December 2021 Newsletter

Dear all,
Welcome to our December newsletter. Thank you for your patience while we've been working on our new website platform, which went live in November. Now that the website transition is complete we will resume producing our members' newsletter on a monthly basis.

November’s exhibition was a resounding success and, in spite of the reduced foot fall in Lacock resulting largely from COVID, the exhibition paid for itself and generated over £1,000 in revenue for our members. Thank you to everyone in the group who played a part in staging the exhibition, in particular to Ken Baldy and Joy Tickell. It was good to see our new members joining in with the set-up and take-down of the exhibition and selling their artwork too.

Large paintings on display at our November exhibtion

Pets were welcome too!

Cards for sale at our November exhibtion

​Demonstrations
As you are aware, the demonstration by Soraya French (planned for November) was cancelled due to COVID precautions. Next year’s demonstrations are under consideration currently but we are finding that many artists are adopting a “wait and see” approach in respect of COVID, which makes planning a little awkward at present. However, do keep an eye out on the website for upcoming dates as we issue them.

​Annual fees
For those of you who prefer to pay for their membership each term, the 2022 term dates will be released at the beginning of the year. Unless you are in arrears for previous terms there will be no fees due until March 2022 due to the pause imposed by COVID restrictions. 

Website plans
As mentioned above, in November, Lacock Art Group’s new website went live. I am very pleased with how the process was executed and I believe the site adds a fresh dimension to our Group’s online presence. It is certainly much easier and less laborious to manage behind the scenes than the old platform! And it’s more cost effective too.

Four people will be assigned to maintaining the website content; Elspeth is the webmaster and Joy, Karen and Mark are also in the process of training up to perform work on it. You will have or will soon receive an email from one of us, requesting images and short bios for use in the individual members’ galleries. Please respond ASAP to the request, as we have set ourselves a deadline to have all member galleries created and populated by January 6, 2022.

As we move into 2022, the site will mature as we add functionality and automate some of the processes that we currently do by email, which will ensure consistency and expand the site’s following. Once again a massive “thank you” to Elspeth who was the focal point for the whole transition of the site. She will also be holding a session at one of the Thursday evening meetings to show people where to find information etc on the new site.

​Looking ahead
In the meantime, I will look forward to seeing you on the December 16, if you can attend, for our “Christmas frolics”, which is also the last evening meeting of 2021.
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By popular request we have shortened the “holiday” period in December/January by one week so we will resume evening meetings on Thursday 6 January, 2022.
I wish you all a joyous festive break and a happy new year!

Cheers,
Mark