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VISITS

The Society arranges visits to houses,exhibitions and other locations of special interest. These visits are are usually made by coach and members of the Committee responsible for the organisation accompany the party. Guests are welcome to join these visits if circumstances permit. However, Members will have priority if numbers have to be limited.

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The Society organised a visit to the Wedgwood Museum on 12th October .
The programme included a handling section involving rare objects, an inspection of archive material and a guided tour of the museum. At the beginning of the visit there was an illuminating talk on Wedgwood given by the curator, Gaye Blake Roberts. Members may well remember her excellent lecture to the Society in November, 2006, regarded by many as the best event of that year.

The visit was designed, in conjunction with Wedgwood, by NADFAS Heritage Volunteers from North Staffordshire and Stafford coordinated by David Brass who assisted in the realisation of what was a NADFAS Discovery Day.

The organiser from the Arden end was Heather Jones.

The BBC4 programme on 17th October, again presented by Gaye Blake Roberts, covered similar ground in the form of a TV documentary. The programme ending was a requiem for the dying industry. The future of the Museum is a serious concern for all those seeking to preserve our national heritage.

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STUDY DAYS

The Society organises several Study Days during each year. On these occasions small groups, with an ideal size of about 30, meet to explore topics in greater depth than is possible in a standard lecture.
An expert guest speaker is invited and the programme usually consists of talks and discussions and an informal lunch.
The groups usually meet at a suitable local venue but sometimes visit a museum, gallery or house in order to place the study in context.

Please go to the Forthcoming Events section for details of future Study Days

Please also look at the West Midlands Area website for details of Area events.

YOUNG ARTS

Young Arts is an initiative which encourages Societies to be involved in the enhancement of the lives of young people in the area of Arts development and education.

The Arden Society gives very active support to this movement and has contributed in several ways.
Art competitions are sponsored at two local schools: The Solihull IVth Form College and the Arden School at Knowle.
Please follow the link below to read about prize-winning art work from these schools being selected for a major exhibition in London.
RSBA Exhibition 2012

The Government has given its views concerning the amount of classroom time which should be given to creative work. Building on recent experience, the Committee's plans are to continue and expand the Society's input into the Creativity activities and to take any active part which might be possible.