Among the defining glories of England are the miracles of accidental design that is the English countryside, the country houses that have survived the importunities of the centuries and the public and private collections of art, in all its forms, that grace and in many ways represent our national life.

Keeping these places and artefacts safe is an endeavour of watchfulness and commitment. As a part of that essential work, the Arts Society is a country-wide organisation dedicated to the preservation of our artistic heritage and to the promotion of education in the arts.

Peter Hicks, Chair of ‘The Arts Society Sarum’ says: “Through an imaginative programme of events, lectures, and guided visits we offer our members and guests an inspirational world of Fine Art, Music, Literature, Sculpture, Architecture, and cultural appreciation. The Society provides opportunities to learn and to enjoy the company of fellow enthusiasts.”

Each season the Sarum Society provides ten monthly lectures delivered by renowned experts in their field.

On the 10th October, the Society will start their season of lectures with a talk entitled ‘From Page to Stage’ by theatre producer Giles Ramsay. Giles will explain how a theatre production is managed from receiving the script to putting on the performance.

This year’s lecture subjects include ‘Caravaggio, the Bad Boy of Baroque’, ‘The Borgias, The most infamous family in history’, and ‘An Evening with Lord Byron, Monsters, Vampires, and the Gothic Imagination’.

The season’s lecturers include Marc Allum, a respected journalist and antiques expert who regularly appears on the Antiques Roadshow. Marc will give an insight into faking and forging.

The Society is running two ‘Days of Discovery’ where an expert expands on his subject with a series of three lectures delivered on the same day. On the 23rd November Ian Gledhill will be presenting on the famous pairing of Gilbert and Sullivan. On the 24th January Stephen Duffy’s subject will be ‘War, Peace and the Pleasures of Life (Napoleon, Josephine and the Duke of Wellington).’ 

Two visits have been organised to Dorchester (The Shire Hall & Dorset Museum), and   a four-day tour to Stratford-upon-Avon and Worcester is slated for the end of October 2023.

The Society meets at the Methodist Church, St. Edmund’s Church Street on the second Tuesday of every month, excepting August and September. Coffee is served prior to lectures from 10:0 am.

Full details at theartssocietysarum.org.uk or if interested in joining membership.artssarum@gmail.com