying the fine weather of the last few days – long may it continue. The school holidays begin well before Easter this year, so York will soon be thronged with visitors. The secular trappings of Easter – chocolate eggs, bunnies and the rest are all around. Religious festivals, however, have engendered a wealth of art over the centuries and one of these, celebrated on 25 March each year, is the subject of our April lecture.

April lecture
A young woman reads quietly, blissfully unaware that her life is about to change. Whatever your personal beliefs, it’s hard to deny the impact Christianity would have on the world. So the Annunciation by Gabriel to Mary, telling her that she was to bear a son, was one of the most popular images of the Middle Ages, more so indeed than the Nativity itself. This lecture reveals the key players in the story, dissects the symbolism of Mary and the Annunciation and examines the world-changing importance of that particular moment. It is richly illustrated with gorgeous images from the fourth to the sixteenth century.

Imogen’s degree in Anglo-Saxon & Medieval History and Art was followed by an MPhil from the University of Birmingham. She is a freelance lecturer and study tour guide. Her excellent lecture to us in 2023 – ‘Stone on Stone: the Men Who Built the Cathedrals’ is now a published book title. Among her several roles, she is an advisor on memorials and monuments for Canterbury's Diocesan Advisory Committee.

Join us on Wednesday 9th April for a chat over a glass of wine or soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

NB: This month we meet in the Memorial Hall, accessed through St Peter’s School main entrance on Bootham

Lecture Programme
April marks the start of our 2025/26 season of lectures. Printed copies of the programme are available to collect at forthcoming meetings and can also be viewed on our website.

Social Events
We return to the York Medical Society for our Summer Party on Wednesday 18 June from 3-6pm. Enjoy strawberries and cream with a glass of prosecco in the garden as the harpist entertains us. Cost £17.50pp. Payment by BACS preferred (use surname and party as reference). Contact Peter Burnett to book your place: drpburnett@btinternet.com

Future Visits
Uzbekistan: Contact Joanna to check any remaining availability for Uzbekistan: joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk

Our visit later this month to Dublin’s Fair City is now fully subscribed.

Our proposed trip to Bradford and Saltaire has been postponed because some of the places and events we wished to include are not available. We hope to arrange another date for this trip.

On Wednesday 7 May at 11.30am, we visit St Mary’s Church Nun Monkton which contains stunning stained glass windows by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones – described as the finest in the region. Our guide for the visit is Suzanne Fagence-Cooper, who is well known to our society. See the attached flyer for details.

On Wednesday 16 July we have a day in Beverley. This market town has many attractions, including an excellent lunch venue. We will visit the two outstanding churches – St Mary’s Parish Church and Beverley Minster and John Edmonds will be our guide for the day. Car parking is not easy but the town is well served by the X46/X47 buses. Full details to follow.

On Tuesday-Thursday 12-14 August we plan to visit Manchester and Salford. Both venues offer many sites for art lovers and we will include the Lowry Gallery in Salford and a Blue Badge guided tour of Manchester city centre. The itinerary and details of 2-night accommodation will follow soon. Joanna will be our contact for the trip.

Supporting Arts initiatives
A further reminder about two exciting ventures that we are supporting this year :

Art Bytes: (https://artbytes.co.uk/), helping pupils in Years 5 and 9 to develop their artistic and creative skills. We will further support the pupils through visits to the schools and to a regional exhibition at the Henry Moore Gallery in Leeds. We are delighted to be promoting the arts in local schools and wish all the pupils well with their artwork.

Membership Renewal
Thanks again to those who have renewed membership for 2025/26. There is still time to do so before this month’s lecture (or on the day) and thereby to avoid being asked to pay a guest fee! A membership form is attached and paper copies are available at the membership desk. Do please complete a fresh form as this ensures that our records are 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. Gift Aid declaration forms are available for those who are eligible and have not previously completed one. A special offer: Everyone who renews or joins by 9 April will be offered a Gift Voucher that can be used to introduce a guest to any one lecture free of charge. Pick up yours at the signing-in desk.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee

Tuesday, 04 March 2025

March 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends,
Spring has finally arrived after a long grey winter. Time to think about summer trips! This month’s lecture might tempt you to visit Budapest – or to join us on one of our planned visits over the rest of the year.

March lecture
Formed in 1873 by the unification of Buda and Pest, situated on either side of the Danube, Budapest was the focus of resurgent Hungarian nationalism, finding expression through lavish new buildings, the continent’s first underground railway system and myriad paintings featuring Hungarian subjects and locales. Meanwhile, composers Bartók and Kodály began to collect the music of their compatriots. Placing these endeavours in a historical context, Gavin will explore with us how the Hungarians came to understand national identity through cultural means. Gavin Plumley is well known as a writer and broadcaster. He lectures widely on 19th and 20th century culture in Central Europe.

Join us on Wednesday 12th 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 here. The password this month is ‘Budapest’

Lecture Programme
Pick up a copy of the programme of lectures for our 2025/26 season that begins in April. Printed copies of the programme are available to collect at our forthcoming meetings and can also be viewed here.

Social Events
Our post-lecture supper at Mama Mia in Gillygate follows this month’s lecture. Cost £25pp for main course and dessert. There are a few places remaining so contact Joanna – joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk , and secure your place with a BACS payment.

We return to the York Medical Society for our Summer Party on Wednesday 18 June from 3-6pm. Enjoy strawberries and cream with a glass of prosecco in the garden as the harpist entertains us. Cost £17.50pp. Payment by BACS preferred (use surname and party as reference). Contact Peter Burnett to book your place: drpburnett@btinternet.com

Future Visits
There are still some places remaining for the exciting trip to Uzbekistan – contact Joanna for full details. Our visit to Dublin's Fair City next month is now fully subscribed.

On Wednesday 23 April we go to the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford (UK City of Culture 2025) to see the exhibition ‘David Hockney: Pieced Together’. We may combine this with a visit to Saltaire. Both venues are readily accessible by road or train. Full details to follow. John Edmonds will be our guide for the day.

On Tuesday-Thursday 12-14 August we plan to visit Manchester and Salford. Both venues offer many sites for art lovers.

Full itinerary and details of 2-night accommodation to follow.

Supporting Arts initiatives
Our February Newsletter included information about two exciting ventures that we are supporting this year :

Art Bytes: (https://artbytes.co.uk/), helping pupils in Years 5 and 9 to develop their artistic and creative skills. We will further support the pupils through visits to the schools and to our regional exhibition at the Henry Moore Gallery in Leeds. We are delighted to be promoting the arts in local schools and wish all the pupils well with their artwork.

Koestler Arts and the Baltic (Koestler Arts Almost Home | Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art) showcases artwork made in criminal justice settings in the North East of England. Some members have already visited the exhibition: ‘We saw a wonderful display of art – paintings, drawings, sculpture – as well as poetry and music by prisoners from across the North East, including some children under 18 in secure facilities. It was impossible not to be moved by the work and some of the comments which revealed how much the process of making art had meant. I was very impressed by the poetry and moved by the art and the personal stories behind the work …. well worth a trip to the lovely Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.’

Membership Renewal
Thanks to those who have renewed membership for our 2025/26 season that begins on 1 April. We believe that membership offers good value for money. Avoid being asked to pay a guest fee from April – renew now! A membership form is attached and paper copies are available at the membership desk. Do please complete a fresh form as this ensures that our records are 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. Gift Aid declaration forms are available for those who are eligible and have not previously completed one. A special offer: Everyone who renews or joins before 1 April will be offered a Gift Voucher that can be used to introduce a guest to any one lecture free of charge. Pick up yours at the membership desk.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Friday, 07 February 2025

February 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

We have seen a turbulent start to 2025, with distressing news from several parts of the world. This month’s lecture may serve to lighten the mood a little, revive memories and bring a smile or two.

February lecture
We delve into the remarkable untold story of Carry On actor Peter Butterworth, and his wife - Britain’s first female TV impressionist Janet Brown, best known for her impression of Mrs Thatcher. Using film and TV clips, personal mementos, photographs and letters from his family’s collection, Tyler reveals the private story behind his parents’ public lives. The journey takes in MI9, a theatre in Stalag Luft III, nights at Chequers with a Prime Minister, “This Is Your Life”, and many more moments in their shared life. Tyler Butterworth grew up in a theatrical family and spent 25 years as an actor working in film, television, theatre and radio. He went on to help produce TV documentaries among other ventures. Now, he works as a voice actor, recording audiobooks, documentaries and voiceovers, and he produces walking audio guides to cities across Europe.

Join us on Wednesday 12th February for a chat over a glass of wine or soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Lecture Programme
Pick up a copy of the programme of lectures for our 2025/26 season that begins in April. Printed copies of the programme will be available to collect at our forthcoming meetings and can also be viewed for download on this website here.

Social Events
Our next post-lecture supper will be on 12 March at Mama Mia in Gillygate. Cost £25pp for main course and dessert. These events are always popular so book early by contacting Joanna – joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk , and secure your place with a BACS payment.

Future Visits
There are still places available for the exciting trip to Uzbekistan – contact Joanna for full details.

On Wednesday 7 May at 11.30am, we meet at St Mary’s Church Nun Monkton (off the A59). This Grade 1-listed XIIIC church contains stained glass windows by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones – described as the finest in the region. Our guide for the visit is Suzanne Fagence-Cooper, who is well known to our society. Cost for the visit £7.50pp. Please contact Joanna to reserve your place. A flyer to follow will give further information

The Events team is working on a number of other visits for the year ahead – watch this space!

Supporting Arts initiatives
The Arts Society Ebor is pleased to be engaging with two exciting ventures:

Art Bytes: (https://artbytes.co.uk/) This charity supports pupils in Years 5 and 9 to develop their artistic and creative skills. We are covering the costs of entry to the programme for Haxby Road Junior School and Vale of York Academy. This allows the schools to enter the work of up to 30 pupils in regional and national competitions which culminate in exhibitions of the pupils’ work. We will further support the pupils through visits to the schools and to our regional exhibition at the Henry Moore Gallery in Leeds. We are delighted to be promoting the arts in local schools and wish all the pupils well with their artwork.

Koestler Arts and the Baltic are partnering to present a showcase of artwork made in criminal justice settings in the North East of England in spring 2025 (Koestler Arts Almost Home | Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art). We have contributed to an Arts Society North East initiative to support this and look forward to visiting the exhibition in Newcastle in the Spring

We will give updates on both of these projects as they progress – so, more to follow!

Membership Renewal
A reminder to renew your membership for our 2025/26 season that begins on 1 April. With access to our lecture programme, trips and visits, membership of our parent organization, The Arts Society - and, of course, the company of like-minded people – we believe that membership offers good value for money.

A membership form is downloadable in pdf version from here 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.
Gift Aid declaration forms will also be available for those who are eligible and have not previously completed one.

A special offer: We have been pleased to meet guests at lectures and a number have gone on to join as members. Everyone who renews or joins before 1 April will be offered a Gift Voucher that can be used to introduce a guest to any one lecture free of charge. You can pick yours up at the membership desk before our lectures in January to April.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Wednesday, 01 January 2025

January 2025 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

A happy and peaceful New Year to you all. We look forward to meeting together again after a break in lectures in December. There have been some very grey skies recently – rather like that depicted in the picture below – but the days are beginning, slowly, to lengthen and perhaps we will see a little more of the sun.

January lecture
Adolphe Valette blew into the Manchester School of Art like a breath of fresh air, inspiring his students with his French elegance and his knowledge of the latest developments in Paris, the centre of the art world. One such student was L S Lowry, now widely acknowledged as a hugely significant figure in twentieth century British art. Until recently, his charismatic teacher was largely forgotten, but his achievements as both artist and teacher are finally receiving the attention they so greatly deserve. This lecture will explore the artistic journeys of the two men and the fascinating insight their works give us into life in the city. Julia Marwood has loved looking at art since discovering the work of Gustav Klimt. She became a tour guide at Manchester Art Gallery and shares her passion for art as a speaker to many different groups. She became an Accredited Lecturer of The Arts Society in 2020, specialising in Scottish art from 1880 and the art of Manchester.

Join us on Wednesday 8th January for a chat over a glass of wine or soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Lecture Programme
We are grateful for the hard work of our Programme Secretary, Linda Ward, who has put together an exciting series of ten lectures for our 2025/26 season that begins in April. Printed copies of the programme will be available to collect at our forthcoming meetings and can also be viewed on our website. We hope to see many of you at the lectures and that you might bring friends along too – see the Membership Renewal section for a special offer!

Social Events
A good number of members enjoyed mulled wine, mince pies and seasonal music at our Christmas party in the Belfry Hall on December 18th. Marilyn and Joanna had put together a challenging themed picture quiz which was great fun. Congratulations to the teams who won the prestigious prizes – you know who you are! Thanks to all those who helped to make the party a success.

Future Visits
Time is running out to book your place on our trip to Dublin – 5 days (4 nights) from Monday 28 April.
Dublin has so much to offer – with galleries, museums, interesting buildings, including Trinity College with the Book of Kells – and a visit to the Guiness brewery. We will have a guide for the various venues and will be staying close to O’Connell Street. The brochure is attached and copies will be available at our January lecture.

We have a number of other visits planned for 2025, so watch for further updates – and do let us know if you have ideas that you think would be of interest to members, either for visits or future lecture topics.

Membership Renewal
Now is a good time to renew your membership for our 2025/26 season that begins on 1 April. We are pleased to keep our fees unchanged at £55 for single membership and £105 for joint members at the same address. With access to our lecture programme, a number of trips and visits, membership of our parent organization, The Arts Society - and, of course, the company of like-minded people – we hope that you find this good value. We have been encouraged by a steady growth in member numbers over the past year and it is always a pleasure to welcome newcomers.

A membership renewal form is available here 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.
Gift Aid declaration forms will also be available for those who are eligible and have not previously completed one.

A special offer: Personal recommendation is the main way of introducing others to our Society. We have been pleased to meet guests at lectures and a number have gone on to join as members. We have decided to offer everyone who renews or joins before 1 April a Gift Voucher that can be used to introduce a guest to any one lecture free of charge. You can pick yours up at the membership desk before our lectures in January to April.

There are also links to LinkedIn and Facebook on our Home page – and we like to be liked!

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Friday, 01 November 2024

November 2024 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

The clocks have changed and the evenings are darker, but the autumn colours have been especially spectacular this year. The unusually mild weather has also allowed many of our garden flowers to continue in bloom. This is a good time to make plans for next year – and we are doing just that, so watch out for news of more trips and visits in 2025.

November lecture
The first of our ‘passionate potters’, William de Morgan, was a friend of Morris who rediscovered the secrets of Near Eastern lustre glazes. In contrast, the eccentric Martin Brothers created a range of elaborate salt glazed pots unparalleled in their imaginative breadth. Sir Edmund Elton, the ‘potter baronet’, combined startling glazes with exotic forms. Bernard Leach, the father of English studio pottery, not only married the arts of Japan and England but created a legacy that is still alive today. Julian Richards will explore with us the lives and extraordinary creations of these passionate potters. Julian has worked as a professional archaeologist, in commercial archaeology, for English Heritage, for the BBC and as an independent. He has lectured widely, has been involved in researching and presenting notable TV and radio programmes and is the author of a number of English Heritage publications on Stonehenge.

Join us in the Shepherd Hall on Wednesday 13th November for a chat over a glass of wine (from 6.10pm) or soft drink before the lecture begins at 6.30pm. As always, do please give us your feedback on the lecture on this website.

Please note that our AGM will be held at 6.20pm, immediately before the lecture – see over the page

Future visits and trips
28 April 2025: A 5-day guided exploration of ‘The Art and History of Dublin’s Fair City’, flying from Manchester. There is much of interest to see in Dublin – and we include a visit to the Guinness Brewery! The itinerary and booking form are on the website and you can pick up copies at our next meeting. Please return your booking form and deposit to Joanna as soon as possible. A minimum number is required for this trip to run.

14-29 September 2025: An exciting trip to Uzbekistan with Indus Travel – visiting stunning sites on the Silk Road. This trip now has some spaces so contact Joanna for details: joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk .

Our programme of lectures for 2025/26 is complete and ready to go to the printers. Copies will be available at our January meeting. We can look forward to an exciting and informative year ahead.

Social Events
Our post-lecture supper in November will be at Mama Mia in Gillygate at 8pm. Cost £25pp to include main course (pasta or pizza with meat and vegetarian options) and dessert. Drinks to be paid separately. For those who have booked, the menu options have been circulated by Joanna: joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk . Payment, by BACS if possible using surname and supper as identifier or bring your cheque to the lecture.

The Christmas Party in the Belfry Hall, Stonegate will be on Wednesday 18th December from 3-6pm. There will be mulled wine, mince pies and ‘nibbles’, some seasonal background music – and a quiz! Cost £15pp. To reserve a place, contact Sheila Bartlett: sheilabartlett@btinternet.com. Please pay by BACS if you can, using your surname and Xmas as identifier. BACS payments to: The Arts Society Ebor, HSBC, Sort Code: 40-47-31, A/c: 54600754.

Membership
One of the advantages of membership of our society is that you will receive a copy of The Arts Society magazine (3 issues/year). The latest edition should be in your letterbox very soon. It features York artist Mark Hearld. He recently completed a residency at the Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh (a gem worth visiting). Please let Michael Harran know if you do not receive your copy of the magazine.

As we are past the halfway point in our 2024-25 lecture programme, we are pleased once more to offer a ½- price fee for those joining the society for the remainder of the year. Apart from the lectures, members have access to all of our trips and events and we think that this is great value for money! Bring a friend along to any of our lectures and they will be exempt from the usual guest fee if they join the society. Membership forms showing the ½-year discounted rates are available at the membership desk on our website.

AGM Notice
We will hold our AGM immediately before the November lecture. The accounts and committee reports have been circulated to members separately and copies are included with this newsletter. Our constitution requires that, to be quorate, one third of the membership must be present at the AGM so do please come along. We promise to be brief! Please contact Sheila Bartlett, Honorary Secretary, before the meeting if you wish to raise any matters. sheilabartlett@btinternet.com

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Tuesday, 01 October 2024

October 2024 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Huge skeins of geese passing over morning and evening on their daily commute between the fields on the Wolds and the Humber estuary are a sure sign that Autumn has arrived. The pink-footed are so much more musical than the raucous Canada or greylag ones. Living from time to time in or near Bridlington and latterly painting many scenes from the Wolds, Hockney must have seen and heard the geese – but I don’t recall seeing them in any of his pictures.

October lecture
The two people in the painting are Celia Birtwell and Ossie Clark, then leading fashion celebrities and close friends and contemporaries of the artist. But within the seemingly cool, iconic modernist interior, a poignant and dramatic tragedy is beginning to unravel. Using David Hockney’s sketches and photographs of the work in progress, the lecture explores the characters and their stories as well as Hockney’s fascination with interiors and ‘contre-jour’ light effects. Mary Alexander trained as an art historian. She has a life-long fascination with the language and codes of dress, and their place within the social and cultural history of art and design, and has written and lectured extensively on these fields.

Join us in the Shepherd Hall on Wednesday 9th October for a chat over a glass of wine (from 6.10pm) or soft drink before the lecture begins at 6.30pm. As always, do please give us your feedback on the lecture on our website. The password for this month is ‘Clark’.

Recent visits
On a warm and sunny Thursday this week, a group of members travelled by bus, train or car to gather for lunch in Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre prior to a showing of Alan Ayckbourn’s latest – and said to be his last - play ‘Show and Tell’. Opinions about the play varied and the performance was somewhat marred before the interval by workmen drilling somewhere in the building. The actors coped admirably! So, we enjoyed a fine day out. Did any members linger for a paddle in the sea before returning home? Thank you Joanna and Peter for organising the trip.

14-29 September 2025: An exciting trip to Uzbekistan with Indus Travel – visiting stunning sites on the Silk Road. This trip is already fully subscribed - but Joanna needs your forms to secure your place: joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk .

Your events organisers are busy putting together more trips and visits for 2025 and Linda Ward, Programme Secretary, has finalised another interesting and varied programme for 2025/26 – much to look forward to.

Social Events
The Christmas Party in the Belfry Hall, Stonegate will be on Wednesday 18th December from 3-6pm. There will be mulled wine, mince pies and ‘nibbles’, some seasonal background music – and a quiz! Cost £15pp. Please pay by BACS if you can, using your surname and Xmas as identifier.

Our next post-lecture supper will be in November. These are always popular with members. The Museum Street Tavern has just closed down so we are exploring other possible venues – full details to follow.

Membership
As we approach the halfway point in our 2024-25 lecture programme, we are pleased once more to offer a ½- price fee for those joining the society for the remainder of the year. Apart from the lectures, members have access to all of our trips and events and we think that this is great value for money! Bring a friend along to any of our lectures and they will be exempt from the usual guest fee if they join the society. Membership forms showing the ½-year discounted rates will be available at the membership desk and will appear soon on our website.

AGM Notice
We will hold our brief AGM immediately before the November lecture. Formal notice of the AGM, the accounts and committee reports will be circulated before the November meeting. Please contact Janet Dean, Chair of the Society, before the meeting if you wish to raise any matters.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee

Tuesday, 03 September 2024

September 2024 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Our visits have taken us to some remarkable buildings – from the 16thC Hardwick Hall to the Senedd in Cardiff. We will have particular favourites or dislikes and our personal views about architectural styles may not be shared by others! Locally, a short distance from the Hiscox building there is Stonebow House, recently re-configured. Has that ‘carbuncle’ been lanced successfully? Appropriately this month’s lecture focuses on one of the giants of modern architecture.

September lecture
Frank Lloyd Wright (1857-1959) was a genius who believed he was destined to redesign the world. Over his long career, he designed over 800 buildings including revolutionary structures such as The Guggenheim Museum, Fallingwater, the Johnson Wax Building and Taliesin. However, Wright’s architectural achievements were often overshadowed by his turbulent private life. Fiona Rose, our speaker this evening, will present an overview of his work, colourful personal life and most iconic buildings. Her interest in Lloyd Wright was sparked by visiting the work of some of his contemporaries in the USA in the 1990s. She has lectured widely and always aims to include the human story behind the artistic endeavors of her subjects.

Join us in the Shepherd Hall on Wednesday 11th September for a chat over a glass of wine (from 6.10pm) or soft drink before the lecture begins at 6.30pm. As always, do please give us your feedback on the lecture on our website. The password for this month is ‘Frank’.

Recent visits
Several of us visited the Old Station Stamford Bridge to view the tapestries commemorating the battle there in 1066. The 14 panels are beautifully displayed and we were treated to a talk about the battle and a video showing the story of the production of the tapestries by a team of volunteers. The display is easily accessible - adjacent to the bar - free, and well worth a visit!

This week we also visited the newly restored, and spectacular, town hall at Rochdale and the Haworth Art Gallery near Accrington with its collection of Tiffany glass. A thoroughly enjoyable day with a real ‘wow’ factor!

Future visits and trips
Thursday 3 October: A trip to the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, to see the matinee performance of Alan Ayckbourn’s 90th play, “Show and Tell”. with lunch at the theatre before the performance. This is now fully booked.

28 April 2025: A 5-day guided exploration of ‘The Art and History of Dublin’s Fair City’, flying from Manchester. There is much of interest to see in Dublin – and we include a visit to the Guiness Brewery! Booking form on the website and at our next meeting. Please return your booking form and deposit to Joanna as soon as possible.

Social Events
The Christmas Party in the Belfry Hall, Stonegate will be on Wednesday 18th December from 3-5pm.

Our next post-lecture supper will be in November. These are always popular with members – full details to follow.

Membership
As we approach the halfway point in our 2024-25 lecture programme, we are pleased once more to offer a ½- price fee for those joining the society for the remainder of the year. Apart from the lectures, members have access to all of our trips and events and we think that this is great value for money! Bring a friend along to any of our lectures and they will be exempt from the usual guest fee if they join the society. A membership form showing the ½-year discounted rates is attached - so do pass on to your friends. Copies will be available at the membership desk and will appear soon on our website.

The Arts Society
The AGM of The Arts Society nationally on 23rd August marked the end of a turbulent year. The Board had proposed changes to the constitution that would allow Board appointments to be made directly by the Board itself rather than through election by the membership and co-option. Many local societies felt this change was not necessary to enable the Trust to pursue its objectives and at an EGM in June, 80% of those eligible voted, with 70% voting against the Board’s proposals. Subsequently all members of the existing Board but one resigned. Five new Board members were elected by the membership and installed at the August AGM and a further 4 have since been co-opted. The priority of the new Board will be to support local societies to grow and thrive and we look forward to working with them to make this happen. We thank Janet Dean, chair of The Arts Society Ebor, for representing us at both AS meetings. Our own, brief, AGM will be held before the November lecture.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Monday, 08 July 2024

July 2024 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Well, it’s all over now – the election that is. There is still tennis, football, cricket, cycling and rugby to enjoy. Or perhaps, given a few more fine days, just a chance to relax in the garden with a good book and some seasonal refreshment!

July lecture

Ice Age art, some dating back to 40,000 years ago, takes the form of portable art objects, engravings, drawings and paintings on cave walls and in the open air. We will hear the story of the art’s discovery and authentication, the main techniques employed, the pigments, the lighting methods, and reasons why this art corpus comprises some of the greatest imagery ever produced. We will also explore the main theories about its meaning and purpose.

Paul Bahn studied archaeology at the University of Cambridge and completed his PhD thesis on the prehistory of the French Pyrenees. He has held a number of post-doctoral fellowships in the History of Art and the Humanities. His main research interest is prehistoric and especially rock art of the world, and most notably Palaeolithic art, as well as Easter Island. He led the team which searched for and discovered the first Ice Age cave art in Britain (at Creswell Crags) in 2003.

Join us on Wednesday 10th July for a chat over a glass of wine or soft drink before the lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Please Note: Maintenance work is underway in the Shepherd Hall so this month we will meet in the Memorial Hall in the main St Peter’s School building off Bootham – entrance at the front of the school.

Social Events

We were fortunate once again to have a fine June day for our Summer Party. The harpist played as we enjoyed prosecco with strawberries and cream in the beautiful garden of York Medical Society in Stonegate.

Our Christmas Party in the Belfry Hall, Stonegate will be on Wednesday 18th December from 3-5pm.
We have arranged our next post-lecture supper in November – details to follow.

Future visits and trips
Thursday 5 September – Rochdale and Accrington: This visit, postponed because of the election, has been re-arranged. As a result, there are now some places available. A revised flyer is attached. Contact Peter Burnett to book a place: drpburnett@btinternet.com

Wednesday 17 July, 10am: We visit the Stamford Bridge Tapestry at the Old Station. Completed by volunteers in the style of the famous Bayeux tapestry – stitched in wool on linen – this is an outstanding piece of work. You can see more about it on the project website: http://stamfordbridgetapestry.org.uk/ . If the bridge is still closed for repairs, the No. 10 bus terminates at the York side of the bridge on the A166. From there it is a short walk to the Old Station. Car access will be via the A1079 and High Catton. There is ample car parking alongside the Old Station. Cost £10pp (maximum of 20 spaces). Flyer attached. Contact Michael Harran to book your place: mharran80@gmail.com

Thursday 3 October: A trip to the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, to see the matinee performance of Alan Ayckbourn’s 90th play, “Show and Tell”. Cost £40pp, to include lunch at the theatre before the performance. There are just a few places remaining so contact Joanna Heywood to check availability: joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk

28 April 2025: A 5-day trip for a guided exploration of ‘The Art and History of Dublin’s Fair City’, flying from Manchester. There is much of interest to see in Dublin – and we also include a visit to the Guiness Brewery! Booking form on the website and at our next meeting. Please return your booking form and deposit to Joanna.

14-29 September 2025: An exciting trip to Uzbekistan with Indus Travel – visiting stunning sites on the Silk Road. This trip is already fully booked but Joanna Heywood holds a waiting list.

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 this website. Go to www.theartssocietyebor.org.uk . There are now links to LinkedIn and Facebook on our Home page – and we like to be liked!

We take a break in August and return to The Shepherd Hall for our September lecture.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Sunday, 09 June 2024

June 2024 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

First, a warm welcome to new members who have joined the society for this season. We look forward to getting to know you at lectures and events over the coming year.

“Oh, not another one!” A quote that has entered the annals of political commentary. At least we knew that there had to be an election before the end of the year. However. the choice of date has impacted on the plans for our visit to Rochdale and Accrington, so if you booked to join this trip do please read the update in the ‘Future visits and trips’ section of this Newsletter.

June lecture
Caravaggio knowingly rebelled against his peers’ obsession with highly artificial designs and stale quotations from earlier works of art. He was fortunate, however, to be painting at a time when the Church wanted to harness the power of his art to enforce its message. This evening’s lecture considers the unlikely alliance of artist and patrons, considering why the establishment was prepared to accept him, outrageous lifestyle and all, and at the same time, examining why his art is so powerful for us today. Chantal has taught at Sotheby's Institute of Art on the MA in Fine and Decorative Arts and as a freelance lecturer for the National Gallery and the Wallace Collection among others. Having also trained as a painting conservator, she brings an understanding of the making and the physical painting to her lectures and study sessions.

Join us on Wednesday 12th June for a chat over a glass of wine or soft drink before the lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Please Note: Parents and pupils may be around until 6pm and the school has requested that members do not arrive before 6pm. Wine will be served from 6.10pm and glasses may be taken into the lecture hall.

Thank you to those who have already offered to serve wine and soft drinks before each lecture. Please add your name to the list at the drinks table if you can help.

Social Events
Our Summer Party on Tuesday 25th June returns to the York Medical Society in Stonegate where, from 3-6pm, we can listen to the harpist as we enjoy a glass of prosecco with strawberries and cream in the beautiful garden. The cost will be £17.50pp. Please contact Joanna Heywood to book your place: joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk

Our Christmas Party in the Belfry Hall, Stonegate will be on Wednesday 18th December from 3-5pm.

We hope to arrange our next post-lecture supper in November.

Future visits and trips
Thursday 4th July – Rochdale and Accrington: Postponed! The Town Hall at Rochdale is to be used for counting election votes and one of the rooms at the Haworth Gallery will be a polling station. Peter Burnett is exploring an alternative date for the visit and this will be announced as soon as possible. Those who have already booked and paid will have the option to join the re-scheduled visit or to have a refund.

Wednesday 17th July, 11am: We visit the Stamford Bridge Tapestry at the Old Station. Completed by volunteers in the style of the famous Bayeux tapestry – stitched in wool on linen – this is an outstanding piece of work. You can see more about it on the project website: http://stamfordbridgetapestry.org.uk/ . As the bridge is closed to traffic for repairs, the No. 10 bus terminates at the York side of the bridge on the A166. From there it is a short walk (800yds) over the footway to the Old Station. Car access will be via the A1079 and High Catton. There is ample car parking alongside the Old Station. Cost £10pp (max. of 20 spaces). Contact Michael Harran to book your place: mharran80@gmail.com

28 April 2025: A 5-day trip to Dublin, flying from Manchester. Booking form on the website and at our May meeting.

14-29 September 2025: An exciting trip to Uzbekistan with Indus Travel – visiting stunning sites on the Silk Road.

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. There are now links to LinkedIn and Facebook on our Home page – and we like to be liked!

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Friday, 03 May 2024

May 2024 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Last year’s programme included excellent lectures on outstanding female photographers and on Dame Laura Knight (one of whose paintings we saw on our visit to Brockfield Hall). It seems particularly appropriate to continue the theme, just a few weeks after International Women’s Day on March 8th this year, with the subject of this month’s lecture.

May lecture
From antiquity through to the 19th century several notable women artists managed to break the norm of western European society by making a name and a living for themselves in a world of men. Yet, despite achieving fame and recognition in their own time and being celebrated for their talent and skill, they were subsequently erased from the mainstream narrative of art history. This lecture will reintroduce these artists, asking why and how their own paintings and self-portraits were already – in their own time – engaged with this fundamental problem of recognition.

Aliki studied at The Ruskin School of Fine Art, Oxford, The Slade School of Fine Art and The Courtauld Institute. After working for the National Gallery for 20 years, she now teaches for Christie’s Education, the Wallace Collection and is an Associate Lecturer for the Camberwell College of Art, University of the Arts London. Aliki is also a practicing artist and exhibits her photographic work internationally.

Join us on Wednesday 8th May 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 our website: https://www.theartssocietyebor.org.uk/Home.aspx The password this month is ‘women’

Portugal Trip
Several members left a cold, wet Manchester airport for a trip to Porto and Lisbon in April. We had excellent guides and glorious sunshine so it was somewhat of a shock to return to the blustery British weather again! Thanks to Peter Burnett for organising such a successful visit. Look out for some pictures from the trip on our website in our Gallery

Our Christmas Party in the Belfry Hall, Stonegate will be on Wednesday 18th December from 3-5pm.

We hope to arrange our next post-lecture supper in November.

Future visits and trips

Thursday 16th May: A reminder to those booked for this trip to Derbyshire that the coach leaves Sheriff Hutton at 8.30 and will pick up from the Memorial Gardens at 9.15am. There are still a few places available.

Thursday 4th July: Our coach trip to the spectacular Grade 1 listed Town Hall at Rochdale, re-opened this Spring after a 4-year major restoration and to the world class Tiffany Glass collection at the Haworth Art Gallery, Accrington – a listed country-style Arts and Crafts House. Full details are available here Please contact Peter Burnett to book a place.

28 April 2025: A 5-day trip to Dublin, flying from Manchester. Booking form here - and at our May meeting. Contact Joanna Heywood to reserve a place.

14-29 September 2025: An exciting trip to Uzbekistan with Indus Travel, visiting stunning sites on the Silk Road. Maximum of 16 places. Watch for further information in due course.

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 in our Documents section here. There are now links to LinkedIn and Facebook on our Home page – and we like to be liked!

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Wednesday, 10 April 2024

April 2024 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

How do you like your tea? A well-designed teapot is a good start – and one of Christopher Dresser’s would make a fine topic of conversation as you wait for the brew to ‘mash’. You might leaf through a catalogue of some of Dresser’s other designs – furniture, carpets, ceramics, glass and much more, before making that final choice – milk first or last?

April lecture
In the 1930s, Pevsner hailed Dresser as a pioneer of modern design. But is this the best way to account for the extraordinary objects that he helped to create? This lecture considers Dresser’s work as a prolific industrial designer, the impact of mechanisation on his products, and the diversity of his influences from Pre-Columbian pottery to botany.

Dr Suzanne Fagence Cooper is an art historian working on 19th and 20th Century British art. She was a curator and Research Fellow at the V&A Museum and is currently Honorary Visiting Fellow at the University of York. Suzanne is the author of several books. She is a trustee of the Burne-Jones catalogue raisonné and has worked as a consultant for TV and film projects. She leads art history tours in England and Europe.

Join us on Wednesday 10th April 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. The password this month is ‘Dresser’

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. The cost will be £17.50pp. Final details to follow, but contact Joanna Heywood to book your place. The date of our Christmas Party in the Belfry Hall, Stonegate will be confirmed soon. Further information to follow.

Future visits and trips
The walking tour of Bradford in March was a great success. Our thanks to John Edmonds who led the walk.

Thursday 16th May: There may be 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. Contact Joanna Heywood: joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk

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 will also visit to the spectacular Grade 1 listed Town Hall at Rochdale, re-opened this Spring after a 4-year major restoration. Details to follow. soon

Thursday 3 October: We are proposing a trip to the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, to see the matinee performance of Alan Ayckbourn’s 90th play, “Show and Tell” with an option to have lunch at the theatre before the performance.

Early October: We hope to have a 5-day trip to Dublin, flying from Manchester.

Can you help? Many members enjoy a glass of wine or soft drink as we meet and chat before each lecture. Would you be willing to help with serving the wine? The more volunteers we have, the less often each is needed! A list of current volunteers is attached – and will be available at this month’s lecture. Please add your name to the list if you can help

Membership Renewal
Thank you to the many who have renewed their membership in time for this, the first lecture of our 2024/25 season. If you haven’t yet done so then you may be asked to pay a guest fee when you next come along – a good reason to renew now! A membership form is attached (Word and pdf versions). Paper copies will be available at the membership desk. 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 invite a guest or two to join you at one or more of our lectures.

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 here. There are now links to LinkedIn and Facebook on our Home page – and we like to be liked!

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Monday, 11 March 2024

March 2024 Newsletter

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.

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.

Saturday, 10 February 2024

February 2024 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

As I started to write this we were enjoying a brief spell of dry and warmer weather but then the predicted cold returned - even some snow. There were some wonderful skies at both sunrise and sunset – a gift to those who can put such colours onto paper or canvas. Then it was back to grey skies again. Spring is bursting forth however. Our February lecture falls on Valentine’s day and we have a most appropriate subject. So, once you have scraped the pancakes from the ceiling on Shrove Tuesday, do come and join us!

February lecture

Orpheus could literally charm the birds out of the trees with his music, yet he failed to bring his beloved Eurydice safely out of the Underworld. All he had to do was to lead her up to the light without looking back at her. The tragic story of love and loss has inspired composers and artists through many years. This evening we explore some of this wealth of art and music with a rich array of paintings and musical examples from Monteverdi, Gluck, and Offenbach - even taking in the Can-Can! Our guide, Dr Lois Oliver, has a distinguished academic career. Among her current roles, she is Curator of Paintings and Sculpture at the Royal Academy. She writes audio and multimedia tours for some of our major galleries and is also a violinist. So, we are in good hands!

Join us on Wednesday 14th February for a chat over a glass of wine or soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Lecture Programme

Copies of the programme for our 2024/25 season will be available to collect at this evening’s and 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! Linda Ward, our programme Secretary, and the committee are already looking ahead to 2025/26!

Social Events

We have arranged a post-lecture supper on 13th March at 8pm. This will be at the Museum Street Tavern – almost opposite the city library (YO1 7DT). The cost is £25 per person for 2 courses. They provide fresh local and seasonal food, so menus will be available from 6th March. Places are limited and the suppers have proved popular, so to secure a place please remit to The Arts Society Ebor: 40-47-31 account number 54600754 (use surname and supper as reference) and reply to joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk so that Joanna can send you the menu choices.

Two dates for your diary - our Summer Garden Party will be on Tuesday 25th June and our Christmas Party on Wednesday 11th December. Further information to follow in due course.

Future visits and trips

Thursday 19th March: John Edmondson will lead us on a walking tour of Bradford – a city that has a rich history but that also has seen a great revival in recent years. Details to follow soon.

Thursday 16th May: We have a 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 and early booking is advised!

Early October: We hope to have a 5-day trip to Dublin, flying from Manchester.

Membership Renewal

Next month marks the final lecture of our 2023/24 season – so it is time to renew your membership for 2024/25. Thank you to those who have already done so. 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. Gift Aid declaration forms will also be available for those who are eligible and have not previously completed one. 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.

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 this website. There are now links to LinkedIn and Facebook on our Home page – and we like to be liked!

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Saturday, 06 January 2024

January 2024 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

A happy and peaceful New Year to you all. We look forward to meeting together again after a break in lectures in December. The days are beginning, slowly, to lengthen and perhaps we will see a little more of the sun. So your thoughts might be turning to the garden – your own or ones that you might like to visit. Our lecture this week may provide some inspiration!

January lecture

Gardens are often thought of as places where science and art meet on equal terms. Indeed curators of botanic gardens often talk about them in the same way as do curators of museum collections. Our lecturer this month was, for many years, ‘curator’ of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and is currently a lecturer in Botany and Plant Conservation at Somerville College Oxford. He draws on his experiences on a visit to gardens in China and will tell us also of some of the wider cultural aspects of this remarkable country.

Join us on Wednesday 10th January 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: https://www.theartssocietyebor.org.uk/Home.aspx The password this month is ‘garden’ Lecture Programme

We are grateful for the hard work of our Programme Secretary, Linda Ward, who has put together an exciting series of ten lectures for our 2024/25 season. The programme is now back from the printers and copies will be available to collect at our forthcoming meetings. It will also appear on our website soon. We hope to see many of you at the lectures and that you might bring friends along too! Linda and the committee are already looking ahead to 2025/26!

Social Events

Our Christmas party last month at St Anthony’s Hall was a most enjoyable event and it was a pleasure to see so many there given the cold weather. Warm mulled wine and delicious mince pies were interspersed with short informative talks on the history of guildhalls and we were privileged to see and hear about some of the items from the nearby quilting museum. We were also entertained by some seasonal piano music. Thanks to all those who helped to make the party a success.

Future Visits

Our trip to Porto and Lisbon in April is now fully subscribed and we look forward to an interesting tour of some of Portugal’s best heritage sites.

We are progressing plans for a number of possible visits for 2024 – so watch for further updates. Do let us know if you have ideas that you think would be of interest to members, either for visits or future lecture topics.

Membership Renewal

Now is a good time to renew your membership for our 2024/25 season! We have, reluctantly, decided to raise membership fees slightly. Lecturer fees and travel expenses have increased significantly. We are fortunate that many of our lecturers travel home straight after our meetings and those that do require an overnight stay are generally accommodated by committee members. For 2024/25 the fee will be £55 for single membership and £105 for joint members at the same address. We hope that you agree that this still represents excellent value for ten lectures a year, access to visits, trips and study days – and the opportunity to meet with good friends.

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. Gift Aid declaration forms will also be available for those who are eligible and have not previously completed one.

Website

There are now links to LinkedIn and Facebook on our Home page – and we like to be liked!

Condolences

Members will have been saddened to learn of the death at Christmas of Mary Staples. Mary was a founder member of The Arts Society Ebor with her husband John, who was our first chairman. Both were at our Christmas party at St Anthony’s Hall. We send our condolences to John and the family.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Monday, 06 November 2023

November 2023 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Autumn is well and truly here, bringing storms – and not just the weather. We hope that you and yours are safe and well. The subject of this month’s lecture also lived through troubled times and used her talent to illustrate some of the people and places that she observed.

November lecture

The first artist to be made Dame of the Order of the British Empire (in 1928) and the first woman since 1758 to be elected to full membership of the Royal Academy (in 1936) , Laura Knight’s career began at The Nottingham School of Art at the age of 13 and continued for over 7 decades. She was, for a time, a member of the Staithes group.

As a painter himself, Harry Fletcher has had work accepted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. He has taught in schools and lectured for the Open University. His particular interests mean that he is an ideal person to tell us more about this remarkable woman.

Join us on Wednesday 8th November 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 our website:https://www.theartssocietyebor.org.uk/Home.aspx

Visits and events:

A group of members had a most enjoyable trip to Cardiff last month, visiting two castles, an abbey, a fine hall and the Senedd – the home of the Welsh parliament.

This week, much closer to home, we had a warm welcome from Charlie Wood and his father when we visited Brockfield Hall. The hall itself has been beautifully restored but we were especially privileged to see a large collection of paintings by artists of the Staithes group, including Laura Johnson – soon to become Laura Knight – the subject of our November lecture.

Future Visits:

Porto and Lisbon 16-22 April 2024 [Note the slight change in dates since our October Newsletter]: Flying from Manchester on Tuesday 16 April we will spend 4 nights in Porto to explore this ancient city – a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Douro Valley and the city of Braga, founded by the Romans. By way of the beautiful city of Coimbra we travel to Lisbon for a two-night stay. From there we visit Sintra, another UNESCO World Heritage site with its stunning Moorish-style National Palace. Return to Manchester on Monday 22 April. Full details of the itinerary and cost are attached. There are very few places remaining on this trip, so do let Peter know if you might like to join what will be a fascinating journey to some of the best heritage sites in Portugal: drpburnett@btinternet.com

We are looking at a number of possible visits for 2024 – so watch for further updates. Please remember that we always welcome suggestions from members about good places to go.

Social Events:

Our Christmas party on Wednesday 13th December, 4-7pm will be in St Anthony’s Hall, Peasholme Green. We will enjoy mulled wine and mince pies. Some exhibits from the nearby quilting museum (no longer open to the public) will be on show and there will be two short talks - on these and on the Guildhalls. Perhaps some background seasonal music too.

Cost £15pp. Please let Sheila Bartlett know if you would like to join us: sheilabartlett@btinternet.com

Full details are here.

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!

Guests:

As always we are pleased to welcome guests to our lectures and this proves to be a good way of introducing potential new members to the society. Remember that, for £10 each, you can purchase Gift Vouchers. Each voucher allows the recipient to come as a guest to any one of the lectures in this year’s programme – an ideal gift to slip into a greetings card to a friend. Contact Michael Harran: mharran80@gmail.com. Once again this year we offer a half-year discount for anyone joining the Society after our October meeting. Please encourage friends to take advantage of this bargain!

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Sunday, 08 October 2023

October 2023 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

As the days shorten it can feel more difficult to tear ourselves away from the warmth of home in the evening. However, the second half of our year of lectures includes gems that will reward your efforts – with the added bonus of a warm welcome in the company of good friends! So we look forward to seeing you.

October lecture

Once described as ‘living in squares and loving in triangles’, members of The Bloomsbury Group evolved lifelong friendships and creative partnerships. This evening’s lecture looks at how a shared passion for renaissance art went on to create modern designs and asks: should we really draw such a line between the fine and decorative arts?
Julia Musgrave studied History of Art at the Courtauld Institute of Art and the University of Glasgow. Research into the artistic and social influences of the Bloomsbury group in the early 1900’s led to the award of her PhD at York University.

Join us on Wednesday 11th October for a chat over a glass of wine or soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Visits and events:

It’s off to Cardiff this week, via Calke Abbey and Kedleston Hall, returning in good time for the lecture next week!
Nearer home, on 2nd November we visit Brockfield Hall. This fine Georgian hall has the largest private collection of works by the Staithes group of artists. The visit is full but Peter Burnett holds a reserve list in case of cancellations.

Future Visits:

Porto and Lisbon 17-24 April 2024: Flying from Manchester on Wednesday 17 April we will spend 4 nights in Porto to explore this ancient city – a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Douro Valley and the city of Braga, founded by the Romans. By way of the beautiful city of Coimbra we travel to Lisbon for a two-night stay. From there we visit Sintra, another UNESCO World Heritage site with its stunning Moorish-style National Palace. Return to Manchester on Tuesday 23 April. Full details of the itinerary and cost will be circulated soon, but do let Peter know if you might like to join what will be a fascinating journey to some of the best heritage sites in Portugal: drpburnett@btinternet.com

A visit to Birmingham (perhaps the future northern terminus of HS2!) in the Autumn of 2024 is possible but would depend on completion of renovation work on the City Museum and Gallery – watch out for more on this.

A number of other ideas are being discussed but we would love to have suggestions from you!

Social Events:

Local Arts Sponsorship:

Our Chair, Janet Dean, attended the graduation ceremony in York Minster. Harriet has been invited to join us at a lecture in due course and we hope to continue to forge links with York College students and staff.

Website:

Stop Press: There are now links to Facebook and LinkedIn on our Home page.

Guests:

We are always pleased to welcome guests to our lectures and this proves to be a good way of introducing potential new members to the society. Remember that, for £10 each, you can purchase Gift Vouchers. Each voucher allows the recipient to come as a guest to any one of the lectures in this year’s programme – an ideal gift to slip into a greetings card to a friend. Contact Michael Harran: mharran80@gmail.com. Once again this year we offer a half-year discount for anyone joining the Society at our October meeting. Please encourage friends to take advantage of this bargain! A discount Membership Application form is attached.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Sunday, 10 September 2023

September 2023 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Welcome back to our lecture programme. We hope that you have had a good summer, dodging the showers. So often the best weather arrives as everyone returns to school, college and work! Cycling last week along the Aire canal from the Leeds Industrial Museum to Salts Mill – great places to visit – the light on the water and under the trees was magical. It must be wonderful to have the skill to capture such scenes on canvas.

September Lecture:

Innovations by Flemish artists in the medium of oil, landscape painting and portraiture captured the interest of the Medici and other important patrons in Florence. Italian painters such as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Leonardo responded by making stylistic changes in their painting. Dr James Lindow was the first Renaissance PhD from the Royal College of Art and the V&A. He has written and lectured widely on this period in art history and we look forward this evening as he shares some of his extensive knowledge with us.

Join us on Wednesday 13th September for a chat over a glass of wine or soft drink from 6pm before the lecture begins at 6.30pm.

Visits and events:

Those who have booked places on our trip to Cardiff next month will receive final information about the arrangements directly from Tailored Travel. Peter Burnett will send out directions nearer the time to those joining our visit to Brockfield Hall on 2nd November.

Future Visits:

We continue to explore several exciting possibilities for future trips, in this country and abroad. Watch out for more information once plans are finalised. This is your Society, so do please let any of the committee members know if there are places you would like to visit or ideas for lecture topics.

Social Events:

Save the date for our Christmas party – Wednesday 13th December. Full details later.

We hope that members who joined the post-lecture supper at The Churchill Brasserie in July enjoyed the meal – and the company! We will arrange a couple of such suppers each year if they continue to be popular. It would be helpful to receive any feedback on this plan and on the venue.

Local Arts Sponsorship:

You may recall that we take advantage of a modest annual grant from our parent organization, The Arts Society, to support a local venture. This year we have pledged this to The Arts Barge and continue in discussion with them as we hope to be able to arrange an event at this unusual venue. We have also agreed to sponsor a graduation prize for an outstanding arts student at York College. This will be awarded in a ceremony at York Minster on the 21st September as the first step in what we hope will be an ongoing and mutually beneficial partnership.

Website:

Guests:

We are always pleased to welcome guests to our lectures and this proves to be a good way of introducing potential new members to the society. Remember that, for £10 each, you can purchase Gift Vouchers. Each voucher allows the recipient to come as a guest to any one of the lectures in this year’s programme – an ideal gift to slip into a greetings card to a friend. Contact Michael Harran: mharran80@gmail.com. Once again this year we will be offering a half-year discount for anyone joining the Society at our October meeting. Please encourage friends to take advantage of this bargain!

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

A pdf version of this Newsletter is available here

Wednesday, 12 July 2023

July 2023 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

We’ve had a couple of beautiful, double, rainbows this week and they always make my heart leap. I took a photograph but that didn’t really do justice to the colours – so this month’s lecture seems especially apposite!

July Lecture:

This evening - Wednesday 12 July - we will examine the work of three outstanding British women photographers and seek to address the unfairness with which their contribution to the artform has been neglected. We will also look at two American photographers – including Annie Leibovitz whose work continues to surprise and delight. Brian Stater’s academic interest was in the field of architecture, but his lifelong enthusiasm for photography is reflected in his membership of the Association of Historical and Fine Art Photography and by exhibitions of his own work.

Join us, as usual, in The Shepherd Hall for a chat over a glass of wine or soft drink from 6pm before the lecture begins at 6.30pm.

There are four places left for our post-lecture supper at The Churchill Brasserie on Bootham – almost opposite St Peter’s School. Please contact Peter Burnett now if you would like to join us: drpburnett@btinternet.com

Annual General Meeting:

Thanks to all the members who attended so promptly for the AGM last month. The business was concluded speedily so that we could move on to enjoy hearing about and seeing the spectacular jewellery brought along by Andrew Prince. The Minutes of the AGM are attached for your information.

Visits and events:

We were fortunate, yet again, to have a warm sunny day for our Summer Party at the York Cemetery Chapel. Thank you to Sheila Bartlett for organising the event, to Keith Knight for his short informative talk about the history of the chapel building and the grounds, to Ish Herd for the lovely piano music, to committee members for the refreshments and to Sheila and Clive Dawson (Chairman of the Friends) for their guided tour of the grounds and the catacombs. All in all, a most enjoyable evening. The Arts Society Ebor made a small donation to The Friends of York Cemetery – who did not charge for the use of the chapel. Check our website for a photograph of the day. If the cardigan left in the chapel is yours – Sheila will bring it to the July lecture!

Future Visits:

There are still places available for the trip to Cardiff (4-7 October). Relax as a coach takes us from York, via Kedleston Hall on the way down and Calke Abbey (NT) on the way back. We have a guide as we visit sites in and around Cardiff. Brochures for the trip will be available at this month’s lecture and are on our website. If you have already booked to go and would like to bring a friend then please contact Joanna Heywood (joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk)

The visit to Brockfield on Thursday 2 November is fully booked. Peter Burnett will send final details in due course.

Early plans are afoot for a tour of Suffolk churches with Imogen Corrigan (16-20 September 2024) and a trip to Uzbekistan "Unravelling The Silk Road” for a small group of 12-16 people. Expressions of interest to Joanna Heywood please. We are exploring several other exciting possibilities for future trips, in this country and abroad. However we are always delighted to receive ideas. Is there a lecture topic or a particular venue that you think fellow members would enjoy? Do speak to any of the committee members if you have something in mind.

Social Events:

Save the date for our Christmas party – Wednesday 13 December. Full details later.

Guests:

We are always pleased to welcome guests to our lectures and this proves to be a good way of introducing potential new members to the society. Remember that you can purchase a Gift Voucher for £10. This allows a friend to come as a guest to any one of the lectures in this year’s programme. Contact Michael Harran: mharran80@gmail.com

Remembering ….

We were saddened to learn of the death of Jill Murray, a long-standing member of the Society. Jill often helped at the signing-in desk. Her memorial service was held in the York Cemetery Chapel in June. A message of condolence has been sent to the family.

As there is no lecture in August, we wish you a happy and relaxing summer and look forward to welcoming you back on 13 September.

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Monday, 05 June 2023

June 2023 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

So far, ‘flaming June’ seems to have resided mostly to the west side of the country. However, the natural ‘jewellery’ in the form of blossoms in the hedgerows has been especially splendid and long-lasting this year.

June Lecture:

The period between 1890 and 1929 saw, in high society, extravagant clothes and glittering jewels – examples of which featured in films such as The Young Victoria and in the TV series Downton Abbey. Andrew Prince has a lifelong passion for jewellery and was commissioned to make many pieces worn by the main characters in Downton. This evening he will tell us about some of the patrons and clients of the period and show us how the jewels were worn with those sumptuous gowns.

Join us, as usual, for a chat over a glass of wine or soft drink from 6pm (tiaras may be worn!) Please note that we will move into the hall promptly at 6.20pm this evening so that we can conclude the AGM before the lecture begins.

Annual General Meeting:

Our AGM will be held promptly at 6.20pm, immediately before the June lecture. The agenda for the meeting and committee reports are attached. They are all brief so please have a look at them. The accounts, including the external examiner’s report are also attached. We require two thirds of the membership to be present so I hope that you will come along. The AGM business will take only a few minutes before the lecture begins.

Visits and events:

Several members enjoyed a most successful trip to Lille and Antwerp in May. We were expertly guided by Anne Anderson and saw some remarkable examples of Art Deco and Art Nouveau architecture. You can see a small selection of photographs on the Gallery page of our website.

Future Visits:

You can still book places for our planned visit to Cardiff (4-7 October). This promises to be a very interesting trip that includes time at Calke Abbey (NT) in Derbyshire on the way back to York. Brochures for the trip will be available at this month’s lecture and are on our website. The booking deadline has been extended. If you have already booked to go and would like to bring a friend then please contact Joanna Heywood (joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk)

Peter Burnett has arranged for us to visit Brockfield, near Holtby just outside York, on Thursday 2 November. The house holds the largest private collection of paintings by The Staithes Group. Please contact Peter for further information and to book a place. Cost - £10pp. drpburnett@btinternet.com

We are exploring several exciting possibilities for future trips, in this country and abroad. However we are always delighted to receive ideas. Is there a lecture topic or a particular venue that you think fellow members would enjoy? Do speak to any of the committee members if you have something in mind.

Social Events:

There is just time to book a place at our Summer Party on Friday 23 June from 4-6pm at the York Cemetery. With its Grade II* listed chapel – modelled on a Grecian temple – and 24 acres of garden close to the city centre, this site is a gem. Please contact Sheila Bartlett by 14 June to reserve a place. sheilabartlett@btinternet.com

Our post-lecture suppers have proved popular. The next one will follow the lecture on 12 July and we have booked a table at The Churchill – conveniently located on Bootham. We will send out details, including the menu for a two-course meal with wine, and booking arrangements shortly.

Save the date for our Christmas party – Wednesday 13 December. Full details later.

Website:

Copies of the monthly 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.

Guests:

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Tuesday, 02 May 2023

Newsletter - May 2023

Dear Friends,

How will you and your local community be celebrating the Coronation this coming weekend? Let us hope that the weather is kind for all the planned outdoor activities. I doubt however that they will include many of those depicted in the woodblock pictures we are to see in this month’s lecture!

May Lecture: Note the change of date - Wednesday 17th May

The daily lives, pastimes and leisure activities of the late Edo period in Japan were depicted in woodblock prints produced in the 1780s – 1850s by these two artists. This evening our guide to some of their works is Suzanne Perrin, an independent researcher and historian with a huge fund of knowledge of Japanese art and culture. She has lectured extensively in the UK and abroad, has organised exhibitions of Japanese arts and crafts and visits Japan regularly as she works on her second book. A treat awaits us!

We meet in the Shepherd Hall at 6.30pm on Wednesday 17th May. As usual you can enjoy a chat over a glass of wine or soft drink from 6pm before the lecture.

Visits and events:

April was a quieter month for us, with no extra events. However some of us are looking forward to the tour of Art Deco in Lille and Antwerp next week (hence the change of date for the May lecture).

Future Visits:

There are still some places available for our planned visit to Cardiff (4-7 October). This promises to be a very interesting trip, and includes time at Calke Abbey (NT) in Derbyshire on the way back to York. Brochures for the trip will be available at this month’s lecture and are on our website. The booking deadline has been extended. If you have already booked to go and would like to bring a friend then please contact Joanna Heywood (joannaheywoodleeds@yahoo.co.uk)

Social Events:

I hope that you have booked your place at our Summer Party on Friday 23 June from 4-6pm. We will gather at the York Cemetery. With its Grade II* listed chapel – modelled on a Grecian temple – and 24 acres of garden, this site is a gem. In case you missed it last month the flyer for the event is attached. Please contact Sheila Bartlett to reserve a place.

Annual General Meeting:

Our AGM will be held, as usual, immediately before the June lecture. The notice and agenda for the meeting and Committee reports are attached. They are all brief so please have a look at them. The accounts, including the external examiner’s report are also attached. We require two thirds of the membership to be present so I hope that you will come along. The AGM business will take only a few minutes before the lecture begins.

Committee Support:

No apologies for repeating the request for offers of support. Please contact any of the committee members if you might consider joining or would like to know more. Planning for the lecture programme begins many months in advance and Linda Ward would especially welcome help as she looks to find good speakers for 2024/25 – and beyond! It is an interesting role – so do chat to Linda if you think that you could help.

Website:

Membership:

Although we have been pleased to welcome both returning and new members this year, our numbers have not yet recovered from the drop that occurred following the pandemic restrictions.

The viability of The Arts Society Ebor depends on robust membership figures – and the greater our numbers the easier it is for us to keep membership fees to a minimum. Experience show that personal recommendations are the best means of recruiting new members. So spread the word – and bring a guest!

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

A pdf of this Newsletter is available for download here

Thursday, 09 March 2023

Newsletter - March 2023

Dear Friends,

With Spring bursting forth and lengthening days we come to the final lecture of our 2022-23 season and look forward to an exciting year ahead. It is always good to welcome guests at our lectures – so you might like to bring along a friend to this or future meetings.

March Lecture:

An intriguing title for this month’s lecture – but what is the link between Pliny the Elder, a French cabinet maker’s son and Yves St Laurent? To enlighten us we could have no better guide than Caroline Holmes. She has lectured around the world, and currently for the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education, has written several books featuring gardens and has presented programmes for radio and television. We are in for a treat!

We meet in the Shepherd Hall at 6.30pm on Wednesday 8th March. As usual you can enjoy a chat over a glass of wine or soft drink from 6pm before the lecture.

Forthcoming visits and events:

A couple of times a year we arrange a post-lecture meal at a local restaurant. These have proved popular and we are sure that those who have booked a place at Côte after this month’s lecture will have an enjoyable evening.

Also this month we look forward to the Arts Deco study day with Anne Anderson on Saturday 18 March. The programme for the day and directions to Belfry Hall will be sent separately to those who have booked. This will be a good introduction to our visit to Lille and Antwerp in May when Anne will be our guide (this trip is fully booked).

Peter Burnett will contact those who have booked a place on our trip to Hull on Tuesday 21 March – and the optional visit to the Hull Truck Theatre performance – with final details.

Copies of the brochure/booking form for our planned visit to Cardiff will again be available at this month’s lecture. A copy is also attached. The booking deadline for this trip, when deposits must be paid, is 13 April. Please send your completed form and deposit to Joanna Heywood (details on the form). There is much of interest to see in Cardiff – including the Grade II* listed Coal Exchange Hotel where we will be staying.

Richard Drysdale has provided the full itinerary for an exciting trip to India between 22 October and
7 November 2023. The itinerary was attached to our February newsletter and the closing date for deposits is 15 March. Please contact Richard – dr5372@hotmail.com if you would like to know more. I can thoroughly recommend this trip. Richard’s planning is meticulous, the accommodation superb and the guide for the trip, Vineet, is excellent.

Social Events:

June is one of the two months in the year when we invite members to share in a social gathering. On Friday 23 June from 4-6pm we return to the York Cemetery Chapel. With its Grade II* listed chapel – modelled on a Grecian temple – and 24 acres of garden, this site is a gem. Details of the event are on the attached flyer. Please contact Sheila Bartlett to reserve a place.

Looking further ahead, our Christmas social in December will be at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall and details will follow in due course.

Committee Support:

We are very pleased that Marilyn Morley has agreed to take over the role of Treasurer when John Cuckson ‘retires’ at the end of our 2022/23 year.

This does however leave a gap in our support team. Linda Ward has worked tirelessly with Claire Blenkin and then Marilyn to arrange our lecture programmes. Please contact Linda if you might consider stepping up to help – it really is an interesting role.

We would be glad to hear from any members who would be willing to join the committee – ‘many hands make light work’ as they say! Changes to the committee will be ratified at our AGM in June.

Membership:

This month marks the end of our 2022/23 season. So, if you haven’t already done so and you wish to avoid paying the guest fee for future lectures, then do please send in your membership renewal form to Michael Harran and your payment by Bacs (preferably) or cheque.

We have managed to keep membership fees lower than many other AS branches in the face of increasing costs but we can only do this if we have a solid membership base. We depend on you!

With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.

Wednesday, 01 February 2023

Notice of Trips/Visits for 2023

News for Members

We hope we have put together a range of trip and events to suits all interests and pockets. This is just a heads-up with dates. More information to follow soon, particularly on the Cardiff trip.

Tuesday March 21st A guided day of interest on the Architecture of Hull, starting 11am with coffee at the Ferens Art Gallery. This will be led by John Edmonds, who was involved in the design of the new Hull Truck theatre. There is an option to extend with a ticket for ‘Mumsy’ at Hull Truck Theatre and an overnight stay in Hull. £15 per head for the day. Overnight and theatre ticket £75 extra pp.

Wednesday May 11th Art Deco trip to Lille and Antwerp. Now fully booked.

Friday June 23rd Members’ summer early evening party with fizz and canapes at York Cemetery.

October 4-7th A fully escorted, Blue Badge guided coach trip to Cardiff. Coach from York visiting Keddleston Hall on the way down and Calke Abbey on the way home – both National Trust properties. We will be staying at The Coal Exchange Hotel for three nights and focussing on the wealth that coal and the Marquis of Bute brought to Cardiff. At £599 pp this is very good value

October 21st - November 7th Trip to India (details will follow in a separate email from Richard Drysdale). This 17-day India trip is also very good value.

November 2nd A trip to Brockfield House, Warthill. The grade II* listed Regency hall, designed by a York architect, includes good examples of the Staithes group artists’ paintings. £10 pp to include tea and biscuits.

December 13th Members’ Christmas Party at the Merchant Taylors Hall. This is a shared event with the York Arts Society.

Interest in any of the above trips (except India) please contact Peter Burnett on drpburnett@btinternet.com

For the India trip, please contact Richard Drysdale on Dr5372@hotmail.com

Tuesday, 20 July 2021

York Medical Society Visit July 2021

Document showing pictures of the trip to The Medical Society in York in July 2021

Click here

Saturday, 30 January 2021

AGM 2020 Documents

AGM 2020 documents uploaded. Go to: Our Society > Documents

Monday, 03 February 2020

Membership Renewal

Membership Renewal is from 1st April, 2020.

Monday, 03 February 2020

Romania Trip Report

A report of the trip to Romania in 2019.

06 July 2026	July 2026 Newsletter
10 June 2026	June 2026 Newsletter
06 May 2026	May 2026 Newsletter
07 April 2026	April 2026 Newsletter
10 March 2026	March 2026 Newsletter
09 February 2026	February 2026 Newsletter
09 January 2026	January 2026 Newsletter
05 November 2025	November 2025 Newsletter
01 October 2025	October 2025 Newsletter
01 September 2025	September 2025 Newsletter
03 July 2025	July 2025 Newsletter
04 June 2025	June 2025 Newsletter
13 May 2025	May 2025 Newsletter
07 April 2025	April 2025 Newsletter
04 March 2025	March 2025 Newsletter
07 February 2025	February 2025 Newsletter
01 January 2025	January 2025 Newsletter
01 November 2024	November 2024 Newsletter
01 October 2024	October 2024 Newsletter
03 September 2024	September 2024 Newsletter
08 July 2024	July 2024 Newsletter
09 June 2024	June 2024 Newsletter
03 May 2024	May 2024 Newsletter
10 April 2024	April 2024 Newsletter
11 March 2024	March 2024 Newsletter
10 February 2024	February 2024 Newsletter
06 January 2024	January 2024 Newsletter
06 November 2023	November 2023 Newsletter
08 October 2023	October 2023 Newsletter
10 September 2023	September 2023 Newsletter
12 July 2023	July 2023 Newsletter
05 June 2023	June 2023 Newsletter
02 May 2023	Newsletter - May 2023
09 March 2023	Newsletter - March 2023
01 February 2023	Notice of Trips/Visits for 2023
20 July 2021	York Medical Society Visit July 2021
30 January 2021	AGM 2020 Documents
03 February 2020	Membership Renewal
03 February 2020	Romania Trip Report

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