Our day excursions are well supported, but we plan in future to undertake additional, but more shorter local activities, so that members can travel independently and make more social contact in their own city or its surroundings.  (Members who responded to the Survey also asked for more local trips).

We are planning a visit to Bristol Old Vic with the promise of a backstage tour, followed perhaps by a matinee performance, when major alterations are completed.   In the meantime, on Thursday 14 April Old Vic historian, Andrew Stocker, has kindly agreed to give a lecture in the Cooper’s Hall on the history of the theatre, followed by an opportunity to visit the studio and other available parts of the theatre.   After which, there will an option to adjourn to the Llandoger Trow for a buffet lunch.

Full details are in the Booking Form included with the February Bulletin.

(This entry updated 28 February 2011)

Since our last visit to Cardiff, some of the Art Gallery’s greatest Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings from the Davies sisters’ collection have returned from the United States and are at the heart of major new displays exploring the origins of art from the mid-nineteenth century to the Second World War.  The visit will be preceded by a morning backstage tour of the Wales Millennium Centre.

This excursion is full with a waiting List

(This item updated on 9 December 2010)

The 2011 Spring Luncheon will be held at 12 noon for12.30pm at King’s Weston House, the privately owned Grade 1 Listed Georgian House set in 28 acres of Parkland on the outskirts of Bristol.  After lunch, committee member Toby Pinn will present and describe items he will bring from Clevedon Salerooms.  There are some superb paintings in the Gallery at King’s Weston House which members can also see.

A booking form was included with the November Bulletin.  There are still a few places available,  complete and send your booking form to Carol Lear as soon as possible now please.

(This item updated on 13 January 2011)

Tonight’s lecture is given by Professor Peter Andrews, Hon Research Fellow at Bristol University (Anthropology and Archaeology) – and a member of The Friends of Bristol Art Gallery -  whose talk is intriguingly entitled  ’3-ways to Furnish a Tent’.

Among the nomadic peoples of the Middle East, 3 groups of Turkish speaking people in different parts of Iran produce outstanding woven rugs and textiles. All have high quality skills in design and weaving, and each group produces its own designs and styles. Peter will illustrate and contrast the styles of textile designs and tent furnishings from his own fieldwork in Iran in the 1970s.

Notes: 1) after the lecture the draw will be made to find the winner of the bottle of champagne for sending in a completed Membership Survey; 2) originally the date of this lecture was shown as 18 February which was incorrect

(This item updated 29 November 2010)