Chairman’s Newsletter


Christmas 2023

Wishing all our membership a Happy Christmas & healthy prosperous New Year.

In my mind the Southwold Art circle as had a good 2023 shaking off all the bugs from the past few years! Numbers have grown within the actives and events put on by theCircle, and I’m hoping that will continue. Of course there are always areas needing help and we’ll I’m sure we’ll be able do that!

Art on The Railing, just one weekend in June, went well with some 30 art members turning out for this charity event, albeit that the Southwold festival itself had some problems with their program of events.

SAC Art Exhibition in September was well supported and I’m very pleased with the footfall of over 600 for the 5 days, sad note that sales were down but I’m sure thats a sign of the times! I’m sure we will push on and do better over this next year.

As I’m sure most of the membership know, our dear Pam Hemming is standing down in January 2024. Over many years she has done a wonderful job organising the Saturday day-long Workshops in the Spring & Autumn. For my part I’d like to give Pam the biggest & warmest Thank you from our membership and myself, and look forward to seeing her on the 20th December for our Christmas get together.

Heather Matthews will be taking over from Pam and I’m looking forward to meeting and working

with her.

Best wishes have a safe & healthy 2024.

James Power. Chairman.

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September 2023

A Big Thank You from the Chairman

A big thank you to all the membership for your the support with the Art Exhibition that just closed in Southwold.

Nearly 10% of the 150 paintings at the exhibition sold, which is a little disappointing, but it was the first indoor show for the past three years because of covid and lockdown restrictions. Thank you to everyone for encouraging visitor foot-fall to the new venue over the five-days we were open.

Hopefully next year's session will be even better!

Thank you again.

James Power. Chairman

Reminder! Life Class & Saturday Workshops get underway this month. Do please support.


October 2022

Art on the Railings

We enjoyed good weather – almost too good – for the first two weekends of this event. Sales and visitor numbers are very encouraging, given current ‘cost of living’ problems.

I will report all the sales figures in the next newsletter after we have had the last Art on the Railings session. The original weekend booked had to be postponed because of HM Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.

The Summer School

Now that Covid infections are on the decline I am pleased to say we have been able to resume holding a Summer School. This event is now fully booked. David Gillingwater, who has taken over Jack Stephenson’s Theberton studio has kindly agreed that we can use his facilities as a base. I look forward to seeing everyone who has sent in their application form for three days of painting.

Important Changes – please take note

Very reluctantly we have had to review the way we keep in touch with members. The increasing cost of postage means it is now prohibitively expensive to carry on using Royal Mail.

In future all newsletters will be delivered by email, except under exceptional circumstances. Please double check we have your correct, up-to-date email address. Any member who is hesitant to provide us with their address can be assured we will keep it secure and we will not be passing on their contact details to anyone else.

The Annual Membership fee has been £10 for several decades; certainly for as long as some of our more senior members can remember. We have decided to increase the annual subscription to £12 in January 2023. The Art Circle is still one of the cheapest art societies I know. If you pay by direct debit/standing order please make sure you contact your bank to change the fee.

Lastly

Can I ask if you would like me to arrange a social gathering, perhaps a Christmas lunch; please let me know your thoughts?

Finally, I wish you all well for the winter season.

As always, you can contact me at with any comments or queries at: jamespowerartist@gamil.com

Or telephone, 07785 761961

Happy painting

Jim

James Power - Chairman


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