The Arts Society Wensleydale (Registered Charity no 1203231) is the local Arts Society for Richmond, Masham, Leyburn and the Dales. 

Are you interested in the arts and enjoy learning and discovering more?

Lecture Programme

The society offers a programme of lectures by acknowledged experts on a wide variety of subjects. Recent topics have ranged from the history and culture of graffiti to the art of Bruegel, and from the photographs from Shackleton’s expedition to the South Pole to Babylonic Art and Legend. Something for everyone! In addition to lectures, we organise visits to places of interest, study days and other activities.

 Monthly lectures are held in The Garden Rooms, Tennants, Leyburn, usually at 2pm on fourth Tuesday of the month. There are no meetings in July, August and December. 

Membership

The annual subscription for 2025/26 is £65. An application form can be downloaded from the Attachments section opposite. Membership entitles you to:

• A programme of 9 lectures in the year.
• 10% discount in the café and Bistro at Tennants on lecture days.
• Priority booking for access to Study Days locally, in the NE and nationally.
• Young Arts - become involved with projects introducing young people to all aspects of the arts.
• Trails of Discovery - creating guides for children and young people.
• The Review, the quarterly magazine of The Arts Society.

Guests are always welcome at our lectures. A donation of £10 is suggested (£5 for members of other Arts Societies)

Do come and join us! You will be most welcome.​

Full details of all of our lectures and fixtures for 2025/2026 and news can be found by scrolling down to the Events and News sections below.

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Header image: Detail from fabric collage "The Bain Valley" (Wensleydale) by Janet Rawlins. Copyright Janet Rawlins