Annual Programme
Evening Meetings
The Society's Programme Year runs from April - March. It presents a series of nine evening meetings during the year in which artists (national as well as local) present and demonstrate a particular style of art and techniques that they employ. These are selected to provide a wide spectrum of artistic media and to cover members' broad interests. Meetings are informal and include a mid-meeting comfort break when members can talk to the artist and have a chat with other members over refreshments. The artists presenting usually expect, and receive, considerable interaction with members during the demonstration! The artists often bring along examples of their work and related material such as books, cards and DVDs for sale. There are also occasional sales and auctions of members' art materials at meetings. In addition members can rent (£1 per month) art-related DVDs and videos from a small library available. Members are welcome to bring guests to meetings (£2 fee for each guest).
Meetings are held in the St. John Ambulance Hall in Rax Lane, just 2 minutes from the car park in East Street in Bridport. From the car park cross over East St, go up Barrack St for 60 yds, turn left into Rax Lane and the Hall is 60 yds along on the right. Meetings are usually held April - June, September - November and January - March on the fourth Thursday of the month, commencing at 7.30 pm and finishing around 9.30 pm, with a break around 8.30 pm. The January meeting is usually given over to an informal and constructive appraisal by a local artist of standing of members' work taken in to the meeting. The 2011-12 programme is tabled below.
Exhibitions
The West Bay Exhibition of members' work in 2011 will be from 22 - 25 April over Easter, with Handing-in on Thursday 21 April from 12 - 2pm. It takes place in the Old Salt House in West Bay.
In 2010 there was an exhibition of members' work in Groves Nursery Bridport from 11 - 13 June 2010. The theme of pictures was 'Summer in the Garden'.
The Annual Exhibition of members' work for 2011 will take place at Bridport Arts Centre from 13 July - 23 July 2011 with Handing-in on Sunday 10 July from 10am - 12pm.
There will not be an Abbotsbury Exhibition of members' work in 2011. However it has been decided to hold a second West Bay Exhibition from 26 August - 1 September, with Handing-in on Thursday 25 August from 12 - 2pm. The exhibition will again be held in the Old Salthouse.
Workshops
A series of 4 or 5 workshops is held each year, usually lasting from 10am - 4pm. They are held in either Loders Village Hall or Salwayash Village Hall, 2 or 3 miles north of Bridport. For further details of the 2011 workshops click on the Workshops and Other Events page.
Annual General Meeting
The Society's financial reporting year runs from January to December, with the Annual General Meeting being held in March. The AGM is mainly a social meeting. The Chairman's annual report and the audited financial accounts are presented, with opportunity to discuss topics of interest with the Committee. There is usually a sale or auction of art materials and a competition for the John Marlow Memorial Prize is held. Members are invited to take to the AGM a work of art on a pre-defined subject and submissions are usually judged by a member of the Committee. For the March 2012 AGM the subject will be 'Dreams'. All members are invited to attend the AGM.
Bridport Open Studios
In 2009 and again in 2010 the Society has participated in the Bridport Open Studios weekend in August, with a number of members painting for members of the public to view. In 2010 the event was held in the St John Ambulance Hall in Rax Lane in Bridport. There was excellent feedback from members of the public and some visitors decided to join the Society. However it has just been announced (February 2011) that in 2011 BOS will be held in May rather than August. As a result it has been decided not to participate in BOS in 2011. Any queries should be addressed to Ann Martin.
2011-12 Programme
April 2011 West Bay Exhibition, Old Salthouse [1]
By Thursday 7 April Entry Forms to Val Corgan
Thursday 21 April Handing in 12pm - 2pm
Friday 22 April Open 10am - 5pm
- Monday 25 April
Monday 25 April Collection 5pm - 6pm
April 2011
Thursday 28 April Cynthia Bain - Art Appreciation 7.30 - 9.30pm
May 2011
Thursday 26 May Jemma Thompson - Using Gold Leaf 7.30 - 9.30pm
N.B. There will not be an evening meeting during June 2011.
July 2011 54th Annual Exhibition, Bridport Arts Centre
By Friday 24 June Entry Forms to Val Corgan
Sunday 10 July Handing in 10am - 12pm
Tuesday 12 July Preview 7pm - 9pm
Wednesday 13 July Open 10am - 4pm
- Saturday 23 July
Saturday 23 July Collection 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Sunday 17 July Exhibition Closed
- Monday 18 July
August 2011 West Bay Exhibition, Old Salthouse [2]
By Thursday 11 Aug Entry Forms to Val Corgan
Thursday 25 August Handing in 12pm - 2pm
Friday 26 August Open 10am - 5pm
- Thursday 1 Sep
Thursday 1 September Collection 5pm - 6pm
September 2011
Thursday 22 Sep Mike McDonald - Watercolour with Texture 7.30 - 9.30pm
October 2011
Thursday 27 Oct Gahan Oliver - Oil Pastels 7.30 - 9.30pm
November 2011
Thursday 24 Nov Eileen Dearden - Art Meets Calligraphy 7.30 - 9.30pm
November/December Coach Visit to RWA Exhibition Bristol + Christmas Shopping
Date To Be Advised
January 2012
Thursday 26 Jan Billie Willcocks - Appraisal of Members Works 7.30 - 9.30pm
February 2012
Thursday 23 Feb John Grant - Watercolours 7.30 - 9.30pm
March 2012
Thursday 22 March Annual General Meeting 7.30 - 9.30pm
John Marlow Memorial Prize - Subject 'Dreams'
