The Arts Society Woburn Area

20/10/2026

All welcome to our October lecture.

Topic - History of Cartoons: from William Hogarth to Private Eye

Next Thursday 29th October.
Aspley Guise Village Hall at 7.30 pm.

Doors open at 7pm. Refreshments available.
£8 payable on the door - cash or card.

The first time the word Cartoon was used in the sense that we know it today was in 1843 in Punch magazine. But the employment of satire, caricature, speech bubbles and the writing of captions had been around long before then. In this talk Ian tracks the early stages of cartoons and how, through the works of William Hogarth and James Gillray, they gradually evolved.

Speaker Ian Keable
Ian gained a First Class degree from Oxford University, qualified as a Chartered Accountant and then became a professional magician. He is a Member of The Inner Magic Circle. In 2014 he published Charles Dickens Magician: Conjuring in Life, Letters & Literature. He now divides his time between performing magic, giving talks and researching and writing. His latest book, The Century of Deception: The Birth of the Hoax in Eighteenth-Century England, was published in 2021.

https://theartssociety.org/events/history-cartoons-william-hogarth-private-eye-0

Gallery - James Gillray, Plumb Pudding in Danger

09/10/2026

STUDY DAY: SYMBOLISM IN ART, DISCOVER THE HIDDEN MEANING!
12th November 2026,
Aspley Guise Village Hall, Aspley Guise, MK17 8JS.

Open to all.

A study day organised by The Arts Society Woburn Area (A member society of The Arts Society).

As centuries passed, a language of symbols developed so that artists could tell stories with deeper and more intricate emphasis, instantly understandable for an audience which did not always share the same spoken language and which was often illiterate.

Even though many of these symbols are still in use today, modern audiences have lost the ability to recognize and read them. This study day dives into the deeper meaning hidden in works of art.

Learn how to read the secrets of different objects, forms, shapes and colours and the iconography associated with it.

We will cover a wide range of (mainly Western) art of diverse kinds and origins, and examine the fascinating and complex range of different symbols making it easier for you to interpret works of art and never have to read a museum label again!

Your Lecturer
Mariska Beekenkamp- Wladimiroff

Mariska studied The Dutch Baroque Arts from the 17th century at the Courtauld Institute of Arts. She started as a College Lecturer, but soon after started her own company - Art Historical London offering art historical lectures, museum visits, courses, tours, travel and events from Amsterdam, London and New York.

Cost: £35 (includes coffee and a sandwich lunch).

Timetable

10.00 – 10.30 Arrival
10.30 – 11.30 Introduction to Symbolism and Iconography
11:30 – 12:00 Coffee
12.00 - 13.00 Christianity and Mythology
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
14.00 – 15.00 The Natural World (Flowers and Animals).
15:00. Close

To Book or for more information
Please email Carol Johnson - [email protected] or telephone 07968 785574

11/09/2026

Just a reminder of this event next Thursday 24th September.

Welcome to our new season of illustrated talks.
Our 1st talk is Thursday 24th September at 7.30 pm
Venue - Aspley Guise Village Hall.
All welcome. £8 (cash only) on the door.

RESTORING WOBURN ABBEY and ITS COLLECTIONS

In November 2019 Woburn Abbey closed to visitors to undergo a generational programme of restoration and refurbishment which will ensure the survival of this remarkable house and collection for centuries to come. Works are still underway – the house has undergone a transformation – and when it reopens the collections, much of which will have been conserved, will be redisplayed to dramatic effect. The new presentation will showcase the history and development of Woburn Abbey from monastic times to the present day. Matthew will highlight some of the changes that can be expected, some of the intriguing discoveries that have been made along the way and give a flavour of what can be expected.

Speaker is Matthew Hirst is Curator of the Woburn Abbey Collection. He began his career at Waddesdon Manor. In 2007 he took up the new post of Head of Arts & Historic Collections for the Devonshire Collections, managing a major conservation programme and the representation of many of the historic interiors at Chatsworth. In 2015 Matthew moved to Woburn Abbey, and has since researched and developed a major representation and restoration of the house, marking the largest programme of works at the Abbey since it opened to the public in 1955. Matthew is also a trustee of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust and the Leche Trust.

11/09/2026

Welcome to our new season of illustrated talks.
Our 1st talk is Thursday 24th September at 7.30 pm
Venue - Aspley Guise Village Hall.
All welcome. £8 (cash only) on the door.

RESTORING WOBURN ABBEY and ITS COLLECTIONS

In November 2019 Woburn Abbey closed to visitors to undergo a generational programme of restoration and refurbishment which will ensure the survival of this remarkable house and collection for centuries to come. Works are still underway – the house has undergone a transformation – and when it reopens the collections, much of which will have been conserved, will be redisplayed to dramatic effect. The new presentation will showcase the history and development of Woburn Abbey from monastic times to the present day. Matthew will highlight some of the changes that can be expected, some of the intriguing discoveries that have been made along the way and give a flavour of what can be expected.

Speaker is Matthew Hirst is Curator of the Woburn Abbey Collection. He began his career at Waddesdon Manor. In 2007 he took up the new post of Head of Arts & Historic Collections for the Devonshire Collections, managing a major conservation programme and the representation of many of the historic interiors at Chatsworth. In 2015 Matthew moved to Woburn Abbey, and has since researched and developed a major representation and restoration of the house, marking the largest programme of works at the Abbey since it opened to the public in 1955. Matthew is also a trustee of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust and the Leche Trust.

24/06/2026

ALERT - CANCELLED -

Tomorrow’s Lecture - Thursday 25th June. Aspley Guise Village Hall.

THE WALLACE COLLECTION: ART FOR THE ARISTOCRACY

Due to the red weather warning the speaker has asked that in terms of health and safety for all concerned that we cancel. We agree that this is the right decision.

Apologies to all.

22/05/2026

All welcome to our May lecture.

Next Thursday 28th May. Aspley Guise Village Hall at 7.30 pm.
Doors open at 7 pm. Refreshments available.
£7.50 payable on the door - cash only.

CANALS HISTORY AND HERITAGE

A colourful introduction to the secret world of these inland waterways - artistic, architectural and engineering vernacular.

This lecture provides a colourful introduction to the secret world of our 2000-mile inland waterway network and looks at all aspects of their exceptional artistic, architectural and engineering vernacular. Features range from sweeping aqueducts to tiny bollards; from colourful historic narrowboats to 'Roses and Castles' artwork; from grand World Heritage Sites to quirky listed buildings. A well-known architectural historian once described our canals as a 'poor man's art gallery'.

Speaker - Roger Butler

https://theartssociety.org/events/canals-history-and-heritage

16/04/2026

All welcome to our next lecture.

Next Thursday 23rd April - 7.30pm. Aspley Guise Village Hall.
£7.50 payable at the door. Please note the date!

CATHEDRALS: SAFE PLACES TO DO RISKY THINGS

The history of England’s cathedrals, their evolving architecture and some of their treasures and their role today.

Speaker - Janet Gough

https://theartssociety.org/events/cathedrals-safe-places-do-risky-things-2

Gallery Photos

The geometric staircase in the south west tower of St Paul’s Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren with ironwork by Jean Tijou (photo Kevin Caldwell)

The Last Judgement window 1897 by Sir Edward Burne-Jones made in the studio of William Morris, Birmingham Cathedral (photo Andy Marshall)

View onto the cloisters from the Romanesque chapter house at Bristol Cathedral (c Bristol Cathedral).