GARSTANG ARTS CENTRE

Victorian Evening 4th & 5th December
The Arts Centre will be open from 5.30 – 8.30pm Monday and Tuesday Evening with
FREE Live Musical Entertainment: Donations Welcome
Monday 4th : 6.30 – 7.00pm – Garstang Musical Productions will be singing a range of festive songs and traditional carols.
7.15 – 8pm – Buzz Cadillac and the Lightning Rods
Tuesday 5th: 6pm – 6.45pm – June Baker Singers.  From 7.00pm Garstang Ukulele Group will entertain.
There will be free Mince Pies and Mulled Wine.
POP UP PIZZA by Killa Carbs – Freshly baked Pizza in the Courtyard and Gallery Café.

Christmas Craft Fair
Locally made artisan gifts. Every Tuesday & Thursday 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am – 12.30pm until 7th December 12.30pm.

Exhibitions
The exhibition in December is by local photographer Richard Phillips.
His practice focuses on landscapes both in the built urban environment and also in nature.  He is also exploring street photography and street art. Richards’s work may be seen from Tuesday 21st November to Thursday 14th December.  All the pictures are for sale at very reasonable prices.

OPEN ART COMPETITION/EXHIBITION
Entries are invited for the 2024 Garstang & District Open Art Competition/Exhibition.
Further details and entry forms may be obtained from our website https://garstangartssociety.org.uk/open-art-competition-exhibition/
We very much hope you will enter this popular competition.
Sheila Tearle Tel: 01995 603816

A Gift for Christmas
The Arts Centre Calendar at £8.50p is an excellent present; a thank you to neighbours; a ‘hello’ to distant relatives.
This colourful Calendar has beautiful pictures of our town, taken by our talented camera club, and space to write on every page.
Available during Café hours at the Centre; Best Wishes Card Shop; Bella’s Café; Market Place News; and The Market Hall High Street.
All proceeds help to support your Arts Centre, Thank You.     
 

The Mayor’s Talking Cafe will be on Thursday 14th December 1.30 – 3.30pm. Come along for a chat and a brew.

Garstang Ukulele Group
When does a gig become a party?
Our ukulele group found the answer to this very question during the latter half of October. The magic began at St. Thomas’s Harvest Hotpot Supper and then continued later in the month at Longridge Golf Club where bespoke set lists and special requests ensured  that we and our audiences had a ball!
If you are interested in finding out more about us, our adventures and where we will be playing next, then please join us on our Facebook page to find out more information
Ruth McBride

Garstang Musical Productions
We had a wonderful run of performances last month, and our production of Oliver achieved 5 sellout shows, each one thoroughly enjoyed by all involved. GMP wish to thank all of those who came to watch, and hope for the continued support from the community as we head into another season of musical theatre. 
We will be singing over the festive period on several occasions by invitation, as well as being involved in the traditional Garstang Events. We do hope you get see one of our Christmas performances, which include a range of festive songs and traditional carols. Performances dates include:

Monday 27th November 6.25pm, Garstang Christmas Lights, Cherestanc Square
Monday 4th December 6.30pm, Victorian Evening, Garstang Arts Centre
Monday 4th December 7.30pm, Victorian Evening, Sally’s Deli Garstang
 
On behalf of all the members and committee from Garstang Musical Productions we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 
Emily Hanson 07803786895

Garstang Poetry Appreciation Group
The Poetry Appreciation Group’s December meeting will be held on Friday 15th at the Arts Centre. The theme will be ‘Festive Poems’ and the meeting will be led by Gary Walmsley. Christmas jumpers or hats are optional but please – NO reindeers.
Non-members are always welcome. You can bring a poem or two to share with the group or just come along and listen to members reciting a selection of poetry around the theme of the month.
There is a cover charge of £1, refreshments are provided at the end of each meeting.
N.B. The meeting is a week earlier than normal due to the Christmas period.
If you require further information please contact Gary Walmsley 01772 785693

Ukulele Soup
Just one opportunity to hear us this month when we’ll be playing at the Wheatsheaf on the 9th December, 12.30 start. 
If you are interested in booking us for your group next year, please contact BobSapey@gmail.com or telephone 07985 713961.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our friends.

Tuesday Bridge Club
We meet at 1.30pm and would welcome any new playing members. It is a very friendly group.  There are no plans at present for beginners lessons.
Monday night Bridge Club
We meet at 7pm in the Arts Centre Garstang. Any playing members would be welcome to join us.
Contact Jenny Gower 07910046651

Monday Jewellery Classes
We meet 1st and 3rd Monday 3pm to 5pm and 2nd and 4th Monday 7pm to 9pm, but not the 4th of this month as it lies on Christmas Day! as I will be busy trimming the turkey with a big glass of wine! We are continuing making Christmas presents for loved ones to put under the tree. 
We are a non membership class and just pay an affordable weekly fee, everything is included in the class
If you would like to join our friendly group please
Call Liz for more info on 07791146675 or email lizjewellery@aol.com

Garstang Painting Group 
Meet Wednesdays 1pm to 4pm 
The Christmas painting exhibition with the craft fair continues until 7th December ideal for Christmas gifts. It’s really lovely that Members of all ages can meet up socialise and paint in a wide range of materials and subjects from acrylics to watercolours and mixed media to oils in subjects including local scenes, landscapes, festive season, flowers, dogs, portraits, boats and much more, these are featured in our paintings which are currently for sale. 
For more info contact Liz 01995 606470 or Carolyn 01253 812270 

The Book Club
Our next library book is ‘The Dig’ by John Preston. It’s a fictional story based on the actual archaeological dig in Suffolk. It is the greatest Anglo- Saxon discovery in Britain and has now been recreated in Sutton Hoo – well worth a visit if you’re ever that way. We also decided that it would be fun if everybody brought their own ‘desert island’ book to the next meeting. It may well give members’ ideas for their Christmas present list!
The next meeting is on Tuesday December 5th at 10.30. As this is our last meeting before Christmas we will be having mince pies, shortbread and mulled wine.
For further information contact: Linda – 07795064266 or Sandra 01995 603436

The John Towers Big Band
The John Towers Big Band will be continuing to play at The Arts Centre every Friday night up to Christmas.
We would like to thank everybody who came to support us at our Friday night sessions and also at our various gigs this year.
A Very Happy Christmas and a Healthy And Prosperous New Year from everybody at JTBB
Tony Berry (07850061659)

Songbirds
We will be celebrating Christmas with our party in the Art Centre on the 12th December at 12.30p.m.
Our last meeting before Christmas is on Monday the 18th December, then we resume in 2024 on Monday 8th January. Any ladies reading this report will be made very welcome in the New Year. What could be better to start the New Year than an afternoon singing for pleasure and meeting new friends. We begin at 1.30 to 3.30.p.m.
The SONGBIRDS wish you all a very Happy Christmas and every good for peace and joy in 2024.
Avril on 01995 602904

Other Groups that meet at the Arts Centre

Creative Card Making: Fourth Mon, 10.00am -12noon
Watercolour Workshop: Monday mornings
Sounds Right: First & third Mon in the month, mornings
Scrabble Group: Tues 1.30pm – 4.00pm
Folk Dancers: Tues 7.30 to 9.30pm (September to May)
Woolcraft Group: Tues 7.00 – 9.00pm & Friday 1.30 – 3.30pm
Needlework Group: Wed 10.00am -12 noon
Garstang Chess Club: Thurs 1:30pm – 3:30pm.
Paint & Chatter: Fri 10.00am -12noon

Judy Osborne (01995) 600996