HELENSBURGH residents are being invited to join in the celebrations marking 25 years of an arts group’s presence in the town.
The Arts Society Lomond and Argyll is holding a silver anniversary open day in the town on Tuesday, June 14.
The event, at the Victoria Halls, will give non-members a chance to find out more about the organisation, what it does, and perhaps join ahead of its 2022-23 season.
As part of the open day, non-members will be able to sit in on this season’s final lecture – a whistle-stop tour covering 9,000 years of glass and its impact on everything from art and architecture cultural beliefs and self-identity – and to witness the unveiling of an Arts Society plinth in the Outdoor Museum in Colquhoun Square.
The lecture will be presented by BBC presenter, broadcaster and antiques expert Roo Irvine – who also happens to be not just a member of the society, but the committee member who is responsible for the its publicity.
Helensburgh's Outdoor Museum features a series of sculptures mounted on plinths around Colquhoun Square
Roo said: “The Arts Society, Lomond and Argyll has existed for 25 years, yet we discover thousands of years of history, art and culture through our fascinating lectures, given by highly-esteemed, world-renowned speakers.
“We are so excited to celebrate our 25th anniversary, and are welcoming the public to join us on such a special day. Come find out who we are, what we do and how the arts can enrich us all. We look forward to seeing you.”
The Arts Society is a leading arts education charity with a global network of more than 380 societies, which bring people together through a shared curiosity for arts and crafts. The Helensburgh branch was formed in 1997.
Members enjoy monthly lectures given by specialists, as well as study days, educational visits and cultural holidays.
The society’s members also support the local community with volunteering and their Young Arts programme.
Lectures are held during the autumn, winter and spring on the second Tuesday of each month at the Victoria Halls at 10.30am.
Roo Irvine will give the final lecture of the Arts Society Lomond and Argyll’s 2021-22 season as part of the group’s open day on June 14
The group’s June 14 open day begins at 10am, with Roo’s lecture - ‘Mirror, Mirror On the Wall: The Evolution of Glass’ - starting at 10.30am, with the plinth unveiling to follow at 12.15pm.
Roo added: “As one of the oldest man-made materials, glass features heavily in our day-to-day lives.
"This lecture invites you to look at glass through new eyes, whilst travelling from ancient Egypt, right through to 14th-century Venice and Victorian England.
"It also looks at the invention of the mirror 8,000 years ago, and its impact on our art, architecture, antiques, culture, psychology and our own priceless self-identity.
"The lecture gives a thought-provoking look at a material, long taken for granted, but magical in its own right.“
Find out more about the society at tasla.org.uk or email enquiries@tasla.org.uk.
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