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Who we are

The Arts Society Cheltenham is a friendly and very active member of the national charity – The Arts Society (TAS) which has over 300 branches across the UK, mainland Europe and New Zealand and a sister organisation in Australia.

Our aim is to provide an appreciation and study of the arts in all its diversity. To do this we offer 10 lectures locally from September to June delivered by an accredited lecturer from a pool of 300 lecturers covering some 4000 topics.

In addition, we offer special interest days, which give the opportunity to study a topic in more detail and, where possible, visits relating to our programme or if not… just a jolly good day out.

There are many benefits of becoming a member including an excellent quarterly magazine and the opportunity to join in with our volunteering work which not only helps to conserve our cultural heritage but also encourages the arts practitioners of the future.

All of these activities are run by volunteers in a welcoming atmosphere with, from time to time small social gatherings, providing a great opportunity to meet people with similar interests, learn, have fun and make new and lasting friendships.

Our Upcoming Events

MEMBER EVENT Arts Society Cheltenham (DFAS)
8th Sept 2026

Lecture: The Art of Friendship

07:15PM - 08:30PM The Pavilion, Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham GL51 6PN Visual

How can an artist portray friendship? Love or hate, maternity, childhood - these themes have recognisable motifs that add to the portrayal. But friendship is less easy to illustrate. Artists over the centuries have made portraits of their friends and still managed to convey the relevance of the unique relationship.

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MEMBER EVENT Arts Society Cheltenham (DFAS)
22nd Sept 2026

Cafe Arts

10:30AM - 12:00PM Bowling Club,Suffolk Square,GL50 2DX Other

Join us for coffee

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MEMBER EVENT Arts Society Cheltenham (DFAS)
13th Oct 2026

Lecture: Arts and Crafts of Mexico by Chloe Sayer

07:15PM The Pavilion, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6PN Visual
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MEMBER EVENT Arts Society Cheltenham (DFAS)
8th Dec 2026

Lecture: Dingley Dell to 'A Christmas Carol'. Charles Dickens and Christmas by Vicky Bailey

07:15PM The Pavilion, Hatherley Road, Cheltenham GL51 6PN Literary
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MEMBER EVENT Arts Society Cheltenham (DFAS)
8th Jun 2027

Lecture: She Loves You: The Music of the Sixties 1960-64

07:15PM - 08:30PM The Pavilion, Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham GL51 6PN Music

By 1960 interest in rock ‘n’ roll had started to fade, its biggest star was moving on and a new generation of teenagers were seeking something different. It came in the form of the Beatles, who broke all the rules and all the records. This is the story of the first five years of the 1960s, one of the most creative and innovative periods in the history of music, featuring all the major artists, important songs and principle musical genres.

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