Welcome

The Arts Society Ashford or ADFAS as it was then, met for the first time in 1984, to provide those who live in and around Ashford with the opportunity to increase their knowledge of the arts.

We currently have to over 200 members, drawn mainly from the villages around Ashford, Folkestone and Hythe and because of the Health and Safety limits on the Village Hall, and the comfort of our members, we may have a waiting list at the time you apply. More details are on the Joining Us page, and the current situation will be given there. We are pleased that many of the original founders remain members. The late Jan Talbot was our first Chairman and subsequently our Honorary President.

Lecture meetings are held in Aldington Village Hall usually on the third Tuesday of each month from September to Meetings open at 10.15 with coffee and time for booking of visits and special interest days.  Lectures begin at 11.00 after the Chairman’s remarks, and last about an hour.  We do not have formal questions after lectures, but members can usually talk informally to speakers afterwards. The lectures are given by experts in their fields, all of whom have gone through  a rigorous selection process by The Arts Society, the national organisation to which all local Societies belong, and are included in the membership fees.

Members are able to invite non-members as guests at a cost of £7 per lecture. This is restricted to two lectures for the same guest in any programme year. You are asked to contact the Membership Secretary to bring a guest. People who have made an application to join The Arts Society, Ashford may attend up to four lectures in any programme year also at a cost of £7 per lecture. Again please contact the Membership Secretary.

In addition to our programmes of illustrated lectures, we would normally provide special interest days and visits of the highest possible standard for our members. These are paid for separately. Unfortunately due to the pandemic these were suspended but are starting up again.

The Special Interest Days would usually take place in the Village Hall, and allow members to delve more deeply into a particular subject. Sometimes there are opportunities to bring along our own rugs, silver, china and other artefacts for comment.

Our Visits Secretaries will arrange coach or train trips to museums, galleries and places of historic interest in the south of England, and occasional day trips to the continent.

Supporting the aims and objects of The Arts Society, we encourage the work of our Young Arts programme which educates young people of all ages in the arts.