Visit us at Art in Action 2010 - free ticket competition offer ends 30 June 2010 !

Farncombe workshops and a free ticket offer !

In 1977, Oxfordshire was home to an event with 51 artists. Today, Art in Action runs for four days with over 400 artists and 25,000 visitors.

People 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.

50% summer discount offer - book before 1 July !!

Book 2 places on one or more event taking place at Farncombe between 1 July and 31 August 2010 and get the cheaper place HALF PRICE! To qualify for this discount please ring 01386 854100 and quote "Summer50". This offer code cannot be backdated or used in conjunction with any other discount. Offer code expires 5pm Thursday 1st July 2010 and can only be claimed by ‘phone.


Special Offers, Last Minute Discounts and new courses from Farncombe Estate

Dormy House Summer Breaks - Pay for B&B, Get Dinner Free

* From £188 per room per night (upgrades available for a modest supplement)

* Full Cotswolds Breakfast

* Free 'Three-Course' dinner for two in The Dining Room

* Available throughout July & August 2010

Fantastic offers to explore and discover the 'Heart of the Cotswolds'

For more information:

Call Reservations on 01386 852711

Emai: reservations@dormyhouse.co.uk

Visit: http://www.dormyhouse.co.uk/

Warwickshire ArtsWeek 3rd to 18th July

The Warwickshire Artists exhibition will be taking place at Coombe Country Park visitor centre – see www.warwickshireartists.co.uk for more details.

Family Fun Day - 25 July

Gloucestershire’s biggest free family event returns to Gloucester for 2010. Children and grown-ups alike will love to get involved in lots of hands-on activities, arts and crafts and sports challenges and enjoy shows, walkabout performers, music, farm animals and lots more. A really great – and definitely affordable – day out for all ages! Takes place 25th July Noon-5.00pm – see more details at http://www.thecityofgloucester.co.uk/site/whats-on/summer-in-gloucester

Live Music Bill must be passed as soon as possible

The ISM welcomes the coalition government’s commitment to reduce live music bureaucracy and calls on the government to introduce the Live Music Bill which had front bench support from both governing coalition partners before the election.

The Bill, introduced last parliament in the House of Lords by Lib Dem Lord Clement-Jones, would allow small venues like schools, colleges and village halls to hold concerts without an entertainment license if the venue holds fewer than 200 people. It would also exempt venues that serve alcohol from needing an entertainment license where only one or two musicians are performing without amplification.

In the previous session of parliament, the Live Music Bill passed the House of Lords stage un-amended and, with cross-party support, came close to making it on to the statute book despite government opposition. Now, the coalition government has said it will ‘cut red tape to encourage the performance of more live music.’

ISM Chief Executive, Deborah Annetts, welcomed the coalition government’s commitment and encouraged the introduction of the Live Music Bill:

‘The government has a real opportunity to reduce the bureaucracy which is crippling the small live music event industry and destroying fledgling careers.

‘So many musicians rely on live music to start their career and the current licensing regime is causing opportunities to dry up.

‘This Bill has the support of politicians from all parties and musicians from all genres as well as the support of front-bench teams from both partners in the coalition government.

‘We are calling on the government to make time for this important piece of legislation and enable musicians to do what they do best, play music to a live audience.’

Read more at http://www.ism.org/images/uploads/files/8_10.pdf

An introduction to Jewellery Wires with Sara Withers - workshop places limited £8 each - book here!

Sara Withers has been designing and making jewellery for many years. Her work concentrates on the use of beads – either self made; commissioned from glassworkers or sourced from interesting suppliers.

She is the author of many books of bead jewellery projects. The most recent being ‘The Encyclopedia of Wire Jewellery Techniques'. Sara will be running workshops on Saturday 17th July - 1.30pm-3pm or 3.30pm-5pm - tickets £8
Click here to book or call the TicketLine on 0207 382 3192.

Watercolour Landscapes with Colin Beckett - workshop £8

Colin will show you how to paint the landscape in the traditional way. The emphasis will be on skies, trees, buildings and water, How to appreciate more on what you see in nature and then transpose it to paper using the correct colours.
Colin Beckett is a self taught artist who has the passion and ability to convey his love of painting to others and his relaxed teaching techniques are an inspiration to many. Join Colin and learn how to construct a country watercolour landscape painting. Colin is running one workshop on
Saturday 17th July 11am-12.30pm Tickets cost £8
Click here to book or call the TicketLine on 0207 382 3192.

Jewellery in Lace - short workshops with Jan Gardiner £10 each

Make a beautiful pendant to take home in bobbin lace using colourful threads and beads. All the necessary equipment will be available to borrow at the workshop.
No experience in lacemaking techniques is necessary. Just give this wonderful craft a go and be amazed!
Jan will be running 2 workshops on Friday 16th July 11am-1pm or 2-4pm Tickets £10 each. To book or call the TicketLine on 0207 382 3192

http://www.artinaction.org.uk/event_activity-PracticalClassesDetail.asp?ref=81

Ceramic workshops with Angie Sayer - tickets £8 book online here

Join Angie Sayer to design and make a hand built construction either for use or decoration. Clay is a fantastic material and working with clay is a very satisfying experience.
If you have never tried it before, you will soon see how easy, effective and pleasing it is to model and construct an individual hand-crafted item. Angie is a specialist ceramicist and has been teaching Ceramics, Art and Design for over 25 years.
Angie will be running workshops on Saturday 17th July 11am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3.00pm and 3.30pm-5pm Tickets £8 each. Click here to book or call the TicketLine on 0207 382 3192.

Sewing workshop with Sue Hazell - tickets online here £8 each

Sewing skills can be used by children & adults to make curtains, cushions, blinds, clothing & craft items. Once you are shown how, you can have a 'skill for life' & save money in the process.

Sue will be running workshops on Sunday 18th July 11am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm & 3.30-5pm - tickets £8 each. Click here to book or call the TicketLine on 0207 382 3192.

Sunday Lunch menu - book online now

Free Open Day – Sunday Lunch Menu 12 September 2010

£14 per person

Bookings being taken online now



Roasted Tomato & Beetroot Soup with Chive Crème Fraiche & Garlic Croutons Confit Duck Leg Pancake filled with Cucumber & Spring Onion served with Honey & Thyme Salad & Hoi Sin Dressing


***


Roast Gloucestershire Beef served with Yorkshire Pudding, Horseradish Sauce & rich Gravy Pan Fried Salmon Fillet on a Bed of Tomato & Chorizo Fondue with a Basil & Black Olive Oil Butternut Squash & Sage Risotto with Balsamic Reduction

All served with a selection of fresh Vegetables and Potatoes


***


Treacle Tart served with Custard (V)

Blackberry Delice

Lunch at 12.30

Lunch at 1.30

Simon de Montfort Society at Farncombe 2 October 2010

A panel of medieval historians review selected aspects of Norman identity, image and culture at the heart of the Conquest and the subsequent making of ‘Norman England’. The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the great icons of the Norman Conquest, but why was it created? What messages did it convey, and to whom? Similarly, Domesday Book; what role did this record, and the inquest that produced it, play in the creation of Norman England? How did the Normans see themselves and their achievements in England and Normandy? What questions does the representation of architectural features in Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman painting and drawing pose about the ‘Normanness’ of Norman architecture?

FEES: Inclusive of morning coffee and afternoon tea. MEMBERS of the Simon de Montfort Society pay £35.00;NON-MEMBERS pay £45.00.

Payable in advance, to the Society's Hon Treasurer:

Mr T Paul Jenkins

4 The Mews
Head Street
Pershore
Worcestershire
WR10 1DA

(01386 561426)

ALL CHEQUES should be made payable to “The Simon de Montfort Society”.





CLOSING DATE FOR ENROLMENTS – Wednesday, 15th September 2010.

1001 Garden Questions Answered

Tutor Andrew Mikolajski is just about to release his latest book “1001 Garden Questions Answered”.

This easy-to-read gardening companion will help to demystify some of the many common problems gardeners face, offering explanations and solutions that are easy to put into practice. From general quieries that require large-scale planning, such as how to decide where to site a patio, to specific queries, for example, about how to prune a clematis, this handy volume offers invaluable guidance and suggestions for successul gardening. Each chapter looks at a different aspect of gardening, so finding solutions to particular problems will be straightword. All terminology is clearly explained, so whether your question is general or specific, this comprehensive volume will help you to find a solution.

Andrew edited the RHS Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers and the RHS Encyclopedia of Gardening (both Dorling Kindersley). His other published works include The Practical Encyclopedia of Garden Pests and Diseases, Garden Plants and Gardening Techniques (both Lorenz books), The Busy Gardener's Guide (Time Life), and Conifers, Small Trees and Heathers and in the New Plant Library series (Southwater). Andrew tutors a series of gardening courses at Farncombe Estate and will be giving gardening demonstrations and answering questions at Farncombe’s Open Day on Sunday 12 September 2010.

You can pre-order Andrew's book here .

New Calligraphy website for tutor Josie Brown

Josie has always loved the physical action of writing and considers it more a matter of the pen dancing on paper. The historical aspect of who wrote what kind of writing, when, where and why offers her a context for contemporary interpretation of individual letters, words and texts in a manner to feed the eye with feelings.

With a passion for colour, experimental gilding and bookmaking, for Josie, calligraphy is a medium for endless exploration, particularly through marrying up ancient techniques with modern methods to create visually expressive texts.

Josie has a Higher Dip in Calligraphy, Heraldry & Illumination, is a Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society (CLAS) accredited tutor and a founder member of Glevum Scribes. She has taught throughout the country for 25 years and carried out commissions for the military, academic and private sectors. She has also written a Calligraphy GCSE and a 30 Unit OCN course. Primarily, Josie is an enthusiastic, energetic and sensitive tutor who caters for the individual, helping them to reach their personal goals.

Josie will be tutoring at Farncombe in 2010 and 2011 and taking part in Art in Action 2010.

For more details of her work and Calligraphy workshops see Josie's new website http://www.josiebrown.co.uk/

Art in Action July 2010

A big thank you to our friends at Cotswold Art Supplies in Stow on the Wold who are helping Farncombe Estate with supplies for Art in Action workshops 15-18 July 2010.

To sign up for a workshop visit www.artinaction.org.uk. Tickets from £8.

Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - Online survey

Cotswolds Conservation Board is working with partners to develop opportunities for sustainable tourism which recognise the present and future needs of the environment, tourism businesses, visitors and the local community.

There are two ways to have your say:

· through a quick online survey

· through attending one of the workshop events during June and July

See below for more information.

Cotswolds AONB Tourism Survey

Tourism is hugely important to the economy of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and the Cotswolds Conservation Board is working with partners to develop opportunities for sustainable tourism which recognise the present and future needs of the environment, tourism businesses, visitors and the local community. This work is forming part of the Board's application for the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas. The aim of the Charter is to increase awareness of and support for protected areas (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks) across the UK and Europe, and to improve the sustainable development and management of tourism within them.

As part of this process, the Cotswolds Conservation Board would like to hear your views on tourism in the Cotswolds AONB. Please therefore take a few minutes to complete the questions in the online survey by following this link - Click here to take part in the survey

In return for your help and participation with this survey, your names will be entered into a prize draw to win one of four family tickets to the 2010 Moreton-in-Marsh Show on Saturday 4 September. Full details, including terms & conditions is available at www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk.

Interested in Patchwork and Quilting ?

As a quilting and/or patchwork enthusiast, you are an integral part of the textile community. As the national body representing quilting and patchwork in The British Isles, it is important that The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles understands your expectations and needs to ensure we are providing the best possible service to that community. To help develop this understanding we would appreciate it if you could take a few moments to complete a short online survey.

The answers you provide will be totally anonymous. Should you choose to disclose your identity this will not be associated with any of your responses. The answers provided will only be used for the purposes of this research and will not be divulged to any other bodies. You will not be under any obligation to join the Quilters’ Guild of The British Isles, however if you would like to find out more please visit the website: www.quiltersguild.org.uk


The responses from this survey will inform a body of research which will be used by The Quilters' Guild of The British Isles in their future work. Jacqui Corcoran, a postgraduate student at Sheffield Hallam University, will undertake the research, which will form the basis for the dissertation element of her MA Cultural Policy and Management

The survey will be available until Wednesday 30 June 2010 and can be completed here: http://bit.ly/aa58D2

Thank you for your time

Wolverhampton Open seeking artwork for exhibition

Wolverhampton Open is seeking artists to enter their artworks into this newly established event. Works will be displayed over multiple venues within the city.

We are excepting works of all sizes and media.

The entry fee is £15 for one work.

Deadline for submissions 20th July

How to Enter:

Email images and details of works to white.tree3@yahoo.co.uk . We will then select the venue for your work to be exhibited. Entry payments to be made by cash on delivery of work.

All entrants will be notified by email on the success of your entry to the open by the 27th July. All entrants must be available to drop of there works either on the 13th or 14th August. We reserve the right to refuse admission and insurance of work will be the responsibility of the artist.

The exhibition of works entered to the open will take place on the 20th August to the 3rd of September.

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