The Arts Society SW London Celebrates Fifty Years

Talk on Music in Venice by Patrick Craig to feature at milestone meeting

'La Serenissima - The Golden Age of Music in Venice' lecture by Patrick Craig
'La Serenissima - The Golden Age of Music in Venice' lecture by Patrick Craig

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Last year, The Arts Society SW London passed a significant milestone - the 50th anniversary of its foundation.

Originally called the South West London Decorative and Fine Arts Society (SWLDFAS), it has, since, 1 July 2017, been known as The Arts Society SW London and, on 2 September 2021, it became a registered Charity.

The first meeting of SWLDFAS was held on 22 September 1971 at the recently constructed, Putney Leisure Centre; a building designed by Powell and Moya. Built in 1968, it went on to win an RIBA award in the following year and has listed status. Remarkably, it continues to be the venue for the society's meetings more than half a century later.

Even more remarkable, however, is the fact that the first Chairman of the Society and Founder, Anne, Lady White, has remained a member throughout those 50 years.

She was also one of the founders (in June 1967) of the parent body - The National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts.

Though she has suffered ill health in recent times, she hopes to join the celebration of fifty years of the society at St Mary' Church in Barnes on Monday 4 July.

Also joining will be Dr Florian Schweizer, CEO of The Arts Society, Alison Watson, Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Arts Society and Liz Bridge the Quaker Chaplain at Wandsworth Prison where the society's Art in Prison Project was launched this year.

The evening will feature a lecture on Music in Venice by Patrick Craig (one of the accredited Arts Society lecturers) and will be preceded by a reception at which sparkling wine and canapés will be served. It will be a chance to mingle on what it is hoped will be a memorable summer evening.

Gill Grunwald Chairman says, "Our event will be a celebration of what the Society has to offer and an occasion on which to show our appreciation to Lady White, for the foresight and energy that she and the Co-Founders showed, in creating a Society that has stood the test of time for over half a century."

Tickets should be purchased through Eventbrite but if you have difficulty with buying them online, call 020 8878 9480.

If you have never attended an Arts Society lecture before you are urged to come along and find out about your local Arts Society.

For more information visit the society’s website.

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June 24, 2022


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