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Welcome to The Arts Society West Essex (TASWE), affiliated to the national Arts Society, bringing people together through a shared curiosity for the arts and art heritage.  The Arts Society West Essex offers enjoyable opportunities to discover and support the arts of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Watch a video for an overview of The Arts Society.

To receive a monthly newsletter from The Arts Society click here 

Our monthly meetings provide excellent lecturers sharing their specialist knowledge about the arts.  We also offer half-day and day trips and tours further afield in the UK.  We contribute to preserve our artistic heritage through volunteering and grants, believing that the arts have the potential to enrich peoples’ lives and are at the heart of everything TASWE does.  

We hold a core programme of eleven morning lectures a year, on the first Wednesday of every month except August.  We meet at Theydon Bois Village Hall.  The lectures are also streamed live on Zoom.  Non-members are welcomed for a small charge.  Find out how to join here. (Joining Us)

TASWE is part of the Essex Area of The Arts Society. Visit their website to find out about area study days, or lectures, visits and events at neighbouring societies.

Our volunteer programmes offer the chance to become involved in local communities, support engagement with the arts and assist with a variety of local heritage and arts projects.  For full details click here (Volunteering)

All grants from The Arts Society are intended to give access to the arts in the widest sense to everyone.  We believe in Arts for All and use our grants to make a positive contribution to people’s lives through the arts.  Full information of grants and donations recently awarded can be found here (Grants and Donations)


LATEST NEWS


We visited Leighton House on 8 July, one of the hottest days this summer.  Read a report here.


IT'S TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP!!

Our Membership Renewal process for the year 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027 is now underway and you will have received an email reminder from our Membership Secretary, Susan Smith.  You can download a Renewal Form here which gives details of how to make your payments.  We look forward to receiving your completed forms and payments.  Thank you.


ESSEX YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR 2026 semi-finals and final took place on Sunday 5 July 2026 at the Budworth Hall, Ongar.  The winner of The Arts Society West Essex (4th prize) was Lucas Yarranton playing the oboe.  Further details here.


Margaret Cuthbert kindly donated her watercolour paintings of the local area to TASWE, the sale of which raised £200.  It was decided to donate these funds to OAKVIEW SCHOOL, Loughton and the Head, Tina Kearney, has used them to frame photos and artwork for the walls in the communal areas.  Elizabeth Nash and Pam Percy were recently taken on a tour of the school by the Deputy Head and were very pleased to see that there was a focus on creativity and art  in many of the classrooms. 


ART BYTES

Elizabeth Nash attended the London Area Art Bytes celebration and prize giving at St Martins in the Fields on 17 June.  25 schools out of 36 sent their 1st prize winner with a parent or teacher.  It was a very welcoming and joyous event, some photos of which can be seen in Gallery 4 on our website.

Isabella Bailie, from Buckhurst Hill Community Primary School was excited to receive her certificate, and have a tour of the National Gallery and has been invited to exhibit at the Young Royal  Academy Summer Exhibition in July.  

Click here to read a report of the prizegiving event and here to learn more about the school we supported


DID YOU KNOW that The Arts Society website (https://theartssociety.org) is full of information on exhibitions and events nationwide and that you can receive a monthly newsletter letting you know what is opening and closing that month?

To read the latest newsletter and sign up to receive it in your inbox every month click here.


Our Membership is now full but please encourage friends and colleagues to come along as a Visitor, perhaps with a view to joining us. Click here to download a Waiting List application form.





WHAT'S COMING UP

Wednesday 02 September 2026
Lecture
The Legendary Lee Miller

Antony Penrose
81

Monday 21 September 2026
Visit
HOLIDAY TO EASTBOURNE

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39

Wednesday 07 October 2026
Lecture
Edouard Manet and Music

Lois Oliver
82