Welcome to our May newsletter.

The time is approaching for membership renewal. Next season’s membership fee will be £55. This is a “heads-up”, and there will be more details in next month’s newsletter, that we are offering an “early bird” offer – if you renew before September 1st the cost will be £50, the same as last year.

Our preferred payment method is by Bank Transfer, which has the advantages:
- you can make the payment at your convenience;
- we get your name as the reference on the payment; and
- the society doesn’t have to pay a transaction fee.

Payment can be made at the June lecture meeting with the SumUp machine, but this involves a fee and we have to manually record your name to later reconcile with payments in the bank account.

In case you would like to pay really early, our bank details are:
Payee:                         The Arts Society Macclesfield
Sort Code:                   40-52-40
Account Number:        00060639
Reference:                  your name
 

Our May lecture is being held on Thursday 914h, starting at 2:00pm, doors open at 1:30pm.

The lecture is titled “Henry Moore: A Revolution in British Sculpture”
Henry Moore is one of the most popular and important British sculptors of the twentieth century, revolutionising the way people thought about the human figure and sculpture, and making beautiful forms that grew out of his love for the landscape. He was often inspired by the art of the past and of other cultures, but he was also at the forefront of modernism – creating a new language of sculpture, full of abstract shapes, holes and magisterial forms. This talk explores his life and works, as well as the vibrant artistic world of mid-twentieth century Britain.

Our lecturer, Jo Walton, has combined teaching and lecturing with a career in art bookselling and has been a volunteer guide at both Tate Britain and Tate Modern.  She is now a freelance lecturer for The Arts Society, The National Gallery and local arts societies.

 Refreshments will be available after the lecture, for a donation.

Raffle tickets can be bought before the lecture, 50p per ticket, to win a £10 book token.  The proceeds of the raffle go towards the Arts volunteering projects.

WHAT’S ON

Forthcoming Events:

Local Attraction         Tatton Park Beyond the View – Canaletto at Tatton Park – an exhibition until Sunday 1st November

Just in case this has passed anyone by – Tatton Hall are putting on an exhibition to celebrate world class art in Cheshire.  The exhibition includes rare paintings, letters, and artefacts alongside cutting-edge digital installations that bring overlooked stories to life. It tells of the journey of Samuel Egerton from Cheshire to Venice and his connection to Canaletto.  You will also be able to see Tatton Park’s two Canaletto masterpieces.

Music@Mike’s
St Michael’s church is holding informal lunchtime concerts from 1:15 - 2:00pm.  Entry for the concerts is free, but donations to the East Cheshire Hospice and St. Michael’s are welcomed. Light refreshments are available at The Angel At My Table cafe. There are two concerts this month:
Friday 15th :                 Will Smith (baritone)
                                        Simon Bate (piano)
Friday 29th:                  Simon Evans (violin)
                                       Julian Davis (piano)

REX Cinema, Wilmslow
The following streamings are showing this month:
Exhibition on Screen: Frida Kalo: the icon, the artist 
                                       Sunday 24th May @ 1:00pm
                                       Wednesday 27th May  @ 5:30pm
National Theatre:        The Playboy of the Western Word      
                                        Thursday 28th May @ 7:30pm
                                        Sunday 31st May @ 1:00pm
                                        Wednesday 3rd June @ 7:30pm

KEMS
Saturday 16th May at the United Reform Church @ 7:30pm
Orchestral Fireworks – Tchaikovsky, Saint Saens and Shostakovich

Northern Chamber Orchestra
Cheshire Rural Touring Arts: NCO Quartet
Friday 22nd:                 @ 8:00pm at Great Budworth Parish Hall, CW9 6HL
Saturday 23rd:             @ 7:30pm at Hoole Community Centre, CH2 3AP

Local Arts Societies:

North East Cheshire
Wednesday 13th May @ 10:30am
Venue – Wilmslow Conference Centre, Wilmslow Way, Handforth SK9 3PE.  This can be found at Total Fitness, opposite Handforth Dean on the A34 bypass.

“The Art of the Japanese Garden: from tradition to Modernity” – speaker Marie Conte-Helm

Wilmslow
Thursday 9th March @ 7:30pm
Venue - the United Reform Church, Wilmslow SK9 1PR
“A Piece of the Auction – behind the scenes of an International Auction House”  – speaker Simon Cottle

Welcome to our April newsletter.

The committee are pleased to report that next season’s programme is nearing completion and we have some new committee members which we hope will ensure the continuance of this branch – however, there are some roles still seeking a volunteer.  So if anyone amongst you feels able to volunteer we still need a Secretary, Treasurer and on-the-day help with refreshments. Please speak to any committee member at the lecture if you can help.

And our Film Club and Raffle are making generous sums of money for our Arts Volunteering activities, however it is proving challenging to find more local projects to support.  If anyone knows of any groups that are offering arts based activities and would like and need sponsorship, please get in touch and speak with any committee member – our current projects have come to us through one of our members.

Our April lecture is being held on Thursday 9th, starting at 2:00pm, doors open at 1:30pm.

The lecture is titled “Pop Art USA - the Art of Fun”
The USA emerged as a dominant world power after WW2, with a booming economy in the 1950s and 1960s which generated a consumer boom.

A new style of art emerged in the 1960s, partly in reaction against the high seriousness of Abstract Expressionism, which tapped into the ubiquity of new media: television, advertising, youth culture and comic books. This new art became known as Pop Art, and rapidly dominated the art world (in the 60s).

This talk traces the emergence of this bold new art in the USA with the innovative work of neo-Dadist artists Johns, Rauschenberg and Oldenburg and the pioneering Pop artists Lichtenstein, Warhol, Indiana, Rosenquist, Ruscha and Thiebaud.  Finally it will consider its significance and as whether it celebrates or critiques consumerism and the American way.

Our lecturer, Colin Pink, has a BA in Philosophy and Politics from the University of Southampton and an MA in the History of Art from Birbeck, University of London. He specializes in twentieth century and contemporary art in Europe and North America. Colin lectures at Morley College London and has also curated exhibitions of contemporary art and has published four books of poetry.

This lecture is an updated one from the one previously advertised in our programme ‘Pop Art and the Rise of Consumer Culture’.

 Refreshments will be available after the lecture, for a donation.

Raffle tickets can be bought before the lecture, 50p per ticket, to win a £10 book token.  The proceeds of the raffle go towards the Arts volunteering projects.

There will be an opportunity to buy tickets for the Cinema Club on Friday 24th April or 1st May.

WHAT’S ON

Forthcoming Events:

Cinema Club – Friday 24th April and 1st May @ 2:00pm
Next film: David Hockney at the Royal Academy of Arts

Widely considered Britain’s most popular artist, David Hockney is a global sensation with exhibitions in London, New York, Paris and beyond, attracting millions of visitors worldwide.

Now entering his 9th decade, Hockney shows absolutely no evidence of slowing down or losing his trademark boldness.

Featuring intimate and in-depth interviews with Hockney, this revealing film focuses on two blockbuster exhibitions held in 2012 and 2016 at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. Director Phil Grabsky secured privileged access to craft this cinematic celebration of a 21st century master od creativity.

To be shown at: The Park Tavern, 158 Park Lane, SK11 6UB. Please arrive at 1:45pm so you have time to buy drinks and snacks from the bar and choose your after film hot drink and homemade cake (included in the price). These will be served in the bar downstairs which gives time to sit and chat. The cost is £8.00.  As there is limited availability (only 20 seats) priority will be given to those attending the lecture. 

A Grand Day Out –Wednesday 20th May, 2026

In conjunction with Wilmslow Arts Society we are organising this trip, and the uptake has been good and all our allocated places are now taken, and we have a waiting list. So, if you are booked to go on the visit and find you cannot, please email Rosie,  rosemary.slater@hotmail.co.uk , so we can refill the space.  Thank you.

Music@Mike’s
St Michael’s church is holding informal lunchtime concerts from 1:15 - 2:00pm.  Entry for the concerts is free, but donations to the East Cheshire Hospice and St. Michael’s are welcomed. Light refreshments are available at The Angel At My Table cafe. There is one concert this month:

Friday 10th :        Recital with Sarah Wilkes (mezzo), David Smith (baritone) and Neil Taylor (piano)

REX Cinema, Wilmslow
The following streamings are showing this month:
The Royal Opera:       Siegfried                      Sunday 5th April @ 2:00pm
                                      The Magic Flute         Tuesday 21st April @ 6:45pm
National Theatre:       Othello                        Wednesday 15th April @ 7:30pm
                                       All My Sons                Thursday 16th April @ 7:30pm
                                                                            Wednesday 22nd April @ 7:30pm

KEMS
There are no concerts this month.

Northern Chamber Orchestra
Saturday 11th @ 7:30pm at Kings School, Macclesfield
Haydn                 Symphony No 49 (‘La Passione’)
Anna Clyne      Prince of Clouds
Schumann       Symphony No 3 (‘Rhenish’)

Local Arts Societies:

North East Cheshire
Wednesday 8th March @ 10:30am
Venue – Wilmslow Conference Centre, Wilmslow Way, Handforth SK9 3PE.  This can be found at Total Fitness, opposite Handforth Dean on the A34 bypass.

“How to Read the English Country Church – Pre-Christian to the Tudors” – speaker Dr Nicholas Henderson

Wilmslow
Thursday 9th March @ 7:30pm
Venue - the United Reform Church, Wilmslow SK9 1PR
“Modern Art in One Hour”  – speaker Sarah Ciacci

Our March lecture is being held on Thursday 12th, starting at 2:00pm, doors open at 1:30pm.

The lecture is titled “Three Great Families and their Gardens”
This talk combines the lives of the Astors, the Sackville Wests and the Rothschilds and their family history with the story of the gardens they have all created, despite their very different backgrounds, here in the English countryside.

Our lecturer, Caroline Rayman has lectured for many years to universities and art organisations in America and on cruise boats.  She was an official guide at the British Museum and has published articles on samplers.  Her lectures range from the role of the royal mistress in history to more scholarly lectures on Frederick the Great of Prussia.  The story of Caroline’s lecture The Mysterious Disappearances of the Ghent Altarpiece has been told in the 2025 film, titled The Bold Thief.

She is returning to give this lecture, as it was cancelled in January 2025, due to snow.

 Refreshments will be available after the lecture, for a donation.

Raffle tickets can be bought before the lecture, 50p per ticket, to win a £10 book token.  The proceeds of the raffle go towards the Arts volunteering projects.

There will be an opportunity to buy tickets for the Cinema Club on Friday 20th or 27th March.

WHAT’S ON

Forthcoming Events:

Cinema Club – Friday 20th and 27th March @ 2:00pm
Next film: Degas: Passion for Perfection

This film journeys from the streets of Paris to the heart of the superb Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, whose extensive collection of Degas’ works is the most representative in Britain.  It offers a unique insight into Degas’ personal and creative life.  The film uncovers the fascinating story of Degas’ obsessive pursuit for perfection through both experimentation with new techniques and lessons learnt from studying the past masters. Never fully satisfied, many of Degas’ drawings and sculptures were kept in private during his lifetime but now, through close examination, they can be seen as some of the most beautifully detailed and expressive works in the modern era.  Using written accounts by friends and commentators, and the narration of letters written by Degas himself, this film reveals a more complex truth behind one of the most influential French artists of the late 19th-century and serves as an exploration of the complex workings of Degas’ artistic mind.

To be shown at: The Park Tavern, 158 Park Lane, SK11 6UB. Please arrive at 1:45pm so you have time to buy drinks and snacks from the bar and choose your after film hot drink and homemade cake (included in the price). These will be served in the bar downstairs which gives time to sit and chat. The cost is £8.00.  As there is limited availability (only 20 seats) priority will be given to those attending the lecture.  However, if you are unable to attend the lecture you can email Rosie at Rosemary.slater@hotmail.co.uk.

A Grand Day Out –Wednesday 20th May, 2026

In conjunction with Wilmslow Arts Society we are organising this trip, and the uptake has been good – in fact, very good and all our allocated places are now taken, and we have a waiting list. So, if you are booked to go on the visit and find you cannot, please email Rosie,  rosemary.slater@hotmail.co.uk , so we can refill the space.  Thank you.

Music@Mike’s
St Michael’s church is holding informal lunchtime concerts from 1:15 - 2:00pm.  Entry for the concerts is free, but donations to the East Cheshire Hospice and St. Michael’s are welcomed. Light refreshments are available at The Angel At My Table cafe. There are two concerts this month:
Friday 13th :        Adam Parrish – piano
Friday 20th :        Lin Xu Zhang - piano

REX Cinema, Wilmslow
The following streamings are showing this month:
The Royal Opera:       Siegfried                      Tuesday 31st March @ 5:15pm
                                                                            Sunday 5th April @ 2:00pm
National Theatre:      The Audience              Saturday 14th March @ 2:30pm
EOS:                             Turner & Constable    Sunday 22nd March @ 1:00pm

KEMS
Concert Band                - 21st @ 7:30pm at St Michael’s Church – Spring Concert
Symphony Orchestra – 28th @ 7:30pm at St Michael’s Church – ‘Sacred Light’, pieces by Wagner, Gjeilo and Durufle

 Northern Chamber Orchestra
Saturday 14th @ 7:30pm at St Michael’s Church – Octet

The Silk Museum
Women’s History Month – different events throughout the month, details at the museum

Local Arts Societies:

North East Cheshire
Wednesday 11th March @ 10:30am
Venue – Wilmslow Conference Centre, Wilmslow Way, Handforth SK9 3PE.  This can be found at Total Fitness, opposite Handforth Dean on the A34 bypass.

“Dress Code: 10 Iconic Dresses in Art” – speaker Alexander Epps

Wilmslow
Thursday 12th March @ 7:30pm
Venue - the United Reform Church, Wilmslow SK9 1PR
“Recognise the Artist”  – speaker Chantal Brotherton-Radcliffe

At this month’s we will have a (brief) EGM to pass the accounts for 2024 – 25, as we need to get these passed, by you the membership, before our usual AGM in June.  Copies of the Accounts are attached for your perusal.

Our February lecture is being held on Thursday 12th, starting at 2:00pm, doors open at 1:30pm.

The lecture is titled “The Honourable East India Company and East West Trade: Chintz, Chinese export and Chinoiserie, 1600 - 1800”.
The East India Company developed its methods of trade and facilitated the increasingly sophisticated and profound exchange of ideas between East and West. The lecture focuses on textile design as the vehicle for this analysis, but also includes other works, such as wallpaper, porcelain and furniture, as well as the vast commercial trade in spice and tea.  The currency and balance of trade with China is examined, and methods of production are illustrated with a number of Chinese export pieces, predominantly Chinese painted silks but also including furniture and porcelain. The distinction is then drawn between Chinese export and Chinoiserie, a fantasy style produced by Western artists and designers based on the exoticism of China – known to Westerners as ‘Cathay’ – and combining with the prevailing Baroque and Rococo styles in Western design.

Our lecturer is Vivienne Laws - she is an art historian, curator, author and journalist with over 25 years’ experience in the art market.  Her articles, essays and reports have been published in numerous specialist journals, newspapers, catalogues, handbooks and websites, aimed at both the academic and general readership in print and online. Since 2011 she has been Senior UK Consultant to Singapore gallery One East Asia and has co-curated many exhibitions of Southeast Asian modern and contemporary art in London and Singapore. 

Refreshments will be available after the lecture, for a donation.

Raffle tickets can be bought before the lecture, 50p per ticket, to win a £10 book token.  The proceeds of the raffle go towards the Arts volunteering projects.

And there will be an opportunity to:
- buy tickets for the Cinema Club on Friday 20th or 27th February; and
- book a place for A Grand Day Out.

After our plea as a committee in crisis we have had a response and we thank those who have volunteered, and we are getting/have got in touch with them.  

  But, are there any Vice-Chair or Treasurers out there?

WHAT’S ON

Forthcoming Events:

Cinema Club – Friday 20th and 27th February @ 2:00pm
Next film: Klimt & The Kiss

As the film club has proved to be popular we are offering two consecutive Fridays for screening this month.

The film this month was meant to be about Frida Kahlo, but as Exhibition on Screen are releasing it in May for national distribution to cinemas, they have withdrawn it from private purchase, hence the replacement film.

‘The Kiss’ by Gustav Klimt is one of the most recognised and reproduced paintings in the world. It is perhaps the most popular poster on student dorm walls from Beijing to Boston.  Painted in Vienna around 1908, the evocative image of an unknown embracing couple has captivated viewers with its mystery, sensuality and dazzling materials ever since it was created.  But just what lies behind the appeal of the painting – and just who was the artist that created it?

Delving into the details of real gold, decorative designs, symbolism and simmering erotica, a close study of the painting takes us to the remarkable turn of the century Vienna when a new world was battling with the old.  Klimt was a titan of the Art Nouveau movement, creating decadent new worlds which merged tender sensuality, ancient mythology and radical modernity. Discover the scandalous life and rich tapestry of extraordinary influences behind one of the world’s favourite paintings.

To be shown at: The Park Tavern, 158 Park Lane, SK11 6UB. Please arrive at 1:45pm so you have time to buy drinks and snacks from the bar and choose your after film hot drink and homemade cake (included in the price). These will be served in the bar downstairs which gives time to sit and chat. The cost is £8.00.  As there is limited availability (only 20 seats) priority will be given to those attending the lecture.  However, if you are unable to attend the lecture you can email Rosie at Rosemary.slater@hotmail.co.uk.

A Grand Day Out –Wednesday 20th May, 2026

In conjunction with Wilmslow Arts Society a day trip is being organised, and the uptake has been good. Wilmslow have sold their allocation and we have 6 places remaining in our allocation.  If you would like to reserve a place please do so by the 12th March, at the lectures or by emailing Rosie on rosemary.slater@hotmail.co.uk.

  The day focuses on the impressive collection of Tiffany glass at the Haworth Art Gallery in Accrington, and on route to Accrington there will be a stop at the Salford Museum and Art Gallery which houses the Pilkington collection of ceramics.

The cost is £40 and includes the coach fare and lunch at the Haworth Art Gallery. 

 Music@Mike’s
St Michael’s church is holding informal lunchtime concerts from 1:15 - 2:00pm.  Entry for the concerts is free, but donations to the East Cheshire Hospice and St. Michael’s are welcomed. Light refreshments are available at The Angel At My Table cafe. There are four concerts this month:
Friday 6th :          Dunelm Duo – piano, flute and saxophone
Saturday 14th     Sarah Maxwell (soprano) & Christopher Cromar
Friday 20th          Charlie Oldham - piano
Friday 27th           Iryna Volkova – Ukranian Christian singer

REX Cinema, Wilmslow
National Theatre streaming:
Thursday 26th    @ 7:30pm – The Audience
Royal Ballet:
Sunday 15th        @ 2:00pm – Woolf Works

Local Arts Societies:

North East Cheshire
Wednesday 11th February @ 10:30am
Venue – Wilmslow Conference Centre, Wilmslow Way, Handforth SK9 3PE.  This can be found at Total Fitness, opposite Handforth Dean on the A34 bypass.

“A Tale of Vanity Fair: Constable’s Treslove Portraits Rediscovered” – speaker Sarah Cove

Wilmslow
Thursday 12th February @ 7:30pm
Venue - the United Reform Church, Wilmslow SK9 1PR
‘A History of Jewellery from Elizabeth I to Elizabeth Taylor’ – speaker John Benjamin

Dear Members,

Welcome to our January newsletter and we hope that you all had an enjoyable festive period, and that you are looking forward to our 2026 lectures.

We received the sad news of the deaths of two long standing members of the Arts Society and we have included brief obituaries. They have contributed years of expertise, knowledge and hard work to keep our Church Recording and Heritage volunteer groups going.

David Griffths

Sadly, David passed away just before Christmas after a long illness. A founder member of the Arts Society Macclesfield, he set up and was Group Leader of the Church Recording Group. Over many years, with David’s dedication, depth of knowledge and much patience, two Church Records have been published: St James’s, Sutton & St Christopher’s, Pott Shrigley. A third Record, Christ Church, Macclesfield, is due for publication soon. David was a joy to work with and will be much missed. Our condolences go to Carolyn and Family.

Beryl Footman

Beryl Footman passed away in November, aged 97. A very well-known and respected figure in Macclesfield, she had been a member of Macclesfield Arts Society since its inception. Beryl was an enthusiastic member of both the Heritage Volunteers and Church Recording groups and she was a great contributor to both.

 Our January lecture is being held on Thursday 8th, starting at 2:00pm, doors open at 1:30pm.

The lecture is titled “Painting Manchester: views of the city and its inhabitants over the centuries”.
It wasn’t just L S Lowry who was inspired to paint Manchester, the northern powerhouse that burst onto the world stage as Cottonopolis during the Industrial Revolution. This lecture explores the history of the city as seen through the eyes of artists, from George Cruikshank, a Londoner who was moved to put pen to paper by a great event which unfolded here - the Peterloo Massacre – to Adolphe Valette, the Manchester Impressionist, and ending with Halima Cassell, a contemporary sculptor whose fascination with the buildings of the city began with childhood visits here and inspired her later work. 

Julia became a tour guide at Manchester Art Gallery in 2015 and after leaving language teaching in 2018 she has loved spending all her time sharing her passion for art as a speaker to many different groups.  She became an Accredited Lecturer of the Arts Society in 2020, specialising in Scottish art from 1880 and the art of Manchester. She and her astronomer husband love to travel around Europe and take every opportunity to visit art galleries wherever they go, but Scotland has always been their favourite destination!  She is also a former member and committee member here in Macclesfield.

Refreshments will be available after the lecture, for a donation.

Raffle tickets can be bought before the lecture, 50p per ticket, to win a £10 book token.  The proceeds of the raffle go towards the Arts volunteering projects.

And there will be an opportunity to:
- buy tickets for the Cinema Club on Friday 23rd January; and
- book a place for A Grand Day Out (see ‘Events’ later and the sheet included)

We are a committee in crisis, and ………. we have many members, the lectures are well attended (frequently commented on positively by our speakers) and we have a successful Cinema Club, Arts Volunteering projects and Church Recording & Heritage Volunteer groups but the committee is reduced to an unsustainable level.  We have no Chair Vice-Chair, Programme Secretary or Visits and Events secretaries, IT support – and so far our pleas for more volunteers has had a very limited response.  It would be regrettable if we had to submit a winding up motion at the next AGM!  Please speak to any of the committee at the lecture if you think you may be able to offer your skills on the committee.

On the principle of ‘many hands make light work’ there will be a handout at the lecture asking if anyone is interested in volunteering any help for extra support, for example – meeting the speaker, helping visitors, setting up the hall …. We currently have some hard-working volunteers but it would be good to have more cover for holidays, illness etc.  and just spread the load a little without too much commitment, and hopefully some enjoyment.

Regrettably, our AGM and presentation of the accounts have fallen out of synch and we need to submit the 2024 – 25 accounts before the next AGM – so at the February lecture there will be a (brief) EGM to present the accounts to you, the membership.

WHAT’S ON

Forthcoming Events:

Cinema Club – Friday 23rd  January @ 2:00pm
Next film: Pissarro – Father of Impressionism
Without Camille Pissarro, there is no Impressionist movement. He is rightfully known as “the father of Impressionism”.

Born in the West Indies, Pissarro found his passion in paint as a young man in Paris and, by the age of 43, had corralled a group of enthusiastic artists into a new collective. Their first show was scorned by the critics but the group had acquired a new name: The Impressionists. For the next 40 years Pissarro  was the driving force behind what has today become the world’s favourite artistic movement. Pissarro was a dedicated family man, generous with his advice, passionate about experimentation, well-read, socially aware and an anarchist. It was a dramatic path that Pissarro followed and, throughout it all, he wrote extensively to his family. It is through these intimate and revealing letters that this gripping film reveals Pissarro’s life and work.  Filmed on location in France, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and the Kunstmuseum in Basel. With exclusive access to the most extensive archive of any Impressionist painter and to the first major Pissarro retrospective in four decades, this film explores the enthralling and hugely important biography of an extraordinary artist.

To be shown at: The Park Tavern, 158 Park Lane, SK11 6UB. Please arrive at 1:45pm so you have time to buy drinks and snacks from the bar and choose your after film hot drink and homemade cake (included in the price). These will be served in the bar downstairs which gives time to sit and chat. The cost is £8.00.  As there is limited availability (only 20 seats) priority will be given to those attending the lecture.  However, if you are unable to attend the lecture you can email Rosie at Rosemary.slater@hotmail.co.uk. 

A Grand Day Out –Wednesday 20th May, 2026

In conjunction with Wilmslow Arts Society a day trip is being organised.  The day focuses on the impressive collection of Tiffany glass at the Haworth Art Gallery in Accrington, and on route to Accrington there will be a stop at the Salford Museum and Art Gallery which houses the Pilkington collection of ceramics.

The cost is £40 and includes the coach fare and lunch at the Haworth Art Gallery.  For more information, see the enclosed flyer.

Music@Mike’s
St Michael’s church is holding informal lunchtime concerts from 1:15 - 2:00pm.  Entry for the concerts is free, but donations to the East Cheshire Hospice and St. Michael’s are welcomed. Light refreshments are available at The Angel at my Table cafe. There are two concerts this month:
Friday 24th :          Richard Sykes – traditional singer and story teller
Friday 30th            Adrian Lord - piano

REX Cinema, Wilmslow
National Theatre streamings:
Thursday 22nd   @ 7:30pm – Hamlet
Sunday 25th          @ 1:30pm – Hamlet
Royal Ballet & Opera streaming:
Wednesday 14th   @ 6:45pm – La Traviata

 Local Arts Societies:

North East Cheshire
Wednesday 14th January @ 10:30am
Venue – Wilmslow Conference Centre, Wilmslow Way, Handforth SK9 3PE.  This can be found at Total Fitness, opposite Handforth Dean on the A34 bypass.

“The Post-War Textiles Visionaries of Modern Art: a Yorkshire Textile Renaissance” – speaker Ashley Gray

Wilmslow
Thursday 15th January @ 1:00pm
Venue - the United Reform Church, Wilmslow SK9 1PR
‘The Joy of Indian Classical Music’ – speaker John Stevens

Dear Members,

This is our last newsletter of the year, so we hope you have enjoyed the lectures of this current session so far, and all good wishes for the Christmas period and New Year.  And (you might be pleased to note!) the newsletter is much shorter this month as there’s very little in the “What’s On” section, and no Film Club.

After the lecture this month we hope that as many of you, as can, will join us afterwards for mince pies and non-alcoholic punch, rather than the usual tea and biscuits!

Our December lecture is being held on Thursday 11th, starting at 2:00pm, doors open at 1:30pm.

The lecture is titled “Behind You! A unique backstage tour of the Great British Pantomime”.
This will be an amusing lecture, taking a look at the famous names, the greatest Dames and the old routines that we all remember – this most precious of British traditions will always endure, and why, surprisingly, every actor wants to do it. This is a revealing look at professional panto, from someone who was born into it.

Our lecturer is Tyler Butterwoth – he grew up in a theatrical family and spent twenty-five years as an actor working extensively in film, television, theatre and radio.  He then worked as a development producer in television documentaries.  Now, he produces walking audio guides to cities across Europe for private clients.  He lives in Sussex where he walks on the South Downs and the South East Coast.

Refreshments will be available after the lecture, mince pies and non-alcoholic punch this time.

Raffle tickets can be bought before the lecture, 50p per ticket, to win a £10 book token.  The proceeds of the raffle go towards the Arts volunteering projects.

WHAT’S ON

KEMS – Macclesfield Symphony Orchestra
Macclesfield Singers Concert Band are having a Christmas Concert of carols and seasonal music, at St Michael’s Church on Saturday 13th @ 7:30pm – tickets at £15.00

Christchurch – Macclesfield Christmas Tree Festival
Bridge Street, SK11 6EG
this is being held between 4th – 21st December.
Visiting times are:  Thu & Fri              6.00 – 8.00pm
                                   Sat & Sun             2.30 – 6.30pm
And there is a concert on Saturday 20th December @ 18:30

Welcome to our November newsletter and hope you are looking forward to the next lecture.

At this month’s lecture Sue Brake, the Chair of the North West region is attending and will be giving a brief outline of the aims and activities they are undertaking, and what they are doing for the membership and their support of the arts – covering crafts, culture and heritage as well as art.  So, please be on time at 13:45.

Our November lecture is being held on Thursday 13th, starting at 2:00pm.

The lecture is titled “Picasso in St. Petersburg: the Hermitage and it’s Masters of Modern French Art”.
The lecture tells the dramatic story of how the Hermitage came to acquire its collection of modern French painting, and the electrifying impact it made on Russian art and society after the death of Stalin.

Our lecturer is Rosamund Bartlett – a writer, lecturer and translator whose work ranges across the arts, and across the cultures of Europe, from Italy to Norway.

She is author of several books, including biographies of Chekhov and Tolstoy, and a study of Wagner's influence in Russia, she is also well known as a translator - her publications include acclaimed editions of Anna Karenina and Chekhov's stories for Oxford World’s Classics.  She has written on music and literature for institutions including the Royal Opera House, the National Theatre and the Salzburg Festival, and about art for Apollo and The Burlington Magazine.  She is currently writing a book about the revolution in the arts which took place in early 20th-century Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kyiv and Odesa, and its connection to modernist developments in Paris, Munich and Milan.

Refreshments will be available after the lecture as usual, for a small donation.

Raffle tickets can be bought before the lecture, 50p per ticket, to win a £10 book token.  The proceeds of the raffle go towards the Arts volunteering projects.

WHAT’S ON

Forthcoming Events:

Cinema Club – Friday 28th November @ 2:00pm
Next film: Hopper: An American Love Story
Hopper’s work is the most recognisable art in America – popular, praised and mysterious. Countless painters, photographers, filmmakers and musicians have been influenced by his art – but who was he, and how did a struggling illustrator create such a bounty of notable work?

 This new film takes a deep look into Hopper’s art, his life and his relationships. From his early career as an illustrator; his wife giving up her own promising art career to be his manager; his critical and commercial acclaim; and in his own words – this film explores the enigmatic personality behind the brush.

To be shown at: The Park Tavern, 158 Park Lane, SK11 6UB. Please arrive at 1:45pm so you have time to buy drinks and snacks from the bar and choose your after film hot drink and homemade cake (included in the price). These will be served in the bar downstairs which gives time to sit and chat. The cost is £8.00.  As there is limited availability (only 20 seats) priority will be given to those attending the lecture.  However, if you are unable to attend the lecture you can email Rosie at Rosemary.slater@hotmail.co.uk. 

Arts Quiz – held on 22nd October, 2:00 to 4:00pm
This was a great success and the light-hearted widely based arts and culture based quiz was enjoyed by all. A profit was made to give to our Arts Volunteering activities.  

We hope to repeat this next year, but thanks are due to Rosie, our treasurer, for all her efforts in organising this event. 

Arts Volunteering
Funding local projects is an important cause for the Arts Society and our branch is currently supporting two with grants:

Cheshire East Hospice – our support has been for art-loving patients to paint and these designs have been used to make coasters. These have been sold from the hospice shop and at local art-based functions, so not only do family and friends have mementos the proceeds from the sales have raised £500 for the hospice. The feedback from patients has been very positive, and funding is set up for next year and another set of designs.  Only a few of the coasters are left, and these will be for sale at the lecture. £4 each or £15 for 4.

PINC Creative College – this is part of the Macclesfield campus and is run at the Heritage Centre on Roe Street, and an exhibition of this years’ work is likely to be in early 2026. We have supported them for this year and are applying for an AS Community Grant for next year.

Local Arts Societies:

North East Cheshire
Tuesday 11th November @ 10:00am
Venue – Wilmslow Conference Centre, Wilmslow Way, Handforth SK9 3PE.  This can be found at Total Fitness, opposite Handforth Dean on the A34 bypass.

 “Artists of the American Sublime” – speaker Adrian Summer
Occurring between 1820 and 1880 , this broad movement featured many American landscape artists, from many schools, including the celebrated Hudson River School and the Luminists.

Wilmslow
Thursday 13th November @ 7:30pm at the United Reform Church, Wilmslow SK9 1PR
(Please note that parking is no longer free after 6pm in Sainsbury’s car park across the road, however, Broadway Meadow car park, SK9 1NB, is free after 3pm).
‘Roman Britain Unearthed – what did the Romans really do for art?’ – speaker Gillian Hovell
Our art (even in our modern homes) owes much to the Romans. When the Romans invaded in AD 43, they came to stay and they brought with them not just their soldiers and their language, but their culture, way of life and art.

Other Arts Events:

Music@Mike’s
St Michael’s church is holding informal lunchtime concerts from 1:15 - 2:00pm, to showcase the best of young and aspiring musicians from the town and further afield. Entry for our  Music@Mike’s concerts is free, but donations to the East Cheshire Hospice and St. Michael’s are welcomed.   There are four concerts this month:
Friday 7th:          Chris Cromar - organ
Thursday 13th:   Kings – King’s School
Friday 21st:          Southland of the Heart – folk/jazz
Friday 28th:          Kell Wind Trio

KEMS
KEMS are putting on a joint Singers and Symphony concert this month, at St Michael’s Church:
Saturday 15th @ 7:30pm - Soundscapes

REX Cinema, Wilmslow
National Theatre streamings:
Thursday 27th  @ 7:30pm – The Fifth Step
Sunday 30th @ 1:30pm – The Fifth Step
Royal Ballet & Opera streaming:
Sunday 9th @ 2:oopm - La Fille Mal Gardee (Ballet)
Tuesday 25th @ 7:15pm – Cinderella (Ballet)
Sunday 30th @ 2:00pm – Cinderella (Ballet)

Cinemac
National Theatre streaming

 Thursday 27th @7:00pm – The Fifth Step

Watercolour Workshops @ Clonterbrook
Allie Pottinger, a locally based artist is offering these workshops – a festive on the 10th, 11th and 20th December, and then a series in 2026.  For further information about these please contact her on 07903 655777.
She is also exhibiting, with other artists at the Festive Open Studio Event in her studio at Clonterbrook, Swettenham Heath, CW12 2LS from November 27th to 29th.

North West Region organized Events
The North West region are organizing two events for 2026. There are still a few places available, the events are:

Holiday to Bavaria and Ludwig’s Palaces
This is a 6 day, 5 night trip from the 19th September. Contact a member of the committee if you are interested. 

Welcome to our October newsletter, and we hope you enjoyed our opening lecture in September.

As a committee we know that our lectures are very well attended, by your membership, and this high attendance has been commented on by several of our lecturers, but we have now been reduced to a group of five and we are struggling to cover all the necessary tasks – especially if one or more of us is away for whatever reason.

We are aware that we have put out several unsuccessful requests for volunteers, but if anyone could offer some help we would very much appreciate it, and it will help to ensure the long term viability of our branch of the Arts Society. If you feel able to offer some help, please talk to any of the committee members.  Large amounts of time or effort are not required, for example: we need help on the day with the reception desk, teas and getting the venue set up, or pre-lecture liaising with the speaker and checking that we have all the arrangements covered. (The lectures for this and the next season are already organised).

We would also welcome feedback that the offering of the lecture series is all you want from the society and that any additional activities are/are not wanted – or reasons why is the Cinema Club so successful but other events struggle for participants?

Our October lecture is being held on Thursday 9th, starting at 1:45pm.

The lecture is titled “Votes for Women! Art and Suffragettes”.
The lecture explores the story of the suffragettes and suffragists through their ‘pro and anti’ portrayals in cartoons, postcards and paintings – it swill also consider their impact on the Houses of Parliament itself and how the Parliamentary Art Collection at Westminster has responded to criticism that its own collection is too ‘male, pale and stale’.

Our lecturer is Dr Caroline Shenton – an archivist, historian and an award winning writer.  She was formerly Director of the Parliamentary Archives in London, and before that was a senior archivist at the National Archives.  Her books, lectures and study days’ focus on political art and heritage in peril.  Caroline was Political Writer in Residence at Gladstone’s Library in 2017, has appeared at many literary festivals and, on radio and TV.  In 2023 she was appointed by the government to the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA), which considers whether national heritage destined for sale overseas should be saved for the nation.     

Refreshments will be available after the lecture as usual, for a small donation.

Raffle tickets can be bought before the lecture, 50p per ticket, to win a £10 book token.  The proceeds of the raffle go towards the Arts volunteering projects.

 There will be an opportunity to:
- buy tickets for the Cinema Club on Friday 31st October; and
- book a place for the Quiz afternoon, Wednesday 22nd October, see notes below.

 WHAT’S ON

Forthcoming Events:

Cinema Club – Friday 31st October @ 2:00pm
Next film: The Artist’s Garden – American Impressionism
Taking its lead from French artists like Renoir and Monet, the American Impressionist movement followed its own path which over a forty-year period reveals as much about America as a nation as it does about it’s art as a creative power house.

To be shown at: The Park Tavern, 158 Park Lane, SK11 6UB. Please arrive at 1:45pm so you have time to buy drinks and snacks from the bar and choose your after film hot drink and homemade cake (included in the price). These will be served in the bar downstairs which gives time to sit and chat. The cost is £8.00.  As there is limited availability (only 20 seats) priority will be given to those attending the lecture.  However, if you are unable to attend the lecture you can email Rosie at Rosemary.slater@hotmail.co.uk. 

Arts Quiz – Wednesday 22nd October, 2:00 to 4:00pm
To be held at: Macclesfield Cricket Club, Victoria Road, SK10 3JA

As a committee we have noted that the uptake of this event has been lower than we would have wished, and feedback we have received from some members is they thought it would be about detailed knowledge of great artists and their works – which has put them off.

We can reassure you that this is NOT the case. It is going to be a fun, visual quiz that covers all areas of ‘the arts’ – artists, paintings, sculptures, architects and buildings, actors and acting, music and musicians from classical to popular, novels and novelists – with nothing too serious and no expert knowledge will be required!

We do hope this will encourage you to come, either as a team or an individual and non-members welcome. The entrance fee of £10 per person, which includes refreshments. Money raised will be going to our Arts Volunteering projects. 

 You can book places for this event by emailing Rosie  at Rosemary.slater@hotmail.co.uk  or at the meeting, 9th October.  

   Local Arts Societies:

North East Cheshire
Wednesday 9th October @ 10:00am
Venue – Wilmslow Conference Centre, Wilmslow Way, Handforth SK9 3PE.  This can be found at Total Fitness, opposite Handforth Dean on the A34 bypass.

“Murano Glass: The Jewel of Venice” – speaker Laurie Wickwire
This talk explores how Murano became the epicentre of excellence for glassmaking across the world.

Wilmslow
Thursday 9th September @ 7:30pm at the United Reform Church, Wilmslow SK9 1PR
(Please note that parking is no longer free after 6pm in Sainsbury’s car park across the road, however, Broadway Meadow car park, SK9 1NB, is free after 3pm).
‘The Day Parliament Burnt Down!’ – speaker Dr Caroline Shenton
On the 16 October, 1834 a huge fireball exploded through the roof of the Houses of Parliament. This talk takes the audience through the gripping hour-by-hour story of the fire with a particular focus on the oils and watercolours produced by JWM Turner.

Other Arts Events:

The Arts Society Wilmslow Lunch Event at the Pinewood Hotel
Wilmslow AS are hosting a lunch on Tuesday 14th October, where the speaker will be Adam Partridge – the renowned antiques expert, auctioneer and TV personality.  Arts Society members are welcome.  Details can be obtained from Graham Nicholson 07946 711075.

Music@Mike’s
St Michael’s church is holding informal lunchtime concerts from 1:15 - 2:00pm, to showcase the best of young and aspiring musicians from the town and further afield. Entry for our  Music@Mike’s concerts is free, but donations to the East Cheshire Hospice and St. Michael’s are welcomed.   Unfortunately, there will be no light refreshments as our Angel At My Table cafe is currently closed. There are four concerts this month:
Friday 10th:        Arthur Marshall - contemporary folk music
Friday 17th:        Adam Parish – piano
Friday 24th:        Cheshire Chamber Collective - violin & piano
Thursday 30th:   Tim Ward – flute
                               Julia Harding – clarinet

KEMS
KEMS are putting on two concerts this month, both at the United Reform Church in Park Green:
Saturday 18th October @ 7:30pm - A Sibelius Festival - KEMS Symphony Orchestra
Sunday 19th October @ 3:00pm - Autumn Concert - KEMS Concert Band

REX Cinema, Wilmslow
National Theatre streamings:
Tuesday 14th October @ 8:15pm - Inter Alia
Thursday 23rd October @ 7:30pm - Mrs Warren’s Profession
Royal Ballet & Opera streaming:
Sunday 9th November @ 2:oopm - La Fille Mal Gardee (Ballet)

Claritas Choir
This is a mixed voice choir that supports and raises funds for the East Cheshire Hospice.

The next concert is a ticket only event at St Albans church on Friday 17th October. For tickets email - claritassecretary@gmail.com

Dear Members,

Welcome to our September newsletter and after the summer break, the beginning of the 2025 -26 season.  We hope you will enjoy our forthcoming programme of talks.

 Please note that the meeting starts at 13:45, and the lecture at 14:00 promptly.  Doors will be open at 13:30.

 If you have not renewed your membership, and you would like to, you can do so before the lecture - please come early and allow time to do this.  However, we are a little short of committee members and help on Thursday, so if you could renew by bank transfer we would be grateful.  The details of our CAF business account are:

Payee:       The Arts Society Macclesfield

Sort Code: 40-52-40

Acc. No:     00060639

Reference: your name

The Life and Work of William Moorcroft

Our next lecture is on Thursday 11th September, 2025 at 2.00pm

William Moorcroft 1872 – 1945 was brought up in the back streets of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent. Perhaps it was this tragic upbringing that helped him develop his strength of character and the resilience that saw him establish himself as the most accomplished studio potter of recent times.

 He achieved international gold medal awards, being a supplier to the renowned retailers Liberty and Tiffany, a successful global export business and a Royal Appointment to Her Majesty.

Our speaker is James Smallwood

James Smallwood has an established and successful lecturing career speaking to gardening and horticultural groups . He has been a keen collector of Moorcroft pottery for over 30 years and is a member of the Moorcroft Collector's Club. He will be bringing some pieces from his personal collection.

 As usual, refreshments will be available after the lecture, for a small donation.

 A raffle will be held and tickets, at 50p each, can be bought before the lecture.  The prize is a £10 book token. The proceeds of the raffle go towards the Arts Volunteering projects.

 There will be an opportunity to:

- renew your membership

- buy tickets for the Cinema Club on Friday 26th September

- book a place for the Quiz afternoon, Wednesday 22nd October  

The Arley Hall visit in July was most successful and enjoyed by all. The weather was ideal, gardens lovely and in bloom and the house tours interesting and enjoyable - we can recommend a visit. And our thanks to Mary for organising this.

Forthcoming Events

Arts Quiz

 The Arts Quiz is the Arts Society Macclesfield’s new, light-hearted event for next year. Teams of up to 6 persons will search for answers to visually based questions about art, music, books, film and heritage of all kinds. There will be absolutely no questions about capital cities, cup final winners or the number of legs on a spider! 

 There will be easy questions and a few tricky ones to keep members on their toes!

 Come as a team of up to 6 if you wish or come as an individual and be placed in a team on the day. Non-Members very welcome. 

 The Quiz is on Wednesday 22ndOctober 2.00 to 4.00, at the Macclesfield Cricket Club.

 The entrance fee of £10 per person, tea and cakes are included. Money raised will be going to our Arts Volunteering projects, so please support this event.   

 You can book places for this event by emailing Rosie  at Rosemary.slater@hotmail.co.uk or at the meeting  on the 11 September or  9 October. If you could book sooner rather than later that would be great. Imagine the prestige of being the very first team to win and hold the trophy aloft !!!

  Cinema Club

 The Cinema Club has been a big success with our members; most films being fully booked.  So, we are going to carry on,showing the films at Park Tavern the dates and films for next year are below.  As before you can book at the lecture or by emailing Rosie at Rosemary.slater@hotmail.co.uk. For the September film you can before the September lecture, with Rosie.  

 Please note we have increased the price to £8 for members and £12 for non-members as Park Tavern have increased their refreshment prices. However, I am sure you will agree it is still great value.     

 26 September, 2025      VanGogh - Poets and Lovers

31 October, 2025           The Artist’s Garden - American Impressionism

28 November, 2025        Hopper - An American Love Story

23 January, 2026            Pissarro - the Father of Impressionism

27 February, 2026          Frida Kahlo

 What’s On

Local Arts Societies:

 Wilmslow

Thursday 11th September @ 7:30pm at The United Reform Church, Wilmslow SK9 1PR.

(Please note that parking is no longer free after 6pm in Sainsbury’s car park across the road, however, Broadway Meadow car park, SK9 1NB, is free after 3pm).

 ‘The Architecture of Liverpool’ - speaker Ed Glinert

What other city can match the glory of the Three Graces along the waterfront? Inland there are Egyptian ventilation shafts, banking palaces, dock warehouses and the finest neo-classical hall in the country. Oh, and two cathedrals!

 North East Cheshire

Wednesday 10th September @ 10:00am.

Note: there is a new venue - Wilmslow Conference Centre, Wilmslow Way, Handforth SK9 3PE.  This can be found at Total Fitness, opposite Handforth Dean on the A34 bypass.

 ‘Mediaeval Great Houses of the East Midlands’ - speaker James Wright

The 14th and 15th centuries ushered in a new type of high status residence in the Midlands - the late mediaeval great house. The talk is based on recent field work and research at Haddon Hall, and Greasley & Ashby castles.

 Other Arts Events:

 The Arts Society Wilmslow Lunch Event at the Pinewood Hotel

Wilmslow AS are hosting a lunch on Tuesday 14th October, where the speaker will be Adam Partridge - the renowned antiques expert, auctioneer and TV personality.  Arts Society members are welcome and details as to how to book and lunch menu options etc can be found by clicking on the following link

 Music@Mike’s (look at church website)

St Michael’s church holds free, informal lunchtime concerts, from 1:15pm to 2:00pm, to showcase young and aspiring musicians from the town and further afield.

Refreshments are available before and after the concerts.  The autumn programme has just been released. Click here for further information

 Christ Church, Bridge Street

Christ Church is celebrating it’s 250th Anniversary during September with the following events:

Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th - Heritage Weekend

You can find out about it’s architecture and there will be children’s art activities and Lego building.

Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th - 250th Anniversary Celebration Weekend

There will be music along with photographic and archive displays - bring along your own photographs and memories.

 The church will be open 11am - 3pm both weekends, and you can take the opportunity to look around the church, have refreshments and browse the bookstall.

Click here for further information

 Northern Chamber Orchestra - Saturday 27th September at the King’s School, Macclesfield

Starburst

Director: Sarah Brandwood-Spencer

Click here for further information

Welcome to our June newsletter.  This month’s lecture is preceded by our AGM, and if you are coming to the lecture we ask that you arrive early by 1:45pm so we can conclude the AGM’s business.

The request for new committee members earlier this year bought us three new members helping to fill crucial roles. Sadly, die to unforeseen circumstances one has had to withdraw from the role of Programme Secretary and we find ourselves in urgent need of a member to replace her.  Do you think you could help?  You would be fully supported over the next few months while you get to grips with the role.

Our June lecture is being held on Thursday 12th June, starting at 2:00pm.

The lecture is titled “Emperor Qianlong (1736 – 1796) ‘Son of Heaven, Man of the World”. The Emperor Qianlong was arguably the greatest of all the Qing Emperors as he guided China through a period of unquestionable political, economic and cultural prosperity which rivalled any comparable period of high achievement in Chinese history.  Territorially Qianlong added more than 30 per cent of land mass to the Empire through successful military campaigns and astute diplomacy.  He was passionate about preserving Manchu culture whilst respecting and nurturing other ethnic Chinese cultures.  Qianlong travelled his Empire regularly undertaking lavish expeditions to the South and West, designed to forge loyalty to his Imperial rule.

The speaker is David Rosier, who spent more than 30 years of working and living in East Asia where he and his wife assembled a collection of approximately 500 Imperial Court Costumes and related textiles/dress accessories. David is an expert lecturer on Imperial Court Life and Costume and has lectured for The Arts Society and a wide range of other organisations in the UK and around the world.  He has organised and led Imperial Art Tours for a variety of organisations.     

Refreshments will be available after the lecture as usual, for a small donation.

Raffle tickets can be bought before the lecture, 50p per ticket, to win a £10 book token.  The proceeds of the raffle go towards the Arts volunteering projects.

There will be an opportunity at the lecture to buy tickets for the upcoming visit to Arley Hall on the 14th July.

Rearranged Lecture:

The Art and Crafts of Kashmir – now on the 10th July
A date for your diary – as this lecture was cancelled in January because of the inclement weather, it has now been rearranged for July. The speaker is Zara Fleming and she will talk on the artistic diversity of this area.

WHAT’S ON

Local Arts Societies:

North East Cheshire
Wednesday 12th June @ 10:30am at The Brookdale Centre, Bridge Lane, Bramhall,
SK7 2AB
“Monopoly” – speaker Roger Mendham
Almost everyone has played Monopoly at some time in their life – and this talk starts with the original Landlords Game in 1903 and its evolution into the game as we know it today.

Other Arts Events:

Music@Mike’s
St Michaels church is holding free, informal lunchtime concerts from, 1:15pm to 2:00pm, to showcase the best of young and aspiring musicians from the town and further afield.  Entry is free, and refreshments are available before and after the concerts. This month there are three concerts:
Friday 6th:                    John Sabar – piano
Friday 20th:                  Ivan Hovorun – piano
Thursday 26th: Steven Davies - concertina

KEMS
The Summer Concert features the Singers and is on the 7th June at St Michael’s Church @ 7:30pm.  The concert has Spirituals and extracts from Rutter’s “Feel the Spirit”.

Rex Cinema, Wilmslow is showing:
A Streetcar Named Desire (National Theatre) – 5th @ 7:00pm

FUTURE EVENTS

Cinema Club
The cinema club, held on the last Friday of the month at the Park Lane Tavern, has been a great success and much enjoyed, so ………. We have booked the following dates for our next season and hope you will make a note in your diaries:
26 September, 2025               Van Gogh – Poets and Lovers
31 October, 2025                    The Artist’s Garden – American Impressionism
28 November, 2025                Hopper – An American Love Story
23 January, 2026                     Pissaro – the Father of Impressionism
27 February, 2026                   Frida Kahlo
27 March, 2026                       Degas – Passion for Perfectionism
24 April, 2026                          David Hockney at the Royal Academy of Arts 

Quiz Afternoon
This has been booked for Wednesday 22nd October, 2025 at Macclesfield Cricket Club
2:00 – 4:00pm, and this will be a quiz about great artists, wonderful buildings and brilliant performers on stage and screen – it’s just for fun, with lots of lovely pictures and (mostly) easy questions.  Another date for your diary. Come as a team of 4 – 6, or individually, all welcome, and we’ll help with teams. All profits will go to supporting our Arts Volunteering projects in the local community.

Dear Members,

Welcome to our May newsletter.  We have a busy month at the Society with different events that you might wish to attend, so look at the Events Newsletter, that is included with this mailing.

Our May lecture is being held on Thursday 8th May at 2:00pm.

The lecture is titled “Carnations, Tulips and Hyacinths: The Story of Turkey’s Iznik ceramics”, where we will be informed about the world of carnations, tulips and hyacinths as part of the history of the famous Turkish Iznik ceramics. From the ceramics origin imitating Chinese porcelain to their 16th century heyday.

The speaker is Dr Antonia Gatward Cevizli, who is an independent art historian specialising in both Italian Renaissance and Ottoman art. Her publications focus on cultural and diplomatic exchanges between the Italian city-states and the Ottomans. Antonia has lectured for a number of institutions and she has worked across the collections of both Tate Modern and Tate Britain as a professional guide.    

Refreshments will be available after the lecture as usual, for a small donation.

Raffle tickets can be bought before the lecture, 50p per ticket, to win a £10 book token.  The proceeds of the raffle go towards the Arts volunteering projects.

There will be an opportunity at the lecture to buy tickets for the upcoming events:

·        the cinema club on Friday 23rd May;

·        the upcoming talk and tea with Nick Bianchi on the 13th May; and

·        the visit to Arley Hall on the 14th July.

For further details, please see the Events Newsletter.

 Rearranged Lecture:

The Art and Crafts of Kashmir – now on the 10th July

A date for your diary – as this lecture was cancelled in January because of the inclement weather it has now been rearranged for July.  The speaker is Zara Fleming and she will talk on the artistic diversity of this area.

 Arts Volunteering Project – Park Lane School

Possibly you remember that in October Harry Venning gave us an entertaining lecture on cartoons, and after this Amanda (our Programme Secretary) applied for a community grant from AS London for him to work with the children of Park Lane School. The workshop was a great success and was reported in the Macclesfield Express, and there was enthusiasm for another one.

 WHAT’S ON

Local Arts Societies:

North East Cheshire
Wednesday 14th May @ 10:30am at The Brookdale Centre, Bramhall, SK7 2AB  “Celebrating Black Fashion” – speaker Scott Schiavone
Lecture about the designers and models who shaped fashion history from 1850 to the present.

Wilmslow
Thursday 8th May @ 7:30pm at The United Reform Church, Wilmslow, SK9 1PR
“Shopping on the Rialto in Renaissance Venice” – speaker Antonia Gatward-Cevizli.

They too had to cancel their January lecture and have rearranged it for:
Thursday 22nd May – above time and place
“Much More than Soupcans: the Life and Work of Andy Warhol” – speaker Bill Powell

 Other Arts Events:

Bollington Arts Group – Art Exhibition, Saturday 3rd May – Monday 5th May
At Bollington Arts Centre, Wellington Road, Bollington, SK10 5JR
Framed and unframed work for sale, plus greetings cards.

Music@Mike’s
St Michaels church is holding free, informal lunchtime concerts from, 1:15pm to 2:00pm, to showcase the best of young and aspiring musicians from the town and further afield.
Refreshments are available before and after the concerts.

KEMS – Macclesfield Symphony Orchestra have a concert on the 17th May with pieces by Dvorak, Smetana, Beethoven and Janacek.

Rex Cinema, Wilmslow is showing the following in May:
EOS: Michelangelo: Love & Death – 20th and 25th
and streamings of:
Die Walkure (The Royal Opera) – 18th
Ballet to Broadway (The Royal Ballet) – 22nd and 25th

The New Macc School of Art at the Silk Museum offers different art workshops every month.  Coming up on the 10th May is a lino printing workshop,

Dear Members,

Welcome to our April newsletter.

Last month saw the last of our Special Interest Days that Adrienne Fox will organise as sadly she is stepping down from the role at the end of the season. Micheal Howard gave us some interesting stories about his life as an art historian and showed his passion in pursuit of finding out about the ‘real’ Lowry. A delicious buffet lunch was also enjoyed.

 Reminder: As our January lecture was cancelled due to bad weather, we have an extra lecture on July 11th. This will be ‘The Arts and Crafts of Kashmir’ given by Zara Fleming.

 Our April lecture is being held on Thursday 10th April at 2pm.

The lecture is actually entitled: ‘Three Families and their Gardens - a history of the Asters, Rothschilds and Sackville-Wests’. It combines the lives and family history of these families with the story of the gardens they have created in the English countryside.

Our speaker is: Caroline Rayman

Caroline has  lectured for many years to universities and art organisations in America and on cruise boats. She was an official guide at the British Museum and has published articles on samplers.  The story of Caroline's lecture The Mysterious Disappearances of the Ghent Altarpiece is to be told in a new film in 2025, entitled The Bold Thief.

Refreshments will be available after the lecture as usual for a small donation.

 There will be opportunity to buy tickets for the upcoming afternoon tea with Nick Bianchi on 13th May, the Cinema Club on 25th April and the visit to Arley Hall on 14th July. ( See Events )

The raffle will be held before the lecture - 50p a ticket to win a £10 book token. Proceeds go towards Arts Volunteering projects.

 AGM

The AGM will be held before the lecture on 12th June.

 The committee is still keen to recruit more people.  

Publicity/ Communications is a new role we would like to develop with someone who is reasonably I.T. confident. Would you be interested?

 A Visits/ Events Organiser is also still really needed. This could be shared between a couple of people as we have done previously so that it is not a very onerous job.

 With all these roles, there are people on the committee who can help and support you while you gain confidence.

 Local Events

Local Arts Societies:

North East Cheshire

Wednesday 9 April at 10.30am at the Brookdale Club Bramhall.

 ‘Banksy – Fraud or Genius’ and the speaker is Pepe Martinez.

The lecture will trace the story of Banksy’s humble beginnings as a tagger on the streets of Bristol in the 1980’s to one of the most recognisable names in the art world.  

Wilmslow

Thursday10th April at 7.30pm at the United Reformed Church, Wilmslow

 ‘The Age of Jazz’ and the speaker is Sandy Burnett

Drawing on his experience both as a musicologist and gigging musician Sandy can shed light on jazz from the inside. His talk covers the early years of jazz up to the Second World War and touches on the disparate influences which lay behind the emergence of jazz.

 Arts Events:

The New Macclesfield School of Art at the Silk Museum  offers different art workshops every month. Coming up on 10th May is a lino printing workshop.

 KEMS - Macclesfield Symphony Orchestra have a concert on 17th May with pieces by Dvorak, Smetana, Beethoven and Janacek.

 Cinemac- Macclesfield  is showing a series of live events ( musicals) in the coming months starting with ‘ Billy Elliot’ in April.

Dear Members.

Welcome to our March newsletter. We have a busy month at the Society with different events you might wish to attend so do look at the Events Newsletter.

Our March lecture is being held on Thursday 13th March at 2pm.

Bauhaus - Ideas and Reality.

 Founded in 1919 in Weimar, the Bauhaus was a progressive art school. Under the directorship of architect Walter Gropius, its students studied a broad range of artistic disciplines.

It not only came to typify an age but also dictate matters of style for decades to come, through its art, architecture and design. This talk looks at some of the movers and shakers behind this hugely influential movement, including Marianne Brandt, Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer, as well as exploring their legacy in our world and homes today.

 Our speaker is: Gavin Plumley

Gavin Plumley is a writer and broadcaster.  He has appeared on BBC Radio 3 and 4, and contributes to newspapers, magazines and opera and concert programmes worldwide. He lectures widely about the culture of Central Europe for cinema, festivals, theatres and museums. His first book, A Home for All Seasons, was published in 2023.

 Refreshments will be available after the lecture as usual for a small donation.

 There will be opportunity to buy tickets for the upcoming SID day on 20th March and the Cinema Club on 28th March. ( See Events Newsletter.)

 The raffle will be held before the lecture - 50p a ticket to win a £10 book token.

 Our society needs help!

 We are still appealing for members who might be able to offer their skills on our committee. Current committee members are willing to move to other roles if this would help new people find something they are interested in. Posts need to be filled in the next few weeks with people who are willing to be on the committee- ready to be approved at  the AGM.

 At present we have vacancies for Chair, Vice-Chair, Visits and Arts Volunteering.

 Why not come along to a committee meeting and see how things work? We are a friendly informal group with lots of ideas and enthusiasm. Please reply to this email or speak to one of the committee at the next lecture.

What’s On

Local Art Societies:

North East Cheshire

Wednesday 12 March at 10.30am at the Brookdale.

The lecture is:  ‘Two Inches of Ivory: Portrait Miniatures and Silhouettes in the Age of Jane Austen’ . This lecture will use some of the best examples of this typically Regency art form to show how ‘portraits in little’ expressed affection and changed lives.’  The speaker will be Amina Wright.

Wilmslow

Thursday13th February 7.30pm at the United Reformed Church Wilmslow, SK9 4PR

 The lecture is: ‘The Wallace Collection Rembrandts - from Twelve to One, but now Three and Two Halves’.

When the Wallace Collection was bequeathed to the British National in 1897 it was believed that the museum had twelve paintings by Rembrandt. Later, however,most of these pictures were reassigned to other artists, to the extent that a hundred years later it was thought that there was only one genuine work by the great Dutch master - a wonderful portrait of the artist’s son Titus. Since then further research has suggested that in fact four of the other paintings are also wholly or partly by Rembrandt. The speaker will be Stephen Duffy.

 Arts Events:

The Rex Wilmslow has a range of screenings coming up:

Royal Ballet- ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Thurs 20th March 7.15pm; Sun 23rd March 2pm

Royal Opera- ‘Turandot’ Tues 1st April 7.15pm; Sun 6th April 2pm

Andre Rieu 75th birthday celebration film- Sat 12th April 7pm Sun 13th April 6pm

National Theatre Live- ‘Dr Strangelove’. Steve Coogan plays four roles in Stanley Kubrick’s play. March 27th 7pm; 29th 5pm; 30th 1pm. 

 Macclesfield Male Voice Choir and Bollington Singers are holding a ‘Springtime Selection’ concert on Sat 5th April 7.30pm at the United Reform Church, Park Green.

 Macclesfield Oriana Choir’s Spring concert has choral pieces by Mozart on Sat 22nd March 7.30pm at Macclesfield Methodist Church.

 Wychcraft Big Band have a concert on Fri 28th March 8pm at Broken Cross Club. This is in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

 St Michael’s Church is holding free lunchtime concerts: ‘Music@ Mike’s’ from 1.15-2pm on March 21st, 28th; April 4th and 11th.

February’s Newsletter

Welcome to our February Newsletter! After the disappointment of having to cancel our January lecture, fingers crossed that we are more lucky this month!

As last month, you will also receive an Events Newsletter. This gives booking details for our ‘Lost Lowrys’ Special Interest Day coming up in March as well as other events.

FOR YOUR DIARIES

We are pleased to confirm that the January lecture has been re-scheduled for Thursday July 10th: ‘The Arts and Crafts of Kashmir’ Zara Fleming.

Our February lecture is being held at 2pm on Thursday 13th February.

Dutch Golden Age In Six Paintings

he 17th century in the Netherlands, referred to as the Dutch Golden Age, was the time of Rembrandt and Vermeer, of extra ordinary riches and incredible progress. There may be no other country in which in the brief span of a hundred years so many paintings were executed. You will be hard to find a museum in the world not housing at least one Dutch painting from the Golden Age!

This talk will use 6 paintings to introduce how the arts flourished in this tiny republic during this period. With the help of these 6 paintings we will talk about the Dutch, their cities, landscape, society, beliefs and artistic genres.

Our speaker is : Mariska Beekenkamp - Wladimiroff

Mariska’s specialism in her studies was The Dutch Baroque Arts from the 17th Century. She founded her own company- Art Historical London - which offers art lectures, museum visits, travel and events from Amsterdam, London and New York. As well as lecturing, Mariska teaches on the public program of Dulwich Picture Gallery.

Refreshments will be available after the lecture as usual for a small donation.

The raffle will be held before the lecture - 50p a ticket to win a £10 book token.

Our Society needs help!

We are running a thriving Arts Society with close on 150 members here in Macclesfield. The current small committee is committed and full of enthusiasm to continue providing for the members not only a super programme of lectures, visits and Special Interest Days but also to offer wider Arts opportunities such as the Cinema Club and theatre visits.

We are however at a crisis point with the Committee. Over the last year, long- serving committee members have reluctantly stepped down and we cannot continue without filling vacancies. Our AGM was due to be held in March but we have postponed it until the lecture on 12th June in order to put out an appeal for members to offer their support and fill some of the vacant posts.

If the posts are not filled, we will have no choice but to close the Society at the end of this season.

The most critical post is that of Membership Secretary.

Debbie Kennerley has been our Membership Secretary for some years and has given notice that she will be stepping down from this role at the end of the season.

It involves dealing with new membership applications and membership renewals; maintaining the membership list; producing the register and attending committee meetings. Debbie welcomes visitors at lectures but this could be done by another person.

Debbie is happy to support the handover of the role so that it can gradually be taken over by the new person. We have successfully brought in a new Secretary and Programme Secretary in this way.

Chairperson ( Vice Chair)

This could be one role shared between two people as we could manage with just a Chair. Training and support is offered by The Arts Society London. The committee can also support in learning this role. You would need to be able to attend committee meetings, lectures and twice- yearly regional meetings.

Visits / Events /Special Interest Day.

These roles had 3 people organising them. We will only have Mary Loughran continuing in Sept who plans our Visits. Clearly this is too much for one person to organise. You do not need to attend every committee meeting or help at every event. A little of your time would go a long way!

Please reply to this email or speak to Debbie, or to one of the other

committee members, at a lecture if you would like to find out more.

Why not come along to a committee meeting to see how it all works and where you skills could best be used?  

What’s On

Local Arts Societies: North East Cheshire

Their February meeting is on Wednesday 12 February at 10.30am. The lecture is entitled ‘Chinamania – The Impact of Chinese Porcelain on European Taste, Collecting and Display’. The speaker is Jane Gardiner.

To be held at: The Brookdale Club,Bridge Lane, Bramhall.

Arts Events:

Macclesfield Oriana Choir are inviting people to join them for the day to learn and perform Mozart’s ‘Requiem’. Sat 22nd Feb. 9.30 start. £22. Further details click here: www.macclesfieldorianachoir.co.uk

KEMS - Macclesfield Symphony Orchestra have their next concert on Sat 15th Feb 7.30pm United Reform Church playing Franz Schubert's ‘Symphony No 9’ and Samuel Barber’s ‘Violin Concerto Op 14’. More info here: https://www.kems.org.uk/nextconcertorchestra.php

Christchurch Macclesfield is holding a book festival from 1st - 23rd Feb. There will be a range of events: talks, readings, music etc.

Click here for more details: https://www.christchurchmacc.co.uk/events/macclesfield-book-festival

Whitworth Art Gallery ‘Turner in Light and Shade’. An exhibition will run from Feb 7th - Nov 2nd marking the 250th anniversary of Turner’s birth. More info click here: www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/whats- on/exhibitions/turnerinlightandshade/

Liverpool Cathedral ‘Threads Through the Bible. Creation +Cross + Revelation.’ Jan16th- March 2nd. If you are visiting Liverpool, you might wish to see a 42 panel textile project - the largest ever put together by a single artist! Click here: https://liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/

Dear Members,

We hope you had an enjoyable Christmas and wish you all an exciting and enjoyable year ahead!

The first lecture of 2025 is swiftly upon us on the 9th January at 2pm:

The Arts and Crafts of Kashmir

For many people, Kashmir conjures up a beautiful valley surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, for others it is a land of conflict. But what is less well known is that it has been of historic artistic importance for nearly 2000 years. This lecture introduces the astonishing diversity of arts and crafts produced in this tiny area, influenced by Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic cultures. It explores Buddhist sculptures,Hindu temples, great Islamic gardens, paintings, calligraphy, Moghul carpets and Kashmir shawls.

Our speaker is:

Zara Fleming

Zara is a lecturer, art consultant and exhibition curator specialising in the art and culture of Tibet, the Himalayan areas and Mongolia. She has been a guest lecturer and tour guide on numerous trips to the Himalayas. Zara has edited ’Masterpieces of Mongolian Art: Vol 1’ and has published many articles in the field of Buddhist art and culture.

Committee News 

We are currently running the Society with a much smaller team than we should have and now have some people who are leaving their positions. 

Debbie Kennerley has been our Membership Secretary for some years and has given notice that she will be stepping down from this role at the end of the season. This job is a vital one within the Society and without a replacement the Society will not be able to continue. We do need someone to fill this position.

It involves dealing with new membership applications and membership renewals; maintaining the membership list; producing the register and welcoming visitors at lectures and attending committee meetings.

 Debbie is happy to support the handover of the role so that it can gradually be taken over by the new person. We have successfully brought in a new Secretary and Programme Secretary in this way.  Please reply to this email or speak to Debbie, or to one of the other committee members, at a lecture if you would like to find out more.

Val Mead has been a valuable member of our welcome team for many years: checking people in and helping with the raffle. She is retiring from this role and the Committee wish to thank her for kindly giving her time to support the Society. If you are able to give a little time at the beginning of the lectures to help welcome people, it would be greatly appreciated. 

Frances Hall is our Heritage Volunteering leader and heads a team of volunteers recording the silk samples at the Silk Museum. This month she is stepping down from attending committee meetings and the Committee express many thanks for the time she has given previously helping with refreshments and contributing to meetings. She will continue leading the team at the Silk Museum which is doing valuable work there.

Events

The committee is looking at ways to enrich being a member of our Arts Society. Offering a wider variety of events is proving to be a key to the health and success of arts societies in times where falling numbers are forcing some societies to close. With that in mind, you will notice in the coming months  we are offering a wider menu of opportunities to meet and experience The Arts together. We hope that you will join us and enjoy socialising with other members.

Projection Screen

Would anyone like a projection screen for free? We have barely- used screen: 135cm wide and 72cm high that folds down into a carry bag that we no longer need. Please reply to this email if you are interested.

Local Events

The Silk Museum Macclesfield

An exhibition entitled ‘Pattern’ is running from Wednesday 12th - Sunday 23rd February

This exhibition will introduce their stunning collection of silk pattern books and the conservation project currently taking place in the museum.   The museum is hoping that you will be inspired by the varied patterns and help them develop ideas on working with them in their new Jacquard Studio (coming summer 2025!) There will be a programme of activities that will complement the exhibition: see the pattern books, do a printing workshop, attend a talk, and more!

‘Have a Dabble’ the weekly adult Art and Craft group begins on Fri 10th. A morning or afternoon workshop is available each week costing £15. More details and booking are available on the website.

The Rex Wilmslow

The Rex Wilmslow has some more National Theatre productions upcoming: ‘Macbeth’ starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo on Feb 5th, 9th and 12th.

‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ on Feb 20th and 23rd.

They are also showing a Royal Opera House ‘The Tales of Hoffman’ production on the 15th and 19th Jan. Further details on times and tickets available on the website.

Dear Members,

A warm welcome to our December newsletter.

Our next lecture is on Thursday 12th December at 2pm entitled: Going to the Ball.

During the Victorian Era, magnificent fancy dress balls became one of the grandest and most fashionable ways for a society hostess to make her mark. These balls were reported in newspapers and magazines in great detail: who was there, what they were wearing, who designed their gown and the historical figure they represented. No expense was spared and these balls became the elite event of the year!

Our lecturer is Jaqui Hyman. She is an accredited conservator and restorer and gained  textile conservation experience with the Museums’ Service. She has  lectured, given study days and appeared on a number of television programmes.

Lecture start time.

Please can members arrive in time to be seated by 1.50pm. Announcements will be made before 2pm so the lecture can begin on time. We now also have a powerpoint running before the lecture with useful information / upcoming events on it.

Refreshments

There is a festive twist to our refreshments after December’s lecture. Do join us for a tasty home-made mince pie and some non- alcoholic mulled ‘wine’. (Unfortunately, we are not allowed to serve alcohol in the church.)  Tea, coffee and biscuits will also be available as usual. A small donation is appreciated.

Raffle

As usual we will be holding the raffle before the lecture. Tickets are 50p to win a £10 book token. The monies raised go to support Arts Volunteering projects in the local community.

Car park

Whalley Hayes car park is no longer taking cash. To pay, you will need to use a debit/credit card or download the RingGo app to your phone.

 Events / Visits

The Hat Works Museum

22 members and 2 guests  had a most enjoyable visit to the Hat Works Museum on 21st November. This was organised by Mary – our Visits Co-ordinator and we thank her for her time planning this.  

Cinema Club: ‘Mary Cassatt - Painting the Modern Woman’

Friday 24th Jan  2pm. £6 (inc. refreshments)

Park Lane Tavern, 158 Park Lane, Macclesfield. SK11 6UB

We are holding our first private cinema event and if it proves popular, we will plan more of these.  The film is provided by ‘Exhibition on Screen’ who work with top international museums and galleries to create films which offer a cinematic immersion into the world's best-loved art, accompanied by insights from the world's leading historians and arts critics.

Mary Cassatt (1844 - 1926) made a career painting the lives of the women around her. Her radical images showed them as intellectual, curious and engaging, which was a major shift in the way women appeared in art.

Presenting her astonishing prints, pastels and paintings, this film introduces us to this often-overlooked Impressionist whose own career was as full of contradiction as the women she painted.

The film is being shown in the small cinema at the Park Tavern on Park Lane. There is no car park but parking should be available on the side roads nearby. The cinema is upstairs and there is no lift.

Please arrive at 1.45pm so you have time to buy drinks and snacks from the bar. The film will start at 2pm and is approx 90 mins long.

After the film, you can choose a hot or soft drink and a home-made cake ( included in the price). This will be served in the bar downstairs which gives time to sit and chat about the film.

Tickets will be on sale at the December and January lectures -  pay by cash or card.

Limited availability -  20 seats only!

 Arts Volunteering

We received a lovely Thank You card from the Just Drop-In Centre in Macclesfield. The Society recently donated £300 for art and craft materials that the young people can use at the centre. The money for this was raised through the raffle. We are still looking for members to help with Arts Volunteering projects. It only takes a little time to help allocate funds and liaise with the beneficiaries and is a very rewarding part of our Society to be involved in. If you think you may be interested, please speak to one of the committee at the next lecture.

Local Events

KEMS ( King Edward Music Society of Macclesfield) have their December concerts: Macclesfield Singers and Symphony Orchestra - Christmas Concert on Sat 14th Dec 7.30pm £15 St Michael’s Church. Tickets available from Macclesfield Visitor centre

Macclesfield Concert Band - Carol Concert. Victoria Park Bandstand. Sat 20th Dec 7pm

Silk Brass band Christmas Concert. Fri 20th Dec 8pm £12. Festive music and carols. St Michael’s Church. Tickets available from Macclesfield Visitor centre.

The Northern Chamber Orchestra is performing a ‘Mozart on Tour’ evening. Sat 14th Dec 7.30pm - The King’s School Macclesfield. Tickets available from: www.ncorch.co.uk

 On behalf of the committee, we look forward to seeing you at our next lecture and hopefully at our upcoming events.

Best wishes

Corinne

(Secretary)

Dear Members,

A warm welcome to our November newsletter.

Our next lecture is on Thursday 14th November at 2pm entitled: Katsushika Hokusai and J.M.W. Turner.

This lecture compares and contrasts the lives and work of two great artists, Hokusai and Turner. They were contemporaries and there are many parallels to be drawn between their respective lives. Both shared humble beginnings and both displayed great confidence in their maverick talents. Yet while Turner was eventually welcomed by the art establishment of his day, Hokusai was never accepted by his peers. In this lecture, through comparing the two artists, a greater understanding can be gained of the differing roles art played in the societies where they emerged.

Our lecturer is Carol Wilhide Justin. She is an artist - printmaker who specialises in Japanese woodcut. Carol has studied in Japan and at the Royal College of Art. She has exhibited her work many times and also teaches. In 2024, her book "Japanese Woodcut-Traditional Techniques and Contemporary Practice" was published.

 Lecture start time

Please can members arrive in time to be seated by 1.50pm. Announcements will be made before 2pm so that the lecture can begin on time.

Refreshments

As we now have some volunteers, tea, coffee and biscuits will be available after the the lecture.  A small donation is appreciated. It also gives the committee time to chat to members, particularly if you are new, and share thoughts on the lecture. Do come and say hello!

Raffle

As usual we will be holding the raffle before the lecture. Tickets are 50p to win a £10 book token. The monies raised go to support art projects in the local community.

 Visits and Events

The Hat Works Museum

Visit to the Hat Works Museum Stockport on Thursday 21st November. Spaces are still available and guests are welcome.

We will leave from Macclesfield Leisure Centre at 9.30am, returning approx 2.30pm.

The Hat Works Museum is an award-winning attraction, housed in a restored Grade II listed Victorian Mill. It is the UK’s only Hat Museum. In the new gallery of hats, explore the collections and discover the history of the Hatting Industry. There will be a guided  tour and a light lunch provided, of soup and sandwiches, in the museum cafe. BYO drinks. The cost for the coach, tour and lunch is £30. Forms will be available at the lecture on Nov 14th. Payment by card machine at the lecture or online.

 CAF Bank Account Number: 00060639     Sort Code 40-52-40

 Reference to be made  Hat Works.  Final payments by 31st October.  No refunds.

 We ask everyone who is attending: Please can you complete an emergency form and keep it with you on the visit. One per visitor. These are available at the upcoming lecture. Any queries please email: maryfrommacc@msn.com

 Christmas lunch

You are warmly invited to join us for a  Christmas lunch from a delicious- sounding menu at Sutton Hall, Bullocks Lane, Sutton SK11 0HE on Thursday 5th December at 1pm. There is an option for two courses for £33.50 or three courses for £41.75. Guests are welcome.  We need payment in full by 14th November and your choice of food. If you pay by bank transfer you will need to complete your food choice form and hand it to Rosie at November’s lecture.  A menu and details are enclosed. Forms will also be available at November’s lecture.

 Local Events

A chance to display some of your own artwork! You may have noticed the red telephone box ( the 01625 Gallery)  outside the Visitor’s Centre in Macclesfield which is used to display art created in Macclesfield. The town council is looking for postcard (A6) sized art works for a display on the theme of ‘What I want to show you about Macclesfield’. It could be a view, an event, a memory etc using any medium. Pop your piece into the post box inside the Visitor’s Centre by 4pm Dec 7th. Art works will be exhibited from Dec 2024 -Feb 2025.

 KEMS (King Edward Music Society of Macclesfield)regularly hold concerts during the year. On Saturday 16th Nov 7.30pm at St. Michael’s Church they are performing ‘Fin Deutsches Requiem’ by Brahms.

Saturday 30th Nov 7.30pm is their Winter Festival. The concert band is playing a range of music including Mancini, Holst and Lauridson.

Tickets are available on their website.

Macclesfield Oriana Choir have their Autumn Concert on Saturday 23rd Nov 7.30pm at Macclesfield Methodist Church. They are performing Bruckner’s ‘Te Deum’. Ticket information on their website.

Macclesfield Silk Museum is holding a Friday weekly adult art and craft class. Sessions are either 9-12 or 1-4pm. Each week the class explore different art techniques and styles. The £15 sessions are bookable on their website.

MADS- Macclesfield Theatre on Lord Street has an upcoming production: ‘The Watsons’ from 2-7 Dec. The play is adapted by Laura Wade from an unfinished novel by Jane Austen. Tickets from their website.

The Rex Cinema in Wilmslow has an interesting screening on 10th Nov 1pm. EOS (Exhibition on Screen) is a film and interpretation of the Van Gogh exhibition: ‘Poets and Lovers’ which is currently on display at The National Gallery in London. Tickets from the Rex website.

Lectures from local art societies - you are welcome to attend.

North East Cheshire

Wednesday 13 November 10.30 at The Pinewood Hotel 180 Wilmslow Road Handforth SK9 3LF  £10 for visitors.

Art History: Shadows in Western Painting ‘Standing Between Darkness and Light’.

Defined by Leonardo da Vinci as 'standing between darkness and light,' shadows are and always have been everywhere, but they are not always depicted in art.  Shadows were used to bring a psychological or even magical resonance to Renaissance painting and the use of shadows in art as mysterious, ethereal or even divine has continued to the present day. The lecturer is Valerie Shrimplin: Senior Research Associate at Gresham College London.

On behalf of the committee, we look forward to seeing you at our next lecture and hopefully at our upcoming events.

Best wishes

Corinne

(Secretary)

Dear Members,

Welcome to our October newsletter. Apologies for its late arrival but we had committee members away on holiday and we had to push forward our committee meeting to the weekend just gone.

Our next lecture is on  Thursday 10th October: ‘The Art of the Cartoonist’ to be given by Harry Venning.

Harry Venning has been a professional cartoonist for thirty years, during which time he has provided cartoons for several high profile UK publications (The Guardian, Radio Times)as well as for countless more obscure titles (British Journal Of Wound Care).He was awarded UK Strip Cartoonist Of The Year for his Guardian strip Clare In The Community, which he adapted into a Radio 4 sitcom. In 'The Art Of The Cartoonist' Harry will be tracing the history of his profession with examples from early practitioners like Cruickshank and Hogarth, to more contemporary artists such as Giles and Schulz, bringing events right up to date with cartoons produced fresh on the page that day! Yes, Harry will be drawing live! Prepare to hear some tricks of his trade, learn where to put eyebrows for maximum effect and discover exactly what the eskimo brothers said in The Funniest Joke Ever (possibly).

A reminder: Parking charges at Whalley Hayes car park have changed. Parking is not free after 3pm so you will need a ticket to cover your whole time.

As usual we will be holding the raffle before the lecture. Tickets are 50p to win a £10 book token. The monies raised go to support art projects in the local community.

Visit to the Hat Works Museum Stockport

Our first visit of the year is to the Hat Works Museum in Stockport on Thursday 21st November.

We will leave from Macclesfield Leisure Centre at 9.30am, returning approx 2.30pm.

The Hat Works Museum is an award-winning attraction, housed in a restored Grade II listed Victorian Mill. It is the UK’s only Hat Museum. In the new gallery of hats, explore the collections and discover the history of the Hatting Industry. There will be a guided tour and a light lunch provided, of soup and sandwiches, in the museum cafe. BYO drinks. The cost for the coach, tour and lunch is £30. Forms will be available at the lecture on Oct 10th. Payment by card machine at the lecture or online.

CAF Bank Account Number: 00060639            Sort Code 40-52-40

Reference to be made  Hat Works.   Final payments by 31st October.  No refunds.

We ask everyone who is attending: Please can you complete an emergency form and keep it with you on the visit. One per visitor. These are available at the upcoming lecture.

Any queries please email: maryfrommacc@msn.com

Local Events

KEMS (King Edward Music Society of Macclesfield) regularly hold concerts during the year. The next one is Saturday 26th Oct 7.30pm at St. Michael’s Church, Macclesfield. Guiseppe Rossini:  Overture – The Thieving Magpie; Steven Dodgson: Essay no 9;

Aaron Copland: Clarinet Concerto for String Orchestra, Harp & Piano; Cesar Franck: Symphony in D.

Lectures from local Arts Societies

North East Cheshire

Wednesday 9 October 2024 10.30 The Pinewood Hotel, 180 Wilmslow Road. Handforth, Wilmslow SK9 3LF

British Architecture in India

A look at the variety of architectural styles adopted by the British during the period of the Empire in India for public and private buildings. These range from the neo-classical and Gothic revival to the so-called Indo-Saracenic and even the Art Deco. Looking at examples from Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and elsewhere, we will also consider what the shifting approaches may tell us about British attitudes to the imperial project.

Prasannajit de Silva is the lecturer for this talk.

Wilmslow

Thursday 10th October,7.30pm at the United Reformed Church , on the corner of Chapel Lane and Alderley Road, Wilmslow, SK9 4PR

Antoni Gaudi: Turning Nature into Stone

The story of Spain’s most iconic architect, from his childhood spent on its beaches, forest and mountains, to his final years dedicated to the realisation of his ultimate fantasy, the Sagrada Familia, is absolutely compelling and immensely moving. We examine the theories and symbolism behind his creations and how he applied the lessons of nature to create both magnificent private mansions and a temple, as he saw it, worthy of God himself. The lecturer is Brian Healey.

On behalf of the committee, we look forward to seeing you at the lecture on Thursday.

Best wishes, Corinne

Dear Members,

A warm welcome to our new and continuing members to our September 2024 Newsletter. This is the first one of our current season. We look forward to our new programme and hope  you  enjoy the interesting lectures, visits and SID day that the committee have been working hard to plan for you which will be on offer this year.

Our first lecture is on Thursday 12th September entitled:

L.S.Lowry - A Visionary Artist

L. S. Lowry is one of Britain’s most popular artists and yet our very familiarity with his work has stopped us looking as closely as we should at this extraordinary artist. Though famous for painting the mills and factories of the industrial north-west of England, he was really a painter of the human condition. Michael Howard takes a fresh look at Lowry – the strength and conviction of his vision and his place within the modernist tradition.   Howard suggests that Lowry’s work is the visual counterpoint of T. S. Eliot’s poetry and further, that we can claim him as our English Van Gogh.

Michael Howard is President of The Arts Society Bolton and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Although retired, he continues to teach at the Manchester School of Art. He has published widely on European art of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  Michael is a practising artist, and has exhibited at the Royal Academy, the New York Art Fair and elsewhere. He has appeared on television and radio many times.

PLEASE NOTE THAT PARKING CHARGES AT WHALLEY HAYES CAR PARK HAVE CHANGED. Parking is now NOT free after 3pm so you will need a ticket to cover your whole time.

Unfortunately, at present, refreshments will not be available after the lecture. Our refreshment volunteers stepped down at the end of last season. If you feel able to help with this it only needs a little time on the afternoon of the lecture. A rota of helpers would make it a very small  commitment. Please let one of the committee know at a lecture if you have some time to spare.

As usual we will be holding a raffle which Hilary Quayle has kindly offered to help with. Tickets are 50p to win a £10 book token. The monies raised go to support art projects in the local community as part of our Arts Volunteering programme.

Visit to The Hat Works Museum Stockport

Mary Loughran, our Visits Co-ordinator, has been busy organising our first visit of the year.

HAT WORKS MUSEUM VISIT, STOCKPORT     Thursday 21st November         Leaving from Macclesfield Leisure Centre at  9.30 - return approx 2.30 pm.

The Hat Works Museum is an award- winning attraction, housed in a restored Grade II listed Victorian Mill. It is the UK’s only Hat Museum.  In the new gallery of hats, explore the collections and discover the history of the Hatting Industry.There will be a guided tour, and a light lunch provided, of soup and sandwiches, in the museum cafe. BYO drinks.

COST FOR :- THE COACH/ FACTORY TOUR/LUNCH -£30pp.

Forms will be available at the lectures on 12th September and October 10th.

Payment by card machine at the lectures, or online only.

BACS  CAF Bank:- Account Number  00060639  Sort Code 40-52-40 Reference to be made  Hat Works . Final Payments by October 31st.  No refunds

Any queries to:- maryfrommacc@msn.com

Arts Volunteering

The committee is pleased to share the news that for the next 12 months the Arts Society Macclesfield will be collaborating with the Sunflower Daycare Centre at the East Cheshire Hospice to support and fund the patients’  watercolour art lessons.

The project lead, volunteer Sheila King, who teaches the patients watercolour painting told us that those who felt too old or too ill find themselves able to learn this new skill and are amazed by their progress, and pleased with their beautiful paintings. Patients unable to travel to the Sunflower Centre find they can transport themselves anywhere using a paintbrush whilst in the comfort of their own homes.

The use of good quality watercolour paints and paper is paramount to the enhancement of this experience and outcome, and vital to ensure these special pieces can be enjoyed for many years to come without fear of fading. The provision of picture mounts means the patients lovely paintings can be suitably displayed in their memory, and shared by their family and friends. It is these important and much valued materials that we will be able to provide with the monies we have accrued from our fun monthly book token raffles.

Society Volunteers

We have two members who have kindly offered their time to help out with some roles in the Society. Tony Soames has volunteered to assist with running the I.T. for our lectures. Ian Atkin is managing our Facebook page and online publicity. We are extremely grateful for them offering their time. We do need more members to help on lecture days with the front of house jobs taking monies etc. If you feel able to volunteer a small amount of time each lecture, please let one of the committee know.

Heritage Volunteers

If heritage is your passion and you want to make a difference, this might be the role for you. Art Society volunteers are busy all over the UK helping to conserve and protect the nation’s heritage for future generations. Here in Macclesfield we have been working for a long time with the Silk Museum. The Silk Museum holds a huge number of documents and artefacts. A group of volunteers meet there on the third Thursday of the month from 10-12.30 where they are currently working on helping to document silk samples: checking, describing, photographing and cataloguing them. If you are interested in helping, please contact Frances Hall by email: fm.hall1945@gmail.com

Arts in the Macclesfield Area

Macclesfield Silk Museum currently has two exhibitions taking place: ‘The Women’s Line by Maccreate and ‘Wicked Women’ by the Blue Stocking podcast. They also regularly hold art workshops. Further details can be found on their website.

MADS Theatre Lord St Macclesfield- October’s production is’Constellations’ by Nick Payne. Inspired by science, this is a relationship play about moments when we make decisions, choices, consciously or unconsciously. 

Northern Chamber Orchestra The King’s School Macclesfield. ‘Mozart on Tour’ Sat 28th Sept 7.30pm. Tickets available from www.ncorch.co.uk

Silk Brass and Chordiality Choir St. Michael’s Church Macclesfield: ‘Music from the Movies’  Sat 28th Sept 7.30pm.Tickets available from Macclesfield Visitor Centre or online at www.priorbooking.com/silkbrass.

Local Arts Societies

North East Cheshire - Bramhall

Their next talk is on Wednesday 11 September at the Brookdale in Bramhall at 10.30am and is as follows:  ‘Recognise the Artist’

When we receive a letter or a Christmas card from someone we know, we often recognise the handwriting straight away, and know who it’s from without even opening the envelope. Recognising the hand of an artist can be like that – an instant certainty that the painting must be by Rubens, or El Greco, or Rembrandt. Yet if you try to explain to someone else how you know that your letter is from that person, or what it is in their handwriting that is so distinctive, you would probably struggle to put it into words. 

This lecture takes examples of a wide range of artists from the 15th, 16th 17th and 18th centuries, and will put into words what it is that tells us a picture is by Rubens rather than Rembrandt, or even, by Rubens rather than by, say, Van Dyck, who was taught by him and painted so very much like him. 

The speaker is Chantal Brotherton-Radcliffe. Chantal has a MA in History of Art from Edinburgh, and PhD from the Warburg Institute, London University.

The Arts Society Wilmslow  

The Brilliance of Brunel

Thursday 12th September,7.30pm at the United Reformed Church , on the corner of Chapel Lane and Alderley Road, Wilmslow, SK9 4PR.

The infrastructure created by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in the19th century is still functioning today. He changed the face of the English landscape with his ground-breaking projects. He merged art with engineering and science. This lecture looks at the man, his background, his work and his legacy. The lecturer Ian Swankie is a Londoner with a contagious enthusiasm for art and architecture. He is an official guide at Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Guildhall Art Gallery and St Paul’s Cathedral.  Price £10.00 (cash or cheque on the day). Contact wilmslow@theartssociety.org to check availability.

On behalf of the committee, we look forward to seeing you at our next lecture.

Best wishes              Corinne

Dear Members,

Welcome to our May 2024 Newsletter.

Thanks to all those that attended the Special Interest Day very efficiently organised and run by Adrienne. Adam Partridge provided us with many stories, a chance to share some of our antiques and a fun quiz to finish. A tasty lunch was also enjoyed. Some photos are on our Facebook page.

I appeal again for help to run the society. You do not need to be on the committee to help in some roles so not a lot of time would be needed. We need help with setting up the laptop for lectures; serving refreshments and writing the newsletter.

On the committee we still need a Chair and a Vice- Chair. Rosie, who is our Treasurer, has said she will take one of these roles, if someone else could step up to be Treasurer.

At present the few people on the committee are doing multiple roles which is hard to sustain long term and if committee members are unable to attend a lecture we are very thin on the ground to run the afternoon. Without more members becoming involved, we cannot secure the future of the Society.

Arts Volunteering

As Carolyn is stepping down from her Arts Volunteering role after a long time on the committee, a role becoming vacant is that of overseeing our funds raised from the raffle for Arts projects in the community and encouraging our members to be involved in how we spend the money. Arts projects benefit everyone and the Arts Society encourages and supports Societies to offer engaging projects in a wide range of arts to groups of all ages in their local communities. Working with schools, museums, local charities and community groups, volunteers support projects across a broad spectrum of arts.

Are you interested in the benefits that creativity and arts education can bring to our community? Do you have a local cause that you think could benefit from a donation? We have previously: supported a student at Tytherington High School with a grant for his art course; helped finance two arts students who had the opportunity to spend a week in Florence; supported a primary and secondary school who were involved with a variety of specialists to create Chinese art then displayed in Macclesfield Museum; donated art materials and musical instruments to SUSO - a Macclesfield charity for adults with learning disabilities and /or autism; donated art materials to the Just Drop In Centre supporting young people in need. There are grants available to apply for from The Arts Society if you have a particular project in mind. Please email info@theartssocietymacclesfield.org.uk or speak to a committee member if you are interested in leading this area of our Society or have a project in mind.

Our next lecture is on Thursday 9th May entitled:

Venice to Sheffield: John Ruskin’s Passion for Art, Craft and Social Justice.

John Ruskin (1819-1900) was a visionary Victorian- a writer, teacher, artist, collector, patron and critic. A champion of Turner and admirer of Venice. His ideas inspired the Arts and Crafts Movement, the founding of the National Trust, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and the Labour Movement. He became deeply concerned by what he saw as the negative impact of industrialisation and set up projects to give the working man access to the Arts and Nature. This lecture spans Ruskin’s fascinating life and work from the timeless and global to the intimate and exquisite.

Our lecturer is Simon Seligman. He studied art and architectural history at university. For 19 years he worked at Chatsworth, ending in the role of Head of Communications. Alongside lecturing, Simon is a Life Coach and works part-time for John Ruskin’s charity - the Guild of St George.

If you wish to join us on Zoom the meeting ID is: 868 776 2494

The Zoom link for the meeting is: https://theartssociety-org.zoom.us/j/8687762494?omn=94705178447

You are welcome to join us for refreshments provided by Frances and her team. A small donation is appreciated. PLEASE NOTE: refreshments are now only being served AFTER the lecture to make a more manageable operation. We ask that people vacate the hall by 3.45pm so that it can be cleared. Anyone able to help put tables away would be greatly appreciated.

As usual we will be holding a raffle which Leo and Hilary have kindly offered to help with. This frees up Rosie, our treasurer, to help with monies on the day.  Tickets are 50p to win a £10 book token.

Summer visit to Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

Thursday 27th June 2024

We are planning to visit Hardwick Hall, built by Bess of Hardwick in 1597, filled with rich furnishings and tapestries, preserved by generations of her descendants the Devonshire family. The unique collection of the thirteen Gideon Elizabethan tapestries has now been fully restored after 24 years of work, and there is also a significant portrait collection.

Alongside the Hall are lovely gardens and the ruins of Hardwick Old Hall, also built by Bess, recently opened following conservation work to restore the 400 year old plaster friezes.  Talks on the history of the hall and tapestries are available at times throughout the day.

Accessibility: There are several steps in the Hall and wheelchairs and trampers are available free of charge. However there is a virtual tour available on the ground floor for those who cannot access the upper floors.

Lunch: We can eat in the Hall’s café or picnic in the grounds.

Cost:   The coach will cost £19.00 for members of the Arts Society. Guests will pay an additional £2.00 to cover costs, of £21.00.

Members of the National Trust or English Heritage will have free admission.

All other guests  will pay the discounted group rate of £18.05 per person, payable on the day.

It is envisaged that we will depart about  9.30am from Macclesfield Leisure Centre, returning about 4.30pm

Booking forms available before the lecture on 9th May.

Arts in the Macclesfield Area

Upcoming events which may be of interest:

The Rex Cinema Wilmslow is showing the Exhibition on Screen ‘My National Gallery, London’. This film gives voice to those who work at the gallery. 4th June

Royal Opera House ‘Andrea Chenier’ 11th and 16th June; ‘The Winter’s Tale’ 22nd and 26th May

MADS Theatre Lord St Macclesfield- next production is’Kiss Me Quickstep’ by Amanda Whittington. A dazzling and sequin- studded play in the world of ballroom dancing.

On behalf of the committee, we look forward to seeing you at our next lecture.

Best wishes

Corinne