The purpose of The Arts Society Cranleigh is to promote interest and the appreciation of a wide range of art, not just paintings, but also, for example, music, architecture, photography, furniture, gardens and much more.
An integral part of the Society’s promotion is to offer 10 talks each year, presented by accredited specialists in their own fields.
Such topics as The Art of 19th Century Vienna, Mille Miglia – cars and culture, Arts of Zen and Great Artworld Feuds are examples of topics covered this year.
As certain subjects require a more detailed investigation, the Society presents Special Interest Days, held on Saturdays twice a year, when two or three talks are given on the same topic. A history of the Shaker movement, and the background to Stonehenge are the two fields covered this year.
As well as talks, the Society organises group holidays with Arts themes – this year to Malta and Suffolk.
Less time consuming are day visits, to such places as Winchester, Mottisfont Abbey, the Blue Idol Quaker Meeting House, a London Tour of places relevant to the Suffragette movement, and a private tour of Westminster Abbey with the Purcell Club.
The Society also seeks to foster interest in The Arts to young people, through Young Arts, which coordinates the funding of art projects involving local schools, in particular an annual exhibition of the work of students at the Cranleigh Arts Centre.
Church Recording also comprises part of the Society’s brief, by which a comprehensive record of everything within a local church is prepared – all details of such items as stonework, woodwork, textiles, paintings, and memorials are recorded, and a bound copy presented to the Church, with further copies given to the Victoria & Albert Museum, and similar institutions.
Forthcoming talks of the Society include:-
Modern British Sculpture
The Music and Life of Franz Schubert
The Silk Road
A visit to Waddesdon Manor at Christmas
The Society welcomes new members. All are welcome, to any of our monthly talks, held in both the afternoon and evening on the fourth Wednesday of each month, except August or December.
Please visit our website for more information – www.theartssocietycranleigh.org
