The Romsey Festival 2026 runs from 4th July to 18th July

This year our July Lecture "A load of old balls: On the history, design and evolution of balls used in sport and recreation by Simon Englis" is included in the diary of events.

As a special concession, non-members of The Arts Society Romsey, who apply for tickets in advance can attend for FREE as a visitor. The lecture is on Wednesday, 8th July at 11.00am in the Crosfield Hall, Romsey.

For full details of the Festival and a list of all events, go to the Romsey Festival 2026 web page by clicking Here 

The Garden Show is set to return to Broadlands this summer.

Taking place from June 5 to 7, the Romsey event will feature more than 180 exhibitors showcasing a range of plants, garden and home accessories, art, sculpture, fashion, and artisan designs.

Daily talks and interactive sessions will also be held, including Q&A sessions with gardening expert Paul Slater, and, on Saturday, a live 'Pest Clinic' with Dr Ian Bedford.

Children can enjoy circus skills workshops, Punch & Judy shows, toddler rides, a giant slide, and bouncy castles.

The event will also feature a giant tombola supporting the charity Jane Scarth House, live music, artisan demonstrations, and aerial displays from Huxley Birds of Prey.

Opening times are 10am to 5pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

Tickets are available on the gate, with discounts for those who pre-book online.

Free parking is available, and assistance dogs are welcome.

For full information, go to the web page of The Garden Show at Broadlands by clicking here.

We have today received the evaluation from Tanner’s Brook Primary School, Southampton. It truly reflects the impact your support has in enabling children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to access meaningful, high-quality learning experiences.

“Was the visit educational? Definitely     Safe? Definitely      Fun? Definitely   Did we meet your expectations: Definitely

Comment: yes, children had an amazing experience  

Other comments: Our pupils had a fantastic day at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens. The Hillier team were very welcoming and highly professional, and everything was extremely well organised. The workshops were delivered brilliantly, and our leaders Helen and Ella were outstanding — professional, patient, and passionate about what they were sharing. The children were inspired throughout. All activities were exciting, engaging, and age-appropriate, providing rich learning experiences for all pupils. We were also very grateful to have been offered a bursary, which made the trip far more accessible for our children, especially given our high percentage of families from disadvantaged backgrounds, where it can be challenging to collect voluntary contributions. We would definitely love to return next year. Thank you so much for a wonderful experience!

Would you visit again? Definitely”

By coincidence, Helen held a pre-visit with a teacher from Great Oaks School in on the edge of Southampton. https://www.greatoaks.school/

They, too, are doing an art programme, but this time with year 10 students. We have told them that, unfortunately, we do not have bursary money left.

This has highlighted an ongoing need, particularly for smaller classes and specialist groups, such as special schools or nurture units within mainstream settings, who often find our minimum fees prohibitively expensive. These groups can benefit enormously from visits but are the less likely to attend without additional support.

Actor Jim Murray unveils new artwork on display in Romsey

Actor and environmental activist Jim Murray used River Test water to create artwork now on display at Kimbridge Barn near Romsey. (Image: Briscoe PR)

An actor and artist has unveiled a striking new art exhibition.

Jim Murray. who has appeared in The Crown and Masters of the Air, created the collection using water from the River Test, which is now on display at Kimbridge Barn near Romsey.

The exhibition forms part of Creatures of Light, an environmental initiative highlighting threats to UK rivers and the decline of wild Atlantic salmon.

Actor and environmental activist Jim Murray used River Test water to create artwork now on display at Kimbridge Barn near Romsey. (Image: Briscoe PR)

Oliver Weeks, managing director at Ideal Collection, said: "Being located so close to the River Test, we see first-hand how precious and fragile chalk streams are.

"Jim’s work offers a powerful way to start conversations about the challenges our rivers and wildlife are facing, particularly the decline of Atlantic salmon.

"Partnering with him felt like a natural fit for us, bringing together creativity, environmental awareness, and a shared responsibility to protect this extraordinary landscape."

Each of the 35 pieces was created by submerging pre-dyed canvases into rivers during spawning season, allowing the water’s chemistry and movement to shape the final artwork.

I now return to the thorny issue of our shortfall in committee members. 

In the immediate future we will need someone to organise our refreshments, which are popular at our monthly meetings.

We will also need a new Membership Secretary by next July. This important function benefits from longer handover than just a day or two.  So please consider this role. 

In addition, we lack a member to supervise Young Arts, which is now beginning to flourish. 

We have no Secretary to keep us on the rails, so please consider this important role. 

Lately, we have met several technical difficulties, and an IT expert would be a great help! 

Last of all my time as Chairman expires at the end of this period in July 2026!  So please help us, it may be that a friend has the experience and skills that we need?

If you are interested in helping us out of a difficult situation, please contact any of the existing committee members for more information or to offer your services.

A Very Happy Christmas and New Year.

Nick.

In the last two years The Arts Society Romsey has donated £800 to the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens to support artistic educational projects offered primarily to children but also adults.

We have now received the following letter from the Gardens::

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your generous support and to share how your funding has made a real difference.

In December 2024, you kindly provided us with £500. Combined with the £300 we still had to be allocated, this gave us £800 to invest in enriching learning experiences.

 Since then, 281 students and 56 adults have benefited from your support. Here’s how the funds were used:

• £100 supported a Family Learning Day in December.
• £100 contributed to a visit from Oakfield Academy in February.
• On the 1 April 2025, we carried £600 into this financial year, enabling us to support:
  • Oliver’s Battery Primary (May) – £100
  • Saint George’s Catholic College (September) – £100
  • Winnall Primary (October) – £100
  • Three classes from Cupernham School (November) – remaining funds allocated.

 At a time when funding for art and outdoor learning is scarce, your contribution has made trips more affordable and accessible. It has also enabled us to experiment with ideas, and to offer them more widely to schools. We are deeply grateful for your commitment to supporting creative and nature-based education.

 Looking ahead, we hope to continue this important work and would be delighted if you could consider supporting us again. Even a modest contribution can help us reach more students and families who benefit so much from these opportunities.

 Thank you once again for your generosity and belief in what we do.

 Warm regards,

Carla 

Education Officer

Sir Harold Hllier Gardens

To read the full Report about how the funds have been used click Here

SOLD OUT

Visit to Petworth House including the special exhibition:
Turner's Vision at Petworth

Monday 6th October 2025

I am delighted to inform you of the next Arts Society visit and hope that you will be able to join us. I am proposing a visit to Petworth House, travelling by 19 seater coach from Chandler's Ford and including an introductory talk about the new exhibition:Turner's Vision at Petworth.

For the first time in 20 years, a specially curated selection of JMW Turner’s artistic studies of Petworth will be exhibited in the very place that inspired him. These rarely seen works give a fascinating insight into Turner’s methods. The exhibition will include oil paintings and works on paper on loan from The Tate Gallery and  several private lenders.

There is also a lot more for us to explore at Petworth:

Inspired by Baroque palaces of Europe, the 17th-century Petworth House displays one of the finest art collections in the care of the National Trust. See the state rooms featuring paintings and sculpture, including artwork by Van Dyck, Turner, Reynolds and Gainsborough.

Petworth House’s historyhas been created by one family over 900 years, with the collection highlighting a journey through history including the Gunpowder Plot and Napoleonic Wars. Collection highlights include the earliest English globe in existence, dating to 1592, and carvings by Grinling Gibbons.

The Servants’ Quarters, including the historic kitchens, show a glimpse into the life of the people who worked here.

Outside, the Pleasure Garden features formal borders, woodland walks, and architectural features,such as the Ionic Rotunda. The 700-acre Deer Park, which was transformed in the 1750s and early 1760s by the landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, is home to ancient trees and fallow deer.

Time permitting, you will also have the opportunity to visit the small town of Petworth, with its shops and cafés.

We will meet at the Fryern Hill bus stop in Chandler's Ford to be picked up by coach at 9:15 am. This is the stop ouside the Co op shop and Josie's café.  Journey time to Petworth is approximately 1 hour 20 minutes, depending on traffic.

On arrival, we will have time to visit the café before our introductory talk. You will then have time to spend in the Turner exhibition and of course to visit the main house, grounds and town, as you wish.

Schedule for the day:

• 9:15 meet the coach inChandler's Ford.

• 10:35 approximately arrive Petworth

• 11:30 introductory talk to the Turner's Vision at Petworth exhibition

• Afternoon free to visit the main house, grounds etc

• 16:00 Leave Petworth

• 17:20 approximately return to Chandler's Ford

• The cost of the coach will be £32.50  per person plus a small booking fee.

National Trust members will have free entry to Petworth. Please remember to bring your membership card.

Non National Trust members will need to pay the group rate of £17:50, provided we have a total of at least 15 people in our group. This will be payable individually on the day.

Everyone who wishes to see the special Turner exhibition and have the introductory talk will be required to pay £10 each on the day.

Booking will open on Monday 7th July, and close on Monday 1st September 2025.

Please book your tickets via theHomepage of our website

Click on thebook tickets for events here.

If you have any queries please email the Ticketsource email address:
ticketsourcesouthampton@gmail.com

SOLD OUT

Tuesday 7th October 2025

10.45 am at the Crosfield Hall

Lecturer Dr Adam Busiakiewicz

Women Making Music in Art

 Dear Member,

This Lecture will examine the role of women making music in art using paintings by artists like Sofonisba Anguissola, Artemisia Gentileschi, Vermeer, Watteau, Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Lawrence. Adam will chart the various meanings, symbolism and iconography associated with both the educational accomplishments of affluent young ladies and the licentious talents of prostitutes from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

He will be playing his lute, and we will do our best to convey the sound using an added microphone! (You will be pleased to note that our usual ceiling projector is now up and running.)  Adam has lectured to us previously during the Covid Crisis on Zoom.  We are glad now to welcome him in person.

 Adam is an art historian, lecturer, and lutenist. After completing a BA in History at University College London he had impressive academic career culminating in his doctorate in Art History at the University of Warwick. He is a lecturer at the National Gallery and guide lecturer at the Wallace Collection, where he has organised events and courses on Music and Art as well as other subjects. He has also given talks and performances at the Royal Collection, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Sotheby’s Institute of Art.

Extraordinary General Meeting

Before the lecture we will have a very brief EGM so that we are able to establish our financial position on 1st August for our AGM next year.  Our Treasurer Simon Reynier will preside, the documents are attached to this email.

Looking forward to seeing you next Tuesday,

Nick Launders

Chair

The Arts Society Romsey

PS The Arts Society Hampshire and Isle of Wight Area Jean Bolton Memorial Study Course 2025. This year the theme is Art in Miniature.  For full details and how to apply for tickets, Click Here. 

PPS We have experienced difficulties with our TASR email addresses.  If you wish to contact us, please use this email address:

info@theartssocietyromsey.org.uk

(This includes messages for the Membership Secretary)

The Arts Society Promotional video.

Click Here to view on YouTube

Art Bytes Celebrates Record-Breaking Year as Creative Excellence Flourishes Across England

National Programme Grows 50% in Partnership with The Arts Society, Showcasing Exceptional Young Talent from Over 150 Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

England's most promising young artists took centre stage on 12th June as the Art Bytes national schools programme reached new heights in its fourth year, welcoming a record-breaking 150+ schools across the country – a remarkable 50% increase from 2024. The programme's flagship celebration events, held at prestigious cultural venues from the Saatchi Gallery in London to The Victoria Gallery and Museum in Liverpool, highlighted the extraordinary creativity of Year 5 and Year 9 students nationwide.

Ilinca Iftimoae from Stanton Bridge Primary School in the West Midlands claimed the coveted National Primary Winner title with her stunning piece "Adonis," while DD from Lamledge School, also in the West Midlands, triumphed in the secondary category with "The Blue Void."

This milestone year marked Art Bytes' first national partnership with The Arts Society, seeing 46 local Arts Societies champion visual arts education by supporting 70 schools and celebrating pupils' creativity. The programme also benefits from the continued support of the School of the Arts at University of Liverpool, which provides both financial backing and valuable volunteering opportunities for students. These collaborations demonstrate the growing recognition of art education's vital role in developing young people's confidence, cultural capital, and essential future employment skills.

A Beacon of Hope Amid Educational Challenges

Art Bytes arrives at a critical moment for arts education in England. With arts GCSE entries having plummeted by 47% since 2010, the programme provides a lifeline for creative learning, proving that investment in the arts yields transformative results for young people's development and wellbeing. While the decline in arts GCSE entries has begun to slow, there is still significant work to do to reverse many years of erosion and devaluing of creative subjects.

"The standard of work we've seen this year has been absolutely exceptional," said Adele Darlington, Primary Art Consultant and competition judge. "What strikes me most is not just the technical skill on display, but the imagination and innovative approaches these young artists bring to their work. They're showing us that creativity isn't just surviving in our schools – it's thriving."

Technology Meets Tradition

Built on 13 years of proven success through the dot-art's Schools project in Liverpool, Art Bytes combines cutting-edge virtual gallery technology with traditional celebration events in prestigious cultural venues. This year's nine regional events were hosted by an impressive array of partners including new additions the Saatchi Gallery in London and Hastings Contemporary in the South East, alongside returning venues including The New Art Gallery Walsall and Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge.

The programme's innovative approach allows students to see their artwork displayed in a high-quality virtual exhibition while experiencing galleries and museums as welcoming, inspiring spaces in their communities.

2025 Winners Showcase Remarkable Range

The quality and diversity of this year's winning entries reflect the exceptional talent nurtured through the programme:

National Winners:

·         Primary Winner: "Adonis" by Ilinca Iftimoae, Stanton Bridge Primary School (West Midlands)

·         Secondary Winner: "The Blue Void" by DD, Lamledge School (West Midlands)

National Runners-Up:

·         Primary: "Colour Clock" by Ava Bailey, Grange Primary School (North East); "Coast" by Archie, Kettlefields Primary School (East)

·         Secondary: "The Lighthouse" by Kamilla McFarlane, Childwall Abbey School (North West); "Heron at First Light" by Emilie, Imberhorne School (South East)

Regional winners span the creative spectrum, with the South West celebrating the talents of Etienne Bowden-Hull's powerful "Portrait of Maro Itoje" (Sir Thomas Rich’s School, Secondary) and Ellesie Clegg-Goodwin’s ethereal “Space Impasto 3” (Bradley Barton Primary School, Primary), demonstrating the breadth of artistic expression flourishing in schools.

Community Engagement Reaches New Heights

The programme's public voting element generated unprecedented community involvement, with Monkton Park Primary School in Chippenham (SW) securing the Primary Community Engagement Award, while Coundon Court School in Coventry (WM) claimed the Secondary award.

Paul Lillicrapp, teacher at Stanton Bridge Primary School, reflected on his student's national victory: "The Art Bytes competition has allowed Ilinca to showcase her passion and create something truly personal. When we told her about winning the national competition, there was such a great sense of pride and happiness. This means a lot not only for Ilinca and me, but for the whole school and community. Our area can be challenging to grow up in, and this gives hope to everyone that it's possible to follow your dreams and overcome any barriers."

Emma Griffiths, Art Bytes Coordinator, commented: "The level of family and community engagement we've seen this year has been extraordinary. Art Bytes isn't just about celebrating individual talent – it's about bringing whole communities together around creativity and showing young people that their artistic voice matters."

As Art Bytes prepares for 2025/26, the programme continues to evolve its sustainable model, ensuring long-term support for arts education across England.

Art Bytes is open to all primary (Year 5), secondary (Year 9), and SEND schools across England, with registration for the 2025/26 academic year now open at artbytes.co.uk

 ENDS

Further information:

·         Website: artbytes.co.uk

·         Email: hello@artbytes.co.uk

·         Twitter: @ArtBytes_

·         Instagram: @artbytes_

·         Phone: 0345 017 6660

High-resolution images available HERE

Full list of Regional Winners:

Regional Primary Winners

North West -Titanic - Zachary Thornhill - Lister Juniors

North East - Colour Clock - Ava Bailey - Grange Primary School

Yorkshire - Reaching Out - Sophia Baker - Sheep Dip Lane Academy

West Midlands - Adonis - Ilinca Iftimoae - Stanton Bridge Primary School, Coventry

East Midlands - Portraits 7 - Jacob P - Saint Augustine's Catholic Voluntary Academy

East - Coast - Archie - Kettlefields Primary School

Gtr London - Bumpy Night - Joseph Walder - Stroud Green Primary School

South West - Space Impasto 3 - Ellesie Clegg-Goodwin - Bradley Barton Primary School

South East - Mark Making - Jayden Jobson - Helen Allison School - Primary

Regional Secondary Winners

North West - The Lighthouse - Kamilla McFarlane - Childwall Abbey School

North East - Basquiat Portrait - Millie C - Catcote

Yorkshire - Protest Art - Finley Pemberton - Vale of York Academy

West Midlands - The Blue Void - DD - Lamledge School

East Midlands - Eye - Lily Robilliard - Redmoor Academy

East - Steampunk Animal #14 - Orla Penny - Wootton Upper School

Gtr London - Animal Bones 1 - Samuel Quainoo - St Marylebone CE Bridge School

South West - Portrait of Maro Itoje - Etienne Bowden-Hull - Sir Thomas Rich's School

South East - Heron at First Light - Emilie - Imberhorne School

 2025 Venue Partners:

·         North West: The Victoria Gallery, Liverpool

·         North East: The Arts Centre Washington, Sunderland

·         Yorkshire and Humber: The Henry Moore Institute, Leeds

·         East Midlands: The Usher Gallery, Lincoln

·         West Midlands: New Art Gallery Walsall

·         South West: Chippenham Museum

·         South East: Hastings Contemporary

·         East of England: Kettle's Yard, Cambridge

·         London: Saatchi Gallery

About Art Bytes: Art Bytes is a national art and EdTech programme for year 5 and year 9 students in all educational settings, combining an inter-school art competition with a bespoke virtual gallery and in-person Celebration Events in cultural venues across England. It is based on 12 years’ experience in the North West and is proven to nurture talent, raise ambition and develop confidence and cultural capital, as well as support mental health and help develop vital skills for future employment.

Art Bytes is managed by dot-art, a Liverpool-based social enterprise supporting artists and championing art as an integral part of everyday life for over 18 years. The programme combines an inter-school art competition with bespoke virtual gallery technology and celebration events across England, proven to nurture talent, raise ambition, and develop vital skills for future employment.

About The Arts Society: The Arts Society (www.theartssociety.org) has 350+ local societies worldwide, engaging communities through lectures, study days, and volunteering opportunities that preserve artistic heritage and support arts education.

You are no doubt aware of the fire at King John's House in February 2025.

King John's House and Tudor Cottage Trust is an accredited museum and a registered company and charity (Charity Commission No. 276961). They look after a Grade 1 listed medieval hall in the centre of Romsey, surrounded by a volunteer-run historic garden, and an Edwardian former shop (13 Church Street) containing galleries, museum offices and a new cafe.

They are looking to recruit new tustees, specifically in the fields of :-

- Fundraising and marketing

- Financial management/accountancy.

If you are interested, or want more information, click here.

We urgently require new Committee Members to replace some of the existing committee who have stepped down having completed their term of service.

In particular we require nominations for the following exciting and interesting positions:

Secretary

Young Arts Representative

Study Day Organiser

Visits Organiser

Heritage Volunteer Co-ordinator

The existing committee members will be only too happy to share their knowledge and experience of the roles with you. Although the new roles became effective from the date of the June AGM, the sooner you feel willing to put your name forward, the sooner you will be able to acclimatise to your new role.

We look forward to welcoming you to the new committee.