Farnham Art Society
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Art Societies Farnham Art Society | ||
| Registration |
| Farnham Art Society | |
| aims to interest the public in the visual arts and encourage its appreciation and understanding in Farnham, Surrey and the surrounding area. Membership is currently about 400, many of whom are artists. The president is David Shepherd OBE FRSA FRGS The current chairman is Peter Duffy |
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| Meeting Place | The Society meets once a month in the lecture hall at Farnham Sixth Form College, Morley Road, Farnham. Other meetings and events such as demonstrations, discussions, lectures and workshops are, in the main, held at the Farnham Maltings. |
| Time and Day |
Meetings are usually held on the second Monday of each month at 7:30pm. Some winter meetings are held on Saturdays from 2:30pm to 4:30pm. |
| Area Covered | Farnham, Hindhead, Haslemere, Alton, Guildford, Camberley, Aldershot, Farnborough, Fleet, Winchester & Petersfield. (Some members come from further afield than the above). |
| Activities | Monthly meetings are held with various art-orientated lectures, slide shows and demonstrations, video evenings, critiques and workshops. We offer painting days throughout the summer, tutored and otherwise. A public lecture (The Salvin Event) in winter and the Annual Exhibition in Spring are the two premier events of the Society's annual calendar, a second exhibition is held in the autumn. Financial aid is given year by year, to many local schools and other organisations (e.g. groups exploiting art as a therapy for the physically or mentally handicapped); to assist in the purchase of art teaching equipment, or to lend encouragement and support to originators of visual art projects judged to be of interest and benefit to the local community. The Society has close links with Surrey Institute of Art and Design. - www.surrart.ac.uk |
| Our Membership |
The Society membership falls into four categories: Ordinary, Exhibiting,
Associate and Honorary. Currently, total membership runs at over 400; including
some 250 exhibiting painters, sculptors and ceramicists and some 29 Associate
Members.
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| A Brief History |
Farnham has had a School of Art of one sort or another since the 1860's and
alongside this, there are records of the existence from time to time of an
amateur "Art Club" (a comprehensive account up to the 1970's is contained in an
interesting little booklet entitled "A Sketch History of Art in Farnham" by
Robin Radley, obtainable either from Pullingers (Local Stationers) or the
Farnham Herald Office in West St. Farnham). From 1945 to the 1970's it was James Hockey's indefatigable energy and enterprise that resulted in the relatively small School of Art in West St. evolving into the prestigious West Surrey College of Art and Design in Falkner Road; now with university status and named The Surrey Institute of Art & Design (absorbing the Guildford School of Art in the process). The College exhibition gallery was named the James Hockey Gallery in his honour and the society has been fortunate to have had the use of it for its Annual Exhibition since its opening nearly 20 years ago. James Hockey remained Chairman until 1953, from which time he became President and remained so until his death. He promoted strong links between the Society and the College (www.surrart.ac.uk). The current president is David Shepherd |
| Charitable Status | In the 1950's, Miss M. (Malone) Salvin, for long, an active and enthusiastic supporter of the Society, died and kindly bequeathed to the Society a number of valuable 19th Century watercolour paintings previously acquired by her father, Mr. Anthony Salvin, an Architect. It was not until 1985 that, in view of the large rise in value of the paintings, the decision was taken to sell these by auction at Christies. This realised approximately £34,000 and it was then agreed that this money should be invested and called the Salvin Bequest and that the Society should simultaneously apply to be registered as a Charity. In consequence, the Society has been a Registered Charity (No 295596) since 1987. In 1988, the Annual Salvin Lecture was introduced in Miss Salvin's memory, the purpose being for a well known public figure to deliver a public lecture in Farnham on a theme of their own choosing, relating to the visual arts. This year, 2003, David Shepherd OBE FRSA, was the speaker at the annual Salvin Event. The Salvin Workshop (a hands on activity given by a professional artist and usually held over a weekend) is also held annually in her memory. |
| Contact | Mrs Catherine Bolt (Membership Secretary) Rotherwick House The Street Rotherwick Hants RG27 9BL |
| E-mail: | |
| Website: | www.farnhamartsociety.co.uk |
| Registration |