Garstang Arts Centre
The Schoolroom at the Arts Centre is still unable to be used due to a damp problem but the Town Trust are working hard to get the room back into good repair.
Please be assured that the Arts Centre is still open and the cafe is running in the Music Room on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A warm welcome is assured.
Volunteer
The Arts Centre needs more volunteers and it is very rewarding to get involved in looking after such a valuable community asset.
An hour to help washing up on Tuesdays or Thursdays,
a DIY/handyman to call on when we need help,
someone to help with the cleaning.
Open Meeting for Garstang Celebration of Arts and Music
Open Meeting Saturday 1st April 2023 @ 2.30pm
Do come along and find out how you can help. We especially need a team to run the proposed ‘Garstang Celebration of Arts and Music’ this Summer.
This will incorporate the Classical Music Concerts, the second ‘Plein Air’ open air painting competition, the popular ‘Garstang Lecture’ and other similar events.
Curator
We are delighted to announce that Vanessa Bracewell has agreed to take over as the new Curator of Garstang Arts Centre.
Vanessa has been the Assistant Curator for the last 8 years and will take over from Hilary Burns who is retiring after 12 happy years as Curator of the Arts Centre.
Hilary has worked diligently to maintain the activities of the Arts Centre and she will be sorely missed.
We wish her and Bob many happy years of retirement. An assistant to help Vanessa will be recruited and we are actively seeking the right candidate.
EXHIBITIONS
Another opportunity to see the work of artist Simon Blackley who won ‘Paint Garstang’ in September with his painting featuring cars on the High Street.
His work has been highly acclaimed and his controversial subject matter often focuses on urban landscapes and homeless people, sleeping rough on the streets of Manchester and London.
Simon also appeared on TV’s Sky ‘Landscape Artist of the Year’.
The exhibition will run from Tues. 14th March to Thurs. 6th April.
Sheila Tearle 01995 603816
Garstang Poetry Appreciation Group
The Poetry Appreciation Group’s March meeting will be held on Friday 24th at The Arts Centre.
The subject will be “The Poetry of Harry Batty” The meeting will be led by Gary Walmsley.
This month the group will recite poetry written by the late Harry Batty. Harry was a greatly respected member of the group, his poetry was always interesting, insightful and covered a diverse range of topics.
Sadly, Harry died in 2019. This meeting is the group’s tribute to him and his poetry.
Non – members are always welcome. There is a cover charge of £1, refreshments are provided at the end of each meeting.
If you require further information contact Gary Walmsley 01772 785693
Garstang Musical Productions
It is with great sadness to announce that we lost a much loved member of our group to a sudden illness in December. Simon Yaxley was a member of GMP for many years, and performed in our most loved shows, most recently portraying John in Calendar Girls last October.
He will be dearly missed by all the members and audiences.
Our Spring Concert, titled “The Best Of Garstang Musical Productions” will be performed at Kirkland & Catterall Memorial Hall on Friday 14th April and Saturday 15th April.
The performance includes ensemble pieces from Sister Act, Les Miserables, The Greatest Showman and there will be a taste of our Autumn production Oliver! There will be a licensed bar open during the performances.
Tickets are available online through our main Facebook page or through any member of GMP.
Please call our Box Office on 07795 946159 for ticket enquiries. Emily Hanson
Garstang Ukulele Group
Did someone love you enough to buy you a ukulele for Christmas? If not, then please accept my condolences for your loss, but if they did, why not come down to the Arts Centre on Sunday afternoons, from 2-4 and make music with us.
Bob Sapey
http://www.garstangukulelegroup.co.uk
Bridge Group
Bridge, If you would like to know more about this fascinating game and what the Arts Centre can offer you please ring Bob on 01995 510491
The Book Club
We had a lively February meeting discussing our three choices.
We felt the most memorable book of the three was ‘The Sweetness of Water’ by Nathan Harris, a debut novel by a young author.
It deals with the social changes following the American Civil war, the newly acquired freedom of the slaves, the trauma of soldiers returning home to what? Full of thought provoking events, including forbidden love and murder. His characterisation is brilliant and although not a comfortable read at times, we felt it was a book that will stay with you.
The books for discussion at our next meeting will be:
- The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak – Set in Cyprus in 1974, it’s about the trauma of civil war, loss, grief and loneliness. A love story that goes through to London in 2010.
- The Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch – the first ‘Peter Grant’ novel. From being an ordinary constable, the hero becomes a magician’s apprentice and solves crimes across London. It’s a mixture of thriller and fantasy.
- The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal – A non fiction book, a memoir of an artist investigating his family history through the holocaust. The family lost everything except for a rare Japanese netsuke which was rescued by their maid
We have changed the date of our next meeting to the Tuesday, March, 7th
For further information contact: Linda 07795064266 or Sandra 01995603436
Songbirds
Over 30 ladies have joined us for our singing for pleasure. If you enjoy singing please join us on Monday afternoons at 1.30 to 3.30pm in the Arts Centre you will be made most welcome, meet new friends, new conversation and a cuppa.
Tel. 01995 602904
Garstang Chess Club Update
A few short months since our first meeting, Garstang Chess Club is now in full swing with a few core members. We meet every Thursday afternoon (1:30pm – 3:30pm) at the Garstang Arts Centre and there is never a dull moment: monumental blunders, defeat snatched from the jaws of victory, not to mention one or two cliffhangers. The tension is real!
Of course, on a more week to week basis, this is just ordinary people coming together for a couple of hours to enjoy a game of chess. We help each other with analysis to up our game and develop new strategies. While it’s always nice to win, it’s equally nice to have an enjoyable and interesting game in good spirits with one or two good laughs along the way. There is a secure deposit box at the entrance to the building for egos.
We are looking to expand the membership and encourage more people to come along. You don’t have to commit and join straight away. Come and watch and/or have a game. Perhaps make a start by learning some of the basics and begin to develop your own strategies – all the members are happy to help. It might be that you are a really hot player and you can teach us a thing or two.
In any event, a warm welcome awaits.
Furthermore, there is always an exceptionally nice pot of tea available, along with a selection of exceedingly delicious cakes, all at jolly reasonable prices.
One again, we meet at Garstang Art Centre on Thursday afternoon, 1:30pm – 3:30pm.
Contact Hilary or Vanessa at The Arts Centre during normal opening hours 01995 606648
Woolcraft Group
Do you like all things woolly? We could be just the group for you to join. We are knitters/crocheters/felters and inspire and learn from each other, working on our own things and also taking part in local projects.
We are very friendly and informal. We meet on Tuesday 7-9pm and/or Friday 1:30-3:30 pm
Contact Sue Lowe 01995 601831
Scrabble Group
The Scrabble Group meet on Tuesday afternoons at the Arts Centre 2.00pm to 3.30pm. Everyone welcome.
Jean Mavin 07501704385
Needlework Group
We meet in the Arts Centre on Wednesday mornings from 10am to 12 noon. If you enjoy knitting, crochet, embroidery, patchwork, applique or would like to learn, do come and join this friendly, helpful group
Other Groups that meet at the Arts Centre are:
Creative Card Making, 4th Monday in the month 10am to 12noon
Songbirds, Meet every Monday 1.30 to 3.30pm
Folk Dancers, Tuesday evenings 7.30 to 9.30pm, September to May
Garstang Paintng Group, every Wednesday, 1.00pm
John Towers Big Band, every Friday, 7.45pm
Sounds Right, 1st & 3rd Monday in the month, mornings
Watercolour Workshop, Monday mornings
Paint & Chatter, Fridays, 10am to 12noon
w: http://www.garstangartssociety.org.uk
facebook: artcentre.garstang
twitter: ArtsGarstang
Judy Osborne (01995) 600996
Garstang Arts Centre 