Dear Friends,
Clear skies provided an opportunity this week to observe the ‘Strawberry Moon’ – when the full moon close to the summer solstice remains low in the sky all night so that it appears unusually large and orange. The name relates to the season rather than the colour of the moon. Members of the Lunar Society in the 18th century may well have remarked on this same phenomenon. An exhibition of Joseph Wright’s works ‘From the Shadows’ recently moved from the National Gallery to his home town and is open in the Derby Museum and Art Gallery until 1 November. A self-guided tour of Derby is also available to visitors – highlighting places that he would have known. So, good reasons to join us for this month’s lecture!
July Lecture
In an age of discovery where science and industry went hand-in-hand, 18th century England saw not only the flowering of the Industrial Revolution, but also that of the self-made man who came not from money but from industry. It was a time of gentlemen’s clubs, in their true original meaning rather than the corruption of this term we experience today, and one of these clubs would become synonymous with investigation and discovery characterised by the individuals that were associated with it.
Art historian, Leslie Primo is an author and broadcaster who specialises in early Medieval Art and Architecture, Italian Renaissance art, German art in the age of Reformation, Medici & Patronage, and mythology in the work of Peter Paul Rubens. Leslie lectured at the National Gallery, London for many years, and has appeared on the BBC speaking in Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty, and on the Life of Michelangelo. He presented Turner: Light and Landscape. He has written and contributed to several publications. His book, ‘The Foreign Invention of British Art’ was published in 2025.
Join us on Wednesday 8th July for a chat, a glass of wine or a soft drink from 6pm. The lecture begins at 6.30pm.
Please take a moment to give us your feedback on the lecture. You can do this from the ‘Feedback’ icon on the home page of our website:https://www.theartssocietyebor.org.uk/Home.aspx The password this month is ‘Derby’
We take a break in August but return on 9 September for a lecture that celebrates the centenary of Winnie the Pooh!
Our lecture venue
We meet in The Merchant Taylors’ Hall in Aldwark. Please note that there is No Parking at the Merchant Taylors Hall. If you have a particular mobility problem then please contact Peter Burnett at drpburnett@btinternet.com
Social Events
Once again we had a warm and sunny afternoon for our Summer Party on Wednesday 17 June so that we could enjoy the garden, with strawberries and cream, a glass of Prosecco and lovely harp music from Emma Yates. We were also treated to a fascinating talk by Jacob Bolda, a PhD student at the University of York, about the many interesting old medical instruments and artifacts housed in the YMS rooms. It was pleasing to learn that there are plans to make these more readily accessible to the public, with updated displays.
Visits
A score of members are looking forward to our trip to Cornwall in October (now fully booked) and the ‘Trips and Events’ team are exploring other potential visits.
Supporting local arts initiatives
The Arts Society Ebor is pleased to support the Richard Shephard Music Foundation with a donation of £250 for 2026. Our Chair, Janet Dean attended the Make Musicday of celebration for the schools supported by the Foundation at the University of York St John on Wednesday 24 June. As well as learning more about the forty schools supported by the Foundation across York, North Yorkshire and Teesside, and meeting other supporters, she also enjoyed seeing children participate in workshops on The Magic Flute and Creating Music for Film. On a very hot day, Janet was impressed by how much energy and enthusiasm the children were able to display well into the afternoon - they were clearly inspired by music! We have been pleased with the engagement the Foundation has offered us as first-time donors and will consider whether this might be a longer term commitment. You can find out more about the Richard Shephard Music Foundation here: https://www.rsmf.org.uk/. We are always pleased to hear from members about arts-related organisations that you would like to see us support.
The Arts Society
A further reminder that, as members of our own local group you are also members of The Arts Society and can subscribe (free) to their newsletters and other occasional mailings: https://theartssociety.org/ You should have received a postal copy of their latest magazine.
Membership Renewal – thank you!
Thanks again to those who have renewed your membership – and a warm welcome to those who have joined us for the first time. We look forward to enjoying your company at lectures, visits and events over our 2026-27 season. Please consider inviting friends to join us as guests at a lecture or as members – this is, by far, our best recruitment method!
Can you help?
Perhaps you could help with serving wine/soft drinks before lectures? Could you join the team who work to keep your society running smoothly? There are ways you might become involved without making too many demands on your time. Speak to any of the current committee members if you would like to know more.
Website: Our Newsletters, a printable copy of our programme, flyers for trips, photographs of previous visits, membership forms, - and much more can be found on our website. Go to www.theartssocietyebor.org.uk .
With best wishes from your Arts Society Ebor Committee.