Formerly called Peterborough NDFAS, its members receive presentations from top quality speakers on arts subjects (not only paintings!) at The Fleet Community centre in Fletton. They include painting, sculpture, music, dance, architecture and decorative arts and crafts.
As well as celebrating its 50 years, the Society is having a concerted drive to increase its membership.
The Chair, Heather Mizen, says: “We now have about 100 members, but we have plenty of room for more. In the past we have tended to gain members without promoting ourselves. But like other societies our membership reduced during covid and has not fully recovered since. We are really keen to welcome more members so that we can continue to offer top quality lectures”.
The Arts Society Peterborough is affiliated nationally to The Arts Society. This ensures that talks are delivered by accredited experts with the spark of excellent presentation.
In recent years Peterborough has enjoyed superb talks from Antiques Roadshow regulars such as Lars Tharp (on Hogarth), Andy McConnell (on Lalique glass) and Marc Allum (on chair design). Other subjects have ranged from Street Art to JWM Turner, from Australian Aboriginal art to 20 th Century Scandinavian design, and from sculptor Henry Moore to artist Frida Kahlo.
In addition to talks, the Society organises Special Interest Days when a speaker comes along to give two talks in the morning and a third after lunch. These popular events give more opportunity for socialising as well as looking in greater detail at a subject. Recent themes have been ‘ A History of Colour in Garden Design’ and ‘British Sculpture’.
Trips have also been organised for members and their friends. In recent years the group has visited Eltham Palace Greenwich, the Ashmolean Museum Oxford, and Constable Country.
The Society is a charity and commits to projects promoting art in schools and elsewhere, Summer projects for children in the Museum and Central Library and support given for local participants in the national Art Bytes competition for schools.
The Society will celebrate its 50th year at its next lecture, on September 10 th . Doors open at 10.15am the talk starts at 10.45am at The Fleet. The subject is Rembrandt’s painting ‘The Night Watch’.
Guests and past members are welcome and invited to stay afterwards for a glass of fizz and a slice of cake, see [email protected] for details of how to register for this celebration, or just come along!
The group meets monthly from September to May on the second Thursday of the month at 10.15 for 10.45 am start at The Fleet, Fletton, PE2 8DL.
If you have a passion for art and art-related topics or would just like to learn more, join them for meaningful, in-person engagement exploring artistic legacy. For further information and joining details visit : www.the-arts-society-peterborough.org.uk
1. Peterborough Arts Society
Art Bytes, a nationwide competition Photo: Peterborough Arts Society
2. Peterborough Arts Society
Some of the Society's guests down the years - Jonathan Foyle, Tessa Boase and Andy McConnell. Photo: Peterborough Arts Society
3. Peterborough Arts Society
An organised visit to Ashmolean Museum Peterborough Arts Society Photo: Peterborough Arts Society
4. Peterborough Arts Society
A group on a guided art trail Photo: Peterborough Arts Society