Watford Area Arts Forum

News Page

WAAF website reader offer:
Win tickets to The Dresser at Watford Palace Theatre.
Award winning British playwright Ronald Harwood’s international hit play The Dresser launches Watford Palace Theatre’s Autumn Centenary Season.

(Click here for more information)

Mayor says ‘thank you’ to local artists

Mayor Dorothy Thornhill thanked local aritist for enhancing the quality of life in Watford, when she officially opened the Watford Area Arts Forum’s Open Summer Exhibtion at the Harlequin gallery on Thursday.

The Mayor, who takes a keen interest in art, also remarked that it was particularly pleasing to see so many new styles of art work including high quality ceramics.

Chairman of WAAF, Jaffer Bhimji, thanked exhibition organiser Frances Geragthy and her team for an attractive display, which looks bright and light, but involves a lot of work behind the scenes.

The show continues until Sunday, July 20.

Picture by Graham Willis

Picture by Barry Saunders

Open Studios exhibition and “trailer show” at Space2

The annual Herts Open Studios event in September will have the backing of a big town centre showcase in Watford.
Members of Watford Area Arts Forum are invited to submit work to a joint exhibition at the Space2 galleries at Watford Museum and the Town Hall. The exhibition will be open from September 13 until October 5 and organisers welcome demonstrations.
Artists, who are opening their private studios, will be able to take advantage of the central showcase, too, by displaying a work of art in a “trailer show” within the exhibition accompanied by details of the artist, location and opening times.
“That way everyone benefits,” said Frances Geraghty, who is organising the show with members of Watford Council’s Arts Team.
It also helps art lovers pick the artists and studios to visit.
The “trailer show” is open to all artists in the Watford area taking part in Herts Open Studios.
*Closing date for entries is Tuesday, July 1. For details and entry forms, artists, who wish to take part, can contact Frances Geraghty on 01923 248174 (after 6pm) or email Watford Council’s Arts Team at info@watfordmuseum.org.uk

Kathy Foster exhibits recent work in ‘Spaces in Time’

at Artshed Arts Centre, Westmill Farm, near Ware, from 4th July until 10th August.
Kathy seeks out worn and weathered objects that mirror our own ageing process, and these offer a myriad of possibilities for creating images. (Click here for flyer)

Summer 2008 Forum Notes

To view page 1 (Click here) To view page 2 (Click here)

See our Future Exhibitions & Events Page for information on:

WAAF Open Summer Exhibition,
Midsummer visit to Mali Music Festival,
Open Studios exhibition and ‘trailers’ at Space2 galleries.

This years Craft & Design Experience takes place on

16 – 18 May at Fawley Court, Henley on Thames.
sculpture garden - workshops - demonstrations - entertainment - shop direct from over 200 exhibitors. Order tickets in advance and save up to £3.00 - tickets also available on the gate.
(deadline for orders now extended to 2nd May)

Around 40 sculpture artists will be showing their work, alongside a further 200 exhibitors working in many disciplines, including furniture, textiles, glass, jewellery, leather, metal, wood and more… For more details and to order tickets see www.craftexperience.co.uk

(Click here) for flyer.

An Exhibition by Jane Harrisonat at the Newton Price Centre,

Grosvenor Road, Watford,opens on the 5th May. A Private View, to which WAAF members are cordially invited is on Wednesday 7th May from 6.00 to 8.00pm.

(Click here) for flyer

Spring / Summer 2008 Watford Area Arts Forum magazine.

To download a PDF copy of the WAAF Spring / Summer 2008 magazine.

(Click Here)

(please note that the file size is 5.35Mb)

Rhythm Rising kick-start Mainz festival date with Watford gig

Local band, Rhythm Rising, have been invited back to play at the international Johannisnacht Festival in Watford’s German twin town Mainz in June.
It is the sixth time the band have been asked to take part and this time Watford fans get a chance to share the excitement at a one-off local gig, Morestyles, at The Amber Rooms at 94-96 Queens Road, on Saturday May 3, starting at 8pm.
Formed in 1994 Rhythm Rising play a mixture of Latin and soul grooves. Original songs are mixed with a few quality cover versions and the music has a steady dancing beat creating a lively atmosphere at gigs.

Happy Birthday, Shakespeare

People who attended performances of As You Like It at Watford Palace Theatre on Wednesday, April 23, each received a surprise gift to mark William Shakespeare’s birthday.
Front of house staff gave out small bundles of rosemary, tied with yellow ribbon, at the matinee and evening performances of the show. This is a tradition incorporated by Stratford-Upon-Avon as rosemary is a herb of remembrance.
The audience were also treated to a sonnet performed by the cast at the end of the performance.
As You Like It is runs until Saturday 26 April. To book tickets for this or Alan Bennett’s Kafka’s Dick please call the box office on 01923 225671 or book online at http://www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/

Win tickets for Kafka’s Dick

Once again Watford Palace Theatre have offered readers of this website the chance to win a pair of free tickets - this time for Alan Bennett’s surreal comedy, Kafka’s Dick.
Kafka’s Dick explores our attitudes to fame and celebrity: It's 1919 and in Prague, Czech writer Franz Kafka is dying. His best friend and editor, Max Brod, reluctantly agrees to burn all of Kafka's unpublished work. In present day suburban England, Linda and her Kafka-obsessed husband Sydney are astonished when Max Brod turns up on their doorstep, shortly to be followed by Kafka himself. Kafka's overbearing father and Sydney's confused one, not to mention the tortoise, complete the cast this surreal and hilarious farce.
*To win a pair of tickets for a preview performance of your choice (May 8, 9, 10 or 12) all you have to do is to answer the question: Who wrote Kafka’s Dick? and email the answer to julia@watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk before noon on Tuesday, May 6. Please, also indicate your choice of date in case of winning

Victoria Carling as Linda and Adrian Lukis as Kafka in rehearsal for Kafka’s Dick at Watford Palace Theatre.

Watford Operatic Society present their forthcoming production of 'Chess'.

(Click here for flyer)

AN EXHIBITION OF WORK FROM THE ADULT EVENING CLASSES

15 – 24 APRIL 2008 4 – 8PM MONDAY - THURSDAY
at Watford Grammar School for Girls



WAAF MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO THE PRIVATE VIEW

ON MONDAY 14th APRIL 2008 FROM 7 – 9PM (Click here for flyer)

Please come along and support our Adult Students!

Holly Dalfen Specialist Status Manager

Watford Grammar School for Girls
Specialist Status Department
01923 4476

MILESTONES ADULT WORKSHOPS - SINGING, DANCE AND DRAMA

Milestone: Achievement, anniversary, breakthrough, discovery, event, landmark, occasion,

turning point ww.milestonesproject.co.uk

If you are interested in SINGING, DANCE or DRAMA and you are an adult living in

WATFORD aged between 18 -100 come and join us for some fantastic FREE WORKSHOPS

– No experience necessary.

It’s our 100th birthday! We want all the communities of Watford to join us in celebrating this

milestone – The MILESTONES project is a chance for you to get involved, develop new skills,

and share your own milestones with us.

The workshops are free, but you need to sign up for all 8 sessions in order to secure a place

- Places are limited so book early!

8 DRAMA sessions 8 DANCE sessions 8 SINGING session

Monday 7^th April Tuesday 8^th April Wednesday 9^th April

Monday 14^th April Tuesday 15^th April Wednesday 16^th April

Monday 21^st April Tuesday 22^nd April Wednesday 30^th April

Monday 5^th May Tuesday 6^th May Wednesday 7^th May

Monday 12^th May Tuesday 13^th May Wednesday 14^th May

Monday 19^th May Tuesday 20^th May Wednesday 21^st May

Monday 26^th May Tuesday 27^th May Wednesday 28^th May

DRAMA: Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Road WD17 1JZ. Times: 7 – 9pm

DANCE: Multi-Cultural Community Centre, 70 Durban Road West WD18 7DS Times: 7:30 - 9:30pm

SINGING: Watford Palace Theatre 20 Clarendon Road WD17 1JZ Times: 7 – 9pm

On Saturday 31st May there will be an informal sharing of work created by each group.

To register for a place or for more information please contact Ria at Watford Palace

Theatre. Email: ria@watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk Phone: 01923 810 313

Newton Price Centre exhibition entitled Colours of Emotion.

Members will probably be aware of the story of Pete Nash who was

diagnosed with a severe brain condition which entailed several highly

complicated and delicate operations. He is now making an amazing

recovery.

This exhibition is by his wife Julia.

The Private view is on Monday 7th April 2008 from 8.00 until 9.30pm.

This provides an opportunity to enjoy Julia's pictures, which are mainly

abstract but with an impressive use of colour and also to meet her and

Pete, a most courageous couple..

Do please make an effort to attend, a large attendance would be greatly appreciated. To see flyer please (Click here)

To see the WAAF/NPC Colours of Emotion Exhibition, visit our WAAF Video page

"Affordable” Brian Shepherd

opens season at Chenies

Bushey artist, Brian Shepherd, whose vivid image of Grafitti in New York

appears on the cover of Watford Area Arts Forum's autumn/winter issue, is taking

part in this week's Affordable Arts show at Battersea Park, London.
Following this show, Brian is set to open the season at the Pavilion

Gallery at Chenies Manor with Cityscapes. The show will be up in time

for the traditional Easter Monday family day at the Manor, 2-5pm.

The show continues through April.

Meet Sara Paretsky
in Chorleywood
Groundbreaking American novelist Sara Paretsky will be talking about

her new novel, Bleeding Kansas, at Chorleywood Primary School,

Stag Lane, Chorleywood, on Tuesday, March 25, 7pm.
Tickets, £5 including a glass of wine, are available from Chorleywood

Bookshop, tel. 01923 283566.

Octavia Art Group Exhibition 2008

Exhibition runs from Sunday 6th. April to Thursday 10th. April 2008
Art Demonstrations Given Daily & Entry is FREE
For Flyer (Click here) for group photo (Click here)

Win tickets so see: The Doubtful Guest at Watford Palace Theatre

 (Click here for flyer and details)

For your information here is a link to Dermot's New Learn to Paint Website:

www.awashontheweb.com

Anyone who register using an e-mail address will enjoy a15 minute free trial of the

on-line video tutorials. Original episodes of the TV programmes

'Awash With Colour' are available to download and watch for FREE.

You can also post comments in their NEW forum.

Cygnets Arts Group

There is a forthcoming exhibition at the Newton Price Centre by the

Cygnets Arts Group. It would be a great encouragement if members could

find time to visit the exhibition and call in for a glass of wine at the

Private and Members View on Monday the 10th March. Admission is,

of course, FREE. To see flyer (Click here)

JEWELLERY & SILVERSMITHING SHOW 1-2 MARCH

over 80 exhibitors - free lectures - partner's lounge

To see flyer (Click here) For more details see website

Welcome to the February 08 Musicademy Newsletter.

To see the Musicademy Newsletter please click on the link following:

http://www.musicademy.com/newsletter/February2008.html?utm_medium

=email&utm_source=newsletter0802

Watford Grammar School for Girls invite you to Exhibitions of:

Images by Belinda Bean from 18^th Feb to 28^th. Feb. (Click here for flyer)

and

RELATIONSHIPS from 6^th to 18^th. March 2008 (Click here for flyer)

An Exhibition of Paintings & Prints By Artists Dawn Somers Georgie Cowan

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO THE PRIVATE VIEW on 5^th. March 7pm - 9pm

FIRST THEATRE ORGAN CONCERT

The first in a series of concerts featuring the newly refurbished Mighty Compton
Pipe Organ will be held at The Watford Colosseum on 12^th. March 2008. 
Featuring international recording and concert artist, Robert Wolfe, the concert 
starts at 7.30pm. and interval refreshments will be available.

Tickets at £10 for adults (£8 for concessions) are available on the door.

Refresh your spirits at lunchtime recital

A new season of lunchtime recitals at St Mary’s Church in Watford starts on a high note on Tuesday, February 12, with acclaimed young pianist Liu Ji, 18, playing the complete cycle of the Goldberg Variations by J. S. Bach.

The composer published The Goldberg Variations in 1714 as a set of keyboard practices “composed for connoisseurs for the refreshments of their spirits.”

Which is very much the spirit of the Tuesday lunchtime recitals at St Mary’s in Watford town centre. People are encouraged to drop in between 1 and 2pm to relax and listen to music with a cup of tea or coffee. Admission is free.

The new season continues until April 15 and includes such diverse performers as the winner of last year’s Watford Festival, 12-year-old pianist Cassandra Yong (February 19) and Soundproof Jazz (February 26). For details, see posters outside the church, visit St Mary’s website or contact the organiser Nina Cook at nina@mcookies.com

Call for Artists for this year's Herfordshire Open Studios

(Click here for flyer)

“Inspirations” at Watford Museum

WAAF members are invited to the private view on Saturday 2nd February,2.00-4.00 pm. Of the forthcoming exhibition "Inspirations" to be held at Watford Museum, as well as images of works that will be shown, with three different approaches, we are hoping to make people see the Museum and its exhibits in a new light.

To see flyer (Click here) To see sample pictures (Click here)

For further information, contact me on email kathryn.foster@btinternet.com

Win tickets for World Premiere at Watford Palace Theatre

for details (Click here)

Young actors’ chance to appear at Watford Palace

Talented young performers, aged 13-16, are invited to audition for Hertfordshire County Youth Theatre’s next production, A Vampire Story, which will be staged at Watford Palace Theatre on March 28 and 29, 2008.
Auditions are being held across the county at the beginning of December and are open to students, who attend council funded schools or colleges in Hertfordshire.
A Vampire Story is a brand new play by award winning playwright Moira Buffini. It tells the story of two young woman who arrive in a nameless British small town. Their names are not their own and they don’t declare their ages, even their relationship remains a mystery. When one of the women declares herself a vampire, everyone thinks she is mad. Then people start disappearing...

Auditions will take place in the following places:
Mon. 3rd December       Tring School                                   3.30-5.30
Wed. 5th December       Turnford School, Cheshunt           3.30-5.30
Thur. 6th December        Hemel Hempstead School           4.00-6.00
Fri. 7th December          Sheredes School, Hoddesdon     3.30-5.30
Sat. 8th December         Watford Palace Theatre               3:30-5:30
Wed. 12th December     Knights Templar School, Baldock 3.30-5.30
Thur. 13th December      Rickmansworth School                 3.30-5.30

For further details about the auditions, please email: mailto:learning@watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk     or  call 01923 810307.

To see the WAAF Autumn Exhibition Video
Go to the WAAF Video page.

See our Music page for the Musicademy News Letter link.

An exhibition of Art by members of Drum, Fri 9^th. & Sat. 10^th. November (To see Flyer Click here)
DRUM
Parkgate Youth & Community Centre
Southwold Road, Watford
Hertfordshire WD24 7DP
Tel: 01923 442114
Web Site
www.drum.ik.com

An exhibition of mixed media contemporary art by Karen Rhodes.
(Click here to see Flyer)

Watford Area Arts Form Autumn Exhibition 2007
(Click here for flyer) (Click here for Rules) (Click here for Entry form)

Autumn Winter 2007 Watford Area Arts Forum magazine.

To download a PDF copy of the WAAF Spring Summer 2007 magazine.

(Click Here)

(please note that the file size is 6.56Mb)

Great Art Sale

(Click here for flyer) Link to site http://www.greatart.co.uk/?dm_i=163939762