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LATEST UPDATES FROM THE ARTS SOCIETYTHE ARTS SOCIETY NEWSTREASURER VACANCYWe are now welcoming applications for a new treasurer for The Arts Society. Our current treasurer, Shaun Pitt, retires in 2018, having completed six years. In that time he has been instrumental in updating the Articles of the Association and the review that resulted in the rebranding earlier this year, while also creating robust strategic frameworks for managing the finances of the charity. Shaun has also worked closely with local societies and Areas and presented on financial matters at the AGM each year and at Area meetings. This is an exciting time to be joining the trustee board because The Arts Society is moving forward to maximise both reach and impact in the UK and abroad. The role is non-managerial and does not involve the preparation of accounts. The focus is on maintaining an overview of policy, risk, finance systems, budget delivery and financial reporting. Recruitment of the right individual is key to the operation of the trustee board and the audit committee. Ideally the candidate will have a good appreciation of the charity, its aims and structures. It is desirable for the individual to hold a recognised qualification; strong financial knowledge and high-level commercial or financial experience will be expected.If you feel that you have the relevant knowledge, skills and experience and would like to find out more, please contact Tim Nicholls, company secretary, for a full role description and further details including a timetable. This is a co-opted role and the appointment is made at the discretionof the trustees.NEW BRANDING UNVEILED AT AGMThe new branding for The Arts Society took centre stage at this year’s AGM in Birmingham on 17 May, with the new website theartssociety.org going live on the same day.We were delighted to recognise the work of The Arts Society volunteers through the Marsh Awards – including Macclesfield DFAS, which was judged as Highly Commended in the Society Committee Award. Make Your Mark, an arts exhibition organised to celebrate The Arts Society West Midlands’ role in the AGM, was also a success. The 14 finalists gathered at a reception on 15 May and the winner was announced as Amy Mitchell Meades, formerly a pupil at Solihull School, for her work Loss of Self, consisting of paintings depicting a journey through Alzheimer’s disease inspired by her grandfather’s experience of vascular dementia. THE ARTS SOCIETY AT GUILDFORD BOOK FESTIVAL Two lecturers for The Arts Society, Christopher de Hamel and Annie Gray, will be talking at an event as part of this year’s Guildford Book Festival. Christopher de Hamel’s book Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts has won both the Duff Cooper prize for non-fiction and the Wolfson prize for history, while Annie Gray, food historian and BBC Radio 4 presenter, has just publishedThe Greedy Queen: Eating with Victoria, which takes an original look at Victorian food. The talks will be on Friday 13 October and the day is organised by The Arts Society Guildford. guildfordbookfestival.co.ukNEW SOCIETY FOR BEDFORDSHIREThe Arts Society Great Ouse Valley opened its doors for the first time in April at the Sharnbrook Hotel in Bedfordshire. National Chairman June Robinson emphasised the friendship that membership of a society fosters. theartssociety.org/societies/great-ouse-valley-dfasA TASTE OF THE ARTS SOCIETYThe Arts Society is hoping to open four new societies – Tisbury (Wiltshire), Pimlico, Mallorca and Menorca. A taster lecture in London’s Pimlico in June created a lot of interest, and on 13 October there will be a free taster event at the Nadder Centre in Tisbury, featuring Mark Hill from the BBC Antiques Roadshow. For more information on either society, email membership@theartssociety.org.Meanwhile, The Arts Society is exploring the possibility of local societies in the Baleariacs. There will be a taster lecture at Mood Beach, Calvia, Mallorca on 17 October and at Binifadet Winery, Sant Lluis, Menorca on 19 October. Drinks and tapas will be served at both. The events are supported by Blevins Franks, reserve a place by emailing Johanna Ellis: mallorca@blevinsfranks.com 1 The Art Society is hoping to open a local society in Pimlico, home of Tate Britain2 Finalists from Make Your Mark3 National Chairman June Robinson (right) with Sara Tusting from The Arts Society Great Ouse Valley4 David and Carolyn Griffiths from Macclesfield DFAS receiving a Marsh Award on behalf of their committee at the AGM from Charles Micklewright (centre)54NEWSThe Arts Society ReviewAutumn 2017