Art

The interests of artists are catered for by the Art Group. This long-established group meets every Monday afternoon from 2-4.30pm in the Phoenix Room for a varied programme of work drawn up by the committee according to the wishes of members. It offers the chance of drawing and painting in all kinds of media and can include instruction by invited tutors, demonstrations, outdoor painting sessions, and visits to galleries. Members can exhibit their work in their group's annual exhibition in the centre's gallery.

 The group encourages new recruits and membership is open to all levels of ability, but the space and facilities currently available limit regular attendance to about 15.

Above: Artist Stella Murray Whatley. Below: An art class in progress.

Art Group members must be paid-up members of the Arts Centre. They are also asked to pay a fee before each session to cover the charges made by visiting tutors and  models. For the 12 meetings of the spring 2011 session this fee is £30.

The group is run by a committee of six members elected annually.   The present committee is:  chairman Ron Homes, secretary Unity Sparrow, treasurer Viv Rudd, programme secretary Su Cuff, exhibition organiser Marise Woollard, and room steward Chris Jones.

Contact: Unity Sparrow 01747 852202; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

THE ART GALLERY

Opening hours 10.30am-4.30pm Monday-Saturday inclusive. Entry free.

The purpose-built gallery is an integral part of the Centre on the ground floor off the entrance foyer and provides local artists and art groups, craftspeople and crafts groups, professional and amateur, with a venue in which to show and sell their work to the general public.

It is also available for in-house groups to display their activities. It is run by a gallery manager who supervises and records the bookings and hires it out for one or two week periods for a booking fee plus commission on sales (in-house groups are not charged the booking fee).

Contact: Sandy Roberts, Gallery Manager 01747 852227; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Artist Jake Winkle (right) shows his work at a recent exhibition in the centre’s gallery