Northern Spain and the Picos Mountains
16 -20 May
to include Santander, Bilbao, and the Cantabrian Coast.

Full details available now! click here.

Glyndebourne and Sussex
Provisional Dates 14 to 16 October

Full details will be available in February. Dates to be confirmed when the Glyndebourne Programme is released.

To register an interest in either of these events, email info@theartssocietybse.org.uk

Fot details, go to Visits > Future Visits

For further infomation go to Tours > Future Tours

An invitation to members and their guests to join us for a festive lunch before the lecture, 'Royal Dukes: The Silver Collections of the Sons of George III’.

To see the full invitation, menu and booking form, click here

A 6-day tour to Delft, from September 23rd 2024, titled ‘Holland & the Dutch Masters’ was announced at the lecture meeting on November 14th. See more under <Tours> <Future Tours>
For detailed information and a booking form, click here.

Please Note:
Booking preference will be given to members of The Arts Society Bury St Edmunds, their partners and guests.

We are holding a celebratory Garden Party on the 12th July at 6pm to mark 30 years of the Arts Society Bury St Edmunds. If you are a past or present member - or if you would like to join - please get in touch to book your ticket (£10 per person) by clicking here.

The experimental lecture on September 8th was deemed an overwhelming success. Whilst a number of members commented on the lack of social interaction and the ambience of an audience, it did not prevent the enjoyment of an excellent lecture, and many references to particular benefits. These included, the absence of travel or parking problems, the ability to see images clearly and adjust the sound level to personal preference… and all in the comfort of one’s own home, without Covid risk! 

The second lecture will take place on November 10th. Entitled, ‘Symphonies in Colour: The Mosaics of Ravenna’, it will be presented by Jane Angelini. Hopefully, the success of the first lecture will encourage more members to participate

Zoom lectures, the future?
Half a Loaf is better than No Bread!

Faced with a worsening Covid-19 situation, The Arts Society Bury St Edmunds will restart operations from January 2021, with a monthly programme of six online, Zoom, lectures.
The conclusion is, that zoom lectures, despite being experienced by a smaller audience, are a better proposition then no lectures at all, a course of action that would effectively have put the Society into a state of hibernation!

With a lecture programme in place, and the intention to reinstate other activities as soon as conditions allow, members are being invited to renew their subscription, and new members are invited to join.

Trails of Discovery

A new field of volunteering for members interested in their locality has been created within The Arts Society by the introduction of ‘Trails of Discovery’. The object of the trails is to provide a self-guided walk through a neighbourhood, bringing together various aspects of local history, art and architecture.

The first of these, in Suffolk, is the Aldham Trail. To see it, go to <Our Society> <Documents>.

Polly Saltmarsh, who has carried out work for the National Portrait Gallery and National Trust as well as Moyse’s Hall, will talk about the role of a paintings conservator: when does a painting require conservation and what does it involve. Illustrated with photographs from recent projects Polly will reveal the skills needed to conserve the nation’s cultural heritage.

Booking essential, for further information, click here.

The Guildhall Bury St Edmunds has volunteer vacancies in a number of areas, from Costume to Gardening. A flyer has been published, to see a copy, click here.

Palace House Museum is looking for hosts for their new Exhibition, opening on November 28th, entitled
King George IV: Royalty, Racing and Reputation.

Members of The Arts Society Bury St Edmunds who are interested, will find more details on the 'Volunteering' > 'Heritage Volunteers' page.

Alternatively contact Jayne Tracey, whose details are on the current programme of The Arts Society Bury St Edmunds.
 

Enjoy a Golden Anniversary Celebration day at Culford School with The Arts Society East Anglia. Star performer is Bertie Pearce (who will give our Society lecture on May 8th), ‘Creating an imaginary World’

The event includes lunch and musical entertainment from the jazz quartet Joyspring.

The main events of the day will be in the Centenary Hall; the former library, a most elegant room which is not usually hired out, will also be used.
The attractive grounds are easily accessible, and well worth exploring, given fine weather!

For further information and a booking form, click here.

Then go and see Suffolk Young People’s Theatre production of FOOTLOOSE, the Musical, at the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. It’s on from Wednesday July 25th to Saturday July 28th and tickets are selling fast!

BBC One’s Antiques Roadshow will be celebrating the Great British seaside as it heads to Cromer Pier on Thursday 24 May.

Dust off your family heirlooms and dig out those car boot bargains for a great day out.  Many of Britain’s leading antiques and fine arts specialists will be on hand to help visitors discover the hidden history of their objects. And you never know, it might just be your item that turns out to be something very special and potentially very valuable.

Doors open at 9.30am and close at 4.30pm. Entry to the show is free, everyone is welcome, and no tickets or pre-registration is required. 

More information, frequently asked questions, and parking information, can be found at: www.bbc.co.uk/antiquesroadshow or on the show’s Facebook page. Alternatively, email: antiques.roadshow@ bbc.co.uk or write to Antiques Roadshow, BBC, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2LR.

Please note that this event is not organised by The Arts Society. However, information is included as it may be of interest to members.

Sue Medcalf who leads The Arts Society Bury St Edmunds church recording group is to give a talk at Bradfield St George Village Hall on April 13th. Her travels around suffok and the rigorous investigative work of the group give rise to many interesting discoveries and stories.

It promises to be a most interesting evening. For more information, please click here

This landmark exhibition is on for a short time only. A visit had been organised for members on March 27th. To secure a place, early booking – by March 9th – is essential.

For further information and a booking form, click here

OUR VIEW

Tea and Cake Reception for Mural Presentation

Presentation of the collaborative art project between East Anglian artist Alfie Carpenter and students of the Sybil Andrews Academy, Bury St Edmunds, finally took place in glorious spring sunshine on the evening of Friday March 23rd.

Mary Payne, responsible for Young Arts in The Arts Society Bury St Edmunds said:

“I enjoyed it so much because everything came together in such a wonderfully calm and enthusiastic way!

I was bowled over by the two murals - that done by the students, and the one by Alfie Carpenter - such beautiful joyous works of art. It was great to see the students, visibly delighted by the mural they had created, confidently sharing their experiences with their friends and families.

Arts Society Bury St Edmunds members who were with us on Friday were full of praise for what had been achieved; a very fitting way to celebrate our Golden Jubilee.”

Alfie Carpenter, addressing the gathering, said how much he had been moved by the Students’ response to the challenge and the commitment they had shown in producing such an impressive piece of work.

Picture: Alfie Carpenter discussing a feature of the mural with a visitor.

The Courtroom of the Guildhall in Bury St Edmunds was as bustling as it might have been in the 13th century when townspeople crowded in to witness the trial of some unfortunate local resident. On Wednesday 14th March, however, those present were full of optimism at what the future holds for Bury St Edmunds Guildhall now almost at the completion of its £1.75 million Lottery-funded restoration, and due to open to the public in July.

The sheer beauty of the renovation is striking. Being guided through the various rooms of the oldest civic building in the country by the Guildhall Manager, Suzanne Stevenson, was like turning the pages of history, leading from the present, to the 2nd World War (the only remaining WW2 RAF Radar Plotting Room has also been restored), to the Stuarts, to the Tudor kitchen, and to the Medieval world of Henry III.

The High Sheriff, Geoffrey Probert, was present to thank the hundred or so volunteers who have committed time and energy to ensuring the success of the Guildhall Project. More than 70 were present to listen to speeches and to mingle with fellow volunteers. There was a palpable sense of energy and anticipation among them.

Karen Hurden, a volunteer from The Arts Society Bury St Edmunds said: "It was an honour to attend the Guildhall in Bury St Edmunds when the High Sheriff visited. It was particularly interesting to meet other volunteers and to realise the variety of contributions being made by them throughout the county.”

Other volunteers from The Arts Society Bury St Edmunds present at the event were Carolynn Usher and Penny Taylor; also present was past Chairman Tessa Underwood and Mary Payne, Young Arts. Jayne Tracey, Heritage Secretary for our Society, had invited the High Sheriff to the event, but was herself unfortunately unable to be present.

Guildhall Trustee Simon Pott in his speech kindly gave special thanks to The Arts Society Bury St Edmunds for support throughout the project.

Picture: Mostly Volunteers, with Geoffrey Probert, High Sheriff, back row centre

Heritage conservation has an important role within The Arts Society Bury St Edmunds. We are involved with the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art in Newmarket, and with the Guildhall in Bury St Edmunds, recently refurbished and due to be opened to visitors in the Spring.

If you are interested in local heritage issues, you may like to know about a community heritage workshop taking place on February 24th at the Unitarian Meeting House in Bury St Edmunds. Bookings should be made as soon as possible, and no later than Friday february 16th.

A ‘flyer’ giving detailed information is available, which you can access by clicking here.

Please note that this event is not organised by The Arts Society. However, information is included as it may be of interest to members.

Members of The Arts Society Bury St Edmunds make a diary note. Details to follow.