At The Arts Society Welwyn Garden, we offer a warm welcome to members and visitors who attend our monthly lectures. We are a friendly, sociable Society, meeting on the third Wednesday of the month at 10.30am. Our venue, Campus West, is a well-appointed theatre with all the facilities conducive to a splendid lecture experience.

Our membership year runs from 1 April to 31 March and covers 10 lectures, with a break in August and December. Alongside our monthly lectures, we also plan an exciting programme of coach trips, visits and events for members each year. Full details of these are first publicised at our lectures, and then on this website.  

Our next lecture, on Wednesday 18th June, observes the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Day in 2025 with a talk by historian Caroline Shenton on 'Packing up the nation: saving London's museums and galleries in the Second World War'. 

Before then, on Wednesday 4th June we have a 'pop-up' trip to see the medieval wall paintings at Piccotts End, near Hemel Hempstead. We will meet at the Grade I listed building at 132 Piccotts End at 12.30 for a sandwich lunch, then enjoy seeing the wall panels and a talk by co-owner Karen Murphy. Places are limited, so for details on how to book, see the attachment below.

Our July lecture will take place later in the month than usual, on Wednesday July 23rd, when David Winpenny will talk on 'Opening the doors - a brief history of country house visiting'.

Later in the summer we will be running a coach trip to Island Hall near Godmanchester. This Grade II listed Georgian mansion, set by the River Ouse, is still in family ownership and promises to be a fascinating day out. Save the date - Wednesday 27 August - more details and booking information will be announced at our June lecture and on this website. 

Our overseas trip this year will be to Madrid and Salamanca, departing Monday 3 November. We will be exploring the history and art of these fascinating cities, alongside visits to Toledo, Avila and Segovia. This trip is now fully booked, so if you would like to join the waiting list, please contact the committee at welwyngarden@theartssociety.org

We welcome new members who have an interest in the Arts, whether art, history, sculpture, architecture, literature, drama or music. See details of the year's lecture programme in the link below. For more information about joining the Arts Society Welwyn Garden please email our Membership Secretary Catherine Ferris at welwyngarden@theartssociety.org 

Visitors are welcome to our lectures. Do come along to the Hawthorne Theatre at Campus West and see what The Arts Society is all about. Visitors' tickets (£10) are available on the door or through the venue’s online booking system. https://www.campuswest.co.uk

Our Committee are a friendly team. We are always happy to encourage members to get involved in the Society, so whether you are a long-standing member or new to the Society please consider joining us or helping as a volunteer! Contact us via the email address below.