GARSTANG ARTS CENTRE

Exhibitions
Artists from around the region will compete and showcase their work at the annual Open Competition/Exhibition which will open to the public on Tuesday 9th January.
The judge this year is professional artist Liam Dickinson – a finalist in the Sky Arts ‘Portrait Artist of the Year 2017’.
Prizes will be awarded to the five winners by Liam on Saturday 13th January in the Arts Centre at 11-00 am – everyone is welcome.
We very much hope you will support this popular event in the Arts Centre Calendar and perhaps take the opportunity to purchase an original piece of art.
The exhibition will close on Thursday 8th February.
Sheila Tearle Tel: 01995 603816

Garstang Arts Centre 200 CLUB
What a great night we had on 23rd September at the “Call My Bluff” evening. It was also when we drew the 8 lucky numbers of the 200 Club.
The winners were –  17 (£400); 70 and 169 (£50 each); 37, 154, 131, 11 and 40 (£20 each). Congratulations to all the winners.
Unfortunately we cannot give prizes to all 200 participants but I am very grateful to all who have supported this fund raiser for the Arts Centre. We can all look with pride at the refurb which was done in the coffee room in the spring and know that we have all played our part in helping to pay for it. Many thanks to each and every one of you.
I have written a thank you email to every subscriber for whom I have an email address. If you are a subscriber and have not received a thank you and a reminder about next year’s donations, due soon, it means I do not have an email address for you. Please contact me by phone, by text, or by email to let me have your up-to-date details.
I now have “the 200 Club list” open and ready for 2024.
Your payment will secure your chosen number(s) for the two draws in 2024 – spring and autumn. If you usually pay by standing order – thank you. If you wish to pay by BACS please contact me for the bank details. If you will be paying by cheque or by cash this can be left at the Arts Centre.
Carolyn Worthington, worthington70@outlook.com (07504148568)

The Mayor’s Talking Cafe will be on Thursdays, 11th and 25th January,1.30 – 3.30pm. Come along for a chat and a brew.

Garstang Ukulele Group
Seasons Greetings and a Happy New Year
Garstang Ukulele Group wishes Seasons Greetings and Festive Cheer to everyone who has been part of our journey of fun, music and celebration this year. We have had a ball! We have enjoyed time with old friends, singing old songs; with new friends playing new songs; but whatever, wherever and whenever, we have loved sharing time with you all. 
Take care of yourselves and we look forward to seeing you again in 2024. Until then our very best wishes to you all.
As ever, you can contact any member of our group, message us on our Facebook page, email Trevor Philips at mail@trevorphillips.co.uk or call 01995600378 and find out just how well we can add some fun to your celebrations.
Seasons Greetings one and all.

Garstang Musical Productions
We thoroughly enjoyed entertaining our community over the festive period, and wish to extend our thanks and appreciation to all those came to support us, and to the various  committees and businesses who invited us to sing for them. 
As we enter another year of music and theatre, we are excited to announce our upcoming events, with some dates to add to your calendars! 
Our Spring Concert will take place at Claughton Village Hall, and we will be celebrating music from the 80’s, as well as performing some classic comedy sketches from  this era too. Not to be missed, performances will be on Friday 26th April & Saturday 27th April, both start at 7.30pm. 
Tickets will be available via our Facebook Page very soon. 
Our Autumn show at Garstang Community Academy will run from 9th-12th October. This year we are very excited to be performing the comedy musical Little Shop Of Horrors, please keep your eye on our Facebook page for further information. 

Garstang Musical Productions meet on Thursday evenings at the Arts Centre, and wish to encourage people interested in singing, music and production to get involved! Please contact Emily Hanson for further details on 07803786895. 

Garstang Poetry Appreciation Group
The Poetry Appreciation Group’s January meeting will be held on Friday 26th at the Arts Centre. The theme will be, ‘Poets With Surnames Beginning With D,E or F’. The
meeting will be led by Gary Walmsley.
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.
If you require further information please contact Gary Walmsley 01772 785693

Ukulele Soup
Hello to all readers of Focus and welcome to 2024. 
We’ve spent the last year refining our act and bringing in new songs. This year we want to play for you at your parties and other social gatherings.
Our usual performance is for an hour and is a mix of beautiful voices and madcap humour – as our logo says we provide ‘a blend of music to warm your evening, with a roll on the side…’
Ukulele Soup is a 7 piece group consisting of concert, tenor, baritone and bass ukuleles.
Visit our website at www.ukulelesoup.uk.
For bookings, contact Bob Sapey on 07985 713961 or at bobsapey@gmail.com

Tuesday Bridge Club
We had a great Christmas Buffet on November 28th followed by an afternoon session of Bridge, which was enjoyed by all. Our thanks go to Mary who organised the buffet.
Our Bridge sessions restart on 9th January at 1.30pm. Any new players will be welcome. 

Monday Bridge Club
Bridge starts again on Monday evening 8th January at 7pm. New playing members are welcome
Jenny Gower 0791004651

Monday Jewellery Class 
We meet Mondays 1st and 3rd of the Month 3pm to 5pm 
and 2nd and 4th of the month 7pm to 9pm
We will be taking a short break, hopefully to re open shortly with new Beading Classes in the New Year 2024. 
Take up a new hobby as one of your New Year’s resolutions you won’t be disappointed and have fun along the way! 
On behalf of the Jewellery Class we would like to wish you all a Happy New Year!
LizJewellery 07791146675

Wednesday Painting Class 
We meet every Wednesday 1pm to 4pm
We are putting down our brushes for a short break. Returning in the first week of the New Year to a new exciting programme full of visiting Artists and a year full of interesting art activities to create exciting new paintings for our Exhibitions. The painting Group wish you a Happy & Peaceful New Year.
Liz 01995 606470 or Carolyn 01253 812270

The Book Club
Happy New Year Everyone!  Our first meeting of 2024 is on Tuesday January 9th where we will be discussing our Christmas library loan ‘The Lido’ by Libby Page. 
We’ll also be sharing our favourite Christmas reads so they’ll be plenty to talk about. 
For further information contact: Linda – 07795064266 or Sandra 01995 603436

The John Towers Big Band
The John Towers Big Band will start back for our weekly sessions at The Arts Centre on Friday, 5th January.
We are delighted to say we will be performing on the third Friday each month at Winmarleigh Vilage Hall. This is a superb venue and we are really looking forward to some great nights in the coming months. The first gig will be on Friday,19th January. Entrance is free and there’s a bar, so come alongand enjoy some great music in comfortable surroundings.
For further details contact Tony Berry (07850 061659)

Songbirds
Following our break for Christmas Songbirds resume their weekly meeting on January 8th at 1.30 to 3.30p.m. Ladies start your new year by joining us for a relaxing afternoon enjoying a good sing and meeting new friends. You will receive a very warm welcome so don’t be shy . May we wish all readers a very Happy, healthy and peaceful New Year.

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