About The Arts Society Sherborne
The Arts Society Sherborne (formerly NADFAS Sherborne) is a long-established Arts Society with, currently, approximately 450 members most of whom live in Sherborne and the surounding villages in North Dorset and South Somerset.
The Society is affiliated to the Arts Society which has over 600 branches in Britain, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
In common with the wider Arts Society community the objects of the Society are:
the promotion and advancement of the education of the public in the cultivation, appreciation and study of the decorative and fine arts;
the conservation and preservation of the artistic heritage of the United Kingdom and other countries for the benefit of the public;
the advancement of the arts, culture and heritage, in particular, but without limitation, the decorative and fine arts.
The Society organises 10 lectures/talks each year given by experts on many aspects of art, architecture, music and design covering a wide range of periods from Ancient Egypt to the present day. These are given in The Digby Hall, Sherborne on the first Wednesday of each month, except January and August, at 3 pm and are repeated on the same day at 7 pm. Attendance at these is at no additional charge for members. Visitors are also welcome on payment of a small charge. Combined attendance averages around 250.
We run Study Days/Days of Special Interest, also in the Digby Hall, normally in March and November. These look at a particular topic in more detail over a single day and normally comprise three talks, each of around one hour, with a break for coffee between the first two talks and for a light lunch between the second and third talks. These Study Days are available at an additional charge for both members and visitors. Numbers are limited to approximately 70 participants.
Day Visits to Art Galleries and Stately Homes in the UK are organised approximately twice a year, often to take in a special exhibitions. These usually comprise travel by coach from Sherborne and Wincanton to the location.
Occasional longer trips are also organised both in the UK and overseas. These usually include the services of a local guide and include visits to Art Galleries and places of interest over a period of up to a week.
We give financial support for arts-based activities in local schools, enabling them provide children with opportunities that cannot be provided within the normal curriculum.
For many years we have given support to the Sherborne Church Recorders to help in their work in documenting the fabric, art and artifacts of our local churches.
Organisation of the Society is in the hands of our hard-working volunteer committee, assisted by other members where appropriate.