New dates for 'The Turbulent Years : Late Romantic Music'

Following on from an earlier course about the beginnings of Romanticism, this course with Barry Collett will now take place 21-23 January 2011.

Look at music from the twenty years that led up to the First World War. This post-Wagner epoch saw the richness of the Romantic Age at its height, and several composers at the height of their powers, including Elgar, Rachmaninoff, Dvorak, Richard Strauss and Mahler. The anxieties of the age showed itself not only in these composers, but in the growth of Nationalism, the advent of Debussy and Impressionism, the mystical experiments of Scriabin, and even the stirrings of atonality that were to bring such chaos to music post-war. Turbulent times indeed, which swamped many fine composers whose music deserves to be heard, and will be on this course.

ArtWorks Open Exhibition, Barbican Arts Group Trust

ArtWorks Open 2010 is an exhibition selected by Graham Crowley and Timothy Hyman. 99 artists are showing works with two prize-winners being awarded solo shows.

ArtWorks Project Space, Blackhorse Lane Studios

114 Blackhorse Lane, London E176AA email: bag.trust@btconnect.com

Private View: 10th June 6pm -9pm

Exhibition: 11th June - 25th June

Opening times

weekdays 2pm to 7pm

weekends 12pm to 6pm

Free taxi and 10% discount offer

By train from London in less than 2 hours

Free taxi & 10% offer !


If you live in or around London why not escape for the weekend - alone or with friends - and enjoy a relaxing weekend break at Farncombe Estate in the North Cotswolds? Farncombe offers comfortable accommodation, good food, a warm welcome and stunning views - it really is worth the trip!

Make a booking before 30 June 2010 for any weekend course in 2010 and we will provide the standard return taxi service from Moreton to Farncombe free of charge. Not only that, but we will also apply a 10% discount to the cost of your weekend course booking. To check availability or make a reservation call 01386 854100 or email enquiries@FarncombeEstate.co.uk & quote "FECTaxi".

Standard offer terms & conditions apply - please visit our website for further details.

Writing Community Theatre

Writing Community Theatre
Saturday 31st July (10am-5pm)
Friends' Meeting House, Warwick
Led by Stephanie Dale

Part lecture, part practical-based exercises, this one-day workshop will explore what needs to be considered when writing large scale plays. During the workshop, participants will look at text from past community plays and start to create new pitches for future productions.

Stephanie Dale is a professional playwright, whose plays have been produced by Soho Theatre, LAMDA, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and BBC Radio 4. She is a tutor on the MPhil in Playwriting Studies at the University of Birmingham, and also teaches at BSA, City University. She is currently on attachment at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Cost: £50 (£40 concessions)

For more information and booking visit: http://communitytheatre.eventbrite.com/

Einstein's Garden at the Green Man Festival - call for Inspiring Talks

Einstein’s Garden is a creative fusion of science, art and nature. Engaging with ideas, knowledge and opinion this area of the Green Man Festival offers a patchwork of perspectives about the universe we inhabit and our place within it. The name ‘Einstein’ is associated with originality, creativity and quirkiness and it is these qualities that Einstein’s Garden embodies. The area’s venues are packed with a vibrant programme of events that use art, entertainment, participation and debate to engage people with the diverse aspects of science and nature in fun, quirky and unexpected ways. This year the key theme for Einstein’s Garden is ‘grassroots ideas’ so we are inviting a wide range of contributors from scientists, artists and designers to craftspeople, activists and entrepreneurs to share their ideas, as well as giving festival goers the opportunity to make their own contributions and have their voice heard.

Einstein Talks is a new project for Einstein’s Garden this year. Inspired by TED, Pecha Kucha and Ignite, Einstein Talks will be a high energy event consisting of 5 minute talks by people who have an idea. Fun, thought provoking and inspiring, Einstein Talks will be a forum for sharing knowledge, passion and creativity.

Einstein Talks will be made up of contributions from scientists, artists, designers, engineers, activists and entrepreneurs…anyone with an idea to share.

The format of presentations will be 20 slides that change automatically after 15 seconds, giving a total talk time of 5 minutes

We are asking for anyone who is interested in sharing their idea at Einstein Talks to send us a 200 word proposal and a 20 slide PowerPoint or Keynote presentation.

Shortlisted speakers will receive a ticket for the Green Man Festival (worth £120) but expenses will not be covered.

Please send proposals to ellen@thegreenmanfestival.co.uk
Deadline for proposals – Monday 21st June. Only successful applicants will be notified.

For information about the Green Man Festival see http://www.greenman.net

Win free tickets for Art in Action 15-18 July 2010

Art in Action welcomes approximately 25,000 people over four days to Waterperry House in Oxfordshire.

Visitors come to learn, buy and enjoy, the exhibitions, classes and performances of 400 demonstrating artists, designer makers, teachers, musicians and performers. Disciplines include painting, sculpture, glass, woodwork, textiles, ceramics, metalwork and jewellery.

Farncombe Estate are delighted to be involved in the event for 2010 and some of our tutors will be running art/craft workshops too. For workshop details or to book tickets - visit the Art in Action website where you can also book online. Prices start from £8.00 per workshop.

We have 5 pairs of free Art in Action admission tickets to give away. For a chance to win simply visit our website

Closing date for entries Wednesday 30 June 2010. Winners will be notified by email before Friday 9 July 2010.

Trying to get Greener at Farncombe Estate!

"Financial crises and the dramatic election have taken climate change and biodiversity off the front pages, but they will go on being huge issues long after this financial crisis has come and gone, whether that is two years or five years. So we are working steadily to make a greener Farncombe and reduce our impact on the environment.

Our current aim is to achieve the Silver Award in the Green Business Tourism scheme. We already hold the Bronze Award. This award looks at social responsibility, energy usage, water usage, purchasing practice, waste, public transport, natural and cultural heritage, and innovation. There are up to a dozen different measures in each section and each level of the Award calls for action over more of them.

We have a Green Team made up of staff from each of the businesses or activities here to look for improvement and to champion ideas. Our member is Mandy Morrison. Anything and everything can be looked at. I had had no idea that by changing to an ecofont you can use 25 percent less ink when printing documents!

And to encourage use of the train, we have decided for 2011 to reduce the round trip taxi charge Moreton-in-Marsh Station to Farncombe to £15, regardless of what happens to the fuel price, the VAT rate or the price we are charged by the taxi firms.

Everyone who has been here knows what a wonderful site it is for wildlife, but if you have not yet come to Farncombe, do take a look at our new Nature Diary. Whether you come by car or by public transport, bring field glasses and a camera and let us post your sightings on the Diary!"

William Reddaway, Head of Lifelong Learning

For the latest newsletter click here June news & special offers from Farncombe