The Arts Society Dukeries meets on the first Wednesday of most months at Carlton Civic Centre, where members enjoy lectures on a wide range of art-related topics. The 2025 programme offers a variety of fascinating and engaging subjects.
In addition to the monthly lectures and Study or Special Interest Days, members can enjoy social gatherings, day trips, theatre visits and even an annual holiday – next year’s being a five-day visit to Scotland. Members also receive newsletters and a national magazine. The next lecture will be the Society’s light-hearted Christmas event, taking place on Wednesday 3rd December, titled A Dickens of a Christmas and God Bless Us Everyone. The speaker will be Bertie Pearce.
Charles Dickens has often been described as ‘the man who invented Christmas’, and when news of his death spread, a cockney barrow girl was said to have exclaimed ‘Dickens dead? Then will Father Christmas die too?’ Dickens revived Christmas traditions with his warm portrayals of domestic festivity – plum pudding, turkey, games, dancing and family cheer by the hearth. Though he celebrated Christmas in several works, it was his 1843 masterpiece A Christmas Carol, published on 19th December, that immortalised the spirit of goodwill and joy.
The Society will take a short break in January before returning on Wednesday 4th February for a lecture on Picasso and Cubism, following the AGM. Everyone is welcome to attend. A theatre trip has also been arranged for Tuesday 30th December, with a matinee performance of A Christmas Carol at The Crucible, Sheffield. A few tickets remain and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so members and friends interested in attending are encouraged to contact the Society.
Looking ahead, the Society’s 2026 holiday departs on Sunday 7th June for a five-day tour exploring The Art and History of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Meetings are held at the Civic Centre, Long Lane, Carlton-in-Lindrick, S81 9AP. Tea and coffee are served from 10.00am, with mince pies provided at the Christmas lecture, followed by Society notices at 10.50am. The lecture runs from 11.00am to approximately 12.00pm, depending on questions. There is free parking available.
Members pay an annual subscription, while visitors are welcome to attend and may pay at the door. For further details, please contact Caroline, Chair, on 01909 531614, or visit www.theartssociety.org/Dukeries.