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Programme 2024

Tuesday 8th October 2024

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The Culture of Ukraine

Presented by Rosamund Bartlett

This lecture tells Ukraine's story through the shared culture which binds its proud people together. We will explore the sacred art and architecture of Kyiv and.....

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This lecture will be held at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.

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Thursday 31st October 2024

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Special Interest Day

Beech Village Hall

Method or Madness? John Constable’s oil painting materials; his radical and extraordinary painting techniques.

In addition: Constable’s Treslove Portraits rediscovered.

Click on the ONLINE BOOKING FORM button for further details and to make your booking and payment.

OR

Click on the BOOKING FORM DOWNLOAD button for further details and to download and print and post your form and payment

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Tuesday 12th November 2024

Architecture through the ages

Presented by John Sherlock

Following a colourful timeline (which every audience member receives), John takes you on a complete journey through.....

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This lecture will be held at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.

Tuesday 10th December 2024

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Christmas with Giles, Grandma and the Family

Presented by Barry Venning

For a great many members of The Arts Society, the cartoonist Carl Giles was as much a part of the festive season as the Christmas tree, crackers and the Queen's Speech. So popular.....

 

This lecture will be held at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.

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Programme 2025

Tuesday 14th January 2025

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Michael Harris: Mdina Glass & Isle of Wight Studio Glass

Presented by Mark Hill

Michael Harris was one of the innovators of the international studio glass movement and transformed.....

 

This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.

Tuesday 11th February 2025

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A Brief Story of Wine

Presented by David Wright

Wine has been part of our global society for over 7,000 years, and the story tells of its origin and appearance in...

 

This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.

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Tuesday 11th March 2025

The Field of Cloth of Gold; 6000 Englishmen in France for 18 days - How Did They Do It?

Presented by Joanna Mabbutt

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June 1520 Henry VIII and Francis I meet to ratify an Anglo-French alliance and celebrate the betrothal of Henry’s daughter Mary to the Dauphin.

 

This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.

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Thursday 3rd to

Tuesday 8th April 2025

5day visit to The Historic Houses

& Heritage of Yorkshire

Including:

Hardwick Hall

A guided walking tour of Harrowgate

Fountains Abbey

Studley Royal Water Gardens

Beningborough Hall & Gardens

Aldborourgh Roman site

Rippon Cathedral

Ripley Castle

Renishaw Hall & Gardens

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Tuesday 8th April 2025

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Double Dutch symbols, emblems, double-entendre in Dutch genre paintings

Presented by Lynne Gibson

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The merchants of seventeenth century Holland filled their town houses with paintings. A favourite subject was scenes of everyday life: depicting behaviour both good … and bad. 

But these upright Calvinist citizens rejected Catholic Baroque melodrama.

 

This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.

Tuesday 13th May 2025

Dame Laura Knight: from Newlyn to Nuremburg

Presented by Bernard Allan

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Laura Knight was the first artist to be made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British

Empire, and in 1936 she became the first woman elected to the Royal Academy since 1768

 

This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.

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Tuesday 10th June 2025

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The Medieval Guildhall

Presented by Ian Swankie

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In the centre of the City of London stands its ancient headquarters, the medieval Guildhall, one of the capital’s hidden gems.

 

This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.

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Tuesday 9th September 2025

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Prague - The City of the Winter Queen

Presented by Douglas Skeggs

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Prague is one of the great treasure houses of Europe. Reduced to a near ruin under the communists, it has now been restored to its former glory

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This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.

Tuesday 14th October 2025

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The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Architecture of Frank Gehry

Presented by Siân Walters

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Bilbao is now the Basque Country's most important city thanks in no small part to the impact of the Guggenheim Museum, completed in 1997 to huge critical and popular acclaim and described by the celebrated late architect Philip Johnson as "the greatest building of our time”. 

 

This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.

Tuesday 11th November 2025

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The Art of Atonement; How Germany commemorates the Second World War

Presented by Angela Findlay

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In the context of our World War centenaries, anniversaries and the current debate about statues and monuments, the subject of this talk is hugely relevant. In this country, relatively little is known about Germany’s complex post-WW2 process....

 

This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.

Tuesday 9th December 2025

Due to unforseen circumstances the planned lecture has had to be changed. A new lecture will be posted as soon as possible.

 

This lecture will be held at Martin Read Hall at Alton College commencing at 7:30pm (doors open 6:45pm) CLICK HERE to see directions.

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