Volunteering
Young Arts
What is Young Arts? Started in 1973, Young Arts provides exciting opportunities for children and young people to expand their horizons through their involvement in creative arts activities. Our support of local young artists has taken a number of forms. With our financial help, Hazelmere Junior School in Greenstead has been able to undertake art projects and gallery outings which might not otherwise have been possible.
We also supported a musical workshop at Cherry Tree School in Colchester and in 2011 we funded 10 pupils from that school to take part in a day of the Big Draw animation workshop which produced a short film about the Wickham Market Hoard and was much enjoyed. The film has been shown before our lectures.
In 2011 we also were delighted to be able to support Art Therapy for bereaved children at St Helena Hospice, in Colchester.
A cheque for £500 from the members of the Colchester Decorative and Fine Arts Society was presented to help towards purchasing essential art materials for bereaved children.
ColchesterDFAS told the Hospice that we wanted to be able to help support bereaved children through a difficult time, and hopefully enable them to appreciate art through this type of therapy.
For more on this and other outreach projects we have been involved with for Young Arts please see our News page.
Church Recorders
What is Church Recording?
Church Recorders are NADFAS
volunteers who make records of the contents of our national churches. The items
are described in detail and their history researched. All the material is then
compiled into a book illustrated with photographs and drawings. This is
presented to the church and copies are sent to national institutions.
Colchester DFAS have recorded the structure and contents of 9
churches the last of which was St Andrew's, Fingringhoe. Members are now working with another group on Langham Church.
Both this
activity and other support of our local heritage depend on enthusiastic
volunteers from amongst our members providing hands-on assistance. If you would like to join in please email us at info@colchesterdfas.org.uk or speak to a committee member.
You can find out more about church recording by visiting www.nadfas.org.uk.
From left to
right
Gilded Angel Holding a Candle-Pricket, part of a Reredos
Roof
boss, early 15th century, believed to be a likeness of John Doreward,
parishioner
St Margaret of Antioch, statue thought to be 14th century
(loaned to V&A exhibition, Gothic Arts for England 1400-1547 in October
2003)
All at St Andrew's, Fingringhoe.
The Victor Batte-Lay Trust Collection Research Project
Dione
Page (b.1936)
Plants, Gourds & Quinces 1983
Mixed Media on
paper 55 x 74 cm
The Victor Batte-Lay Trust which owns the Minories Art Gallery, now used by Colchester Institute, School of Art and Design, also owns an art collection which can be seen online at www.vbltcollection.org.uk.
The collection which is being catalogued by Evelyne Bell, the VBLT Fine Art Consultant and a Fellow at the University of Essex, still requires a number of works of art to be researched. The research involves writing a biography of the artist concerned, finding out about the work produced and writing a statement including a bibliography. The artists still to investigate are Valerie Thornton (1931-1991), Ian McKeever (b1946) and John Vine (1809-1867) amongst others.
Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum - Castle House, Dedham
My Wife, My Horse and Myself', Sir Alfred Munnings KCVO
c1934
© and property of The Sir Alfred Munnings Art
Museum'.
The museum is located in the large house, studio and gardens that were Sir Alfred's home from 1919 until his death in 1959. It has a unique atmosphere, being very much as it was when the artist lived and worked there. Although most famous as a great horse painter, Munnings was very versatile and the museum shows his wide-ranging talents as a painter and sculptor. The museum was established by his widow and has been instrumental in raising his status; he is now one of the most highly regarded British artists of the 20th century.
Volunteers (including members of Colchester DFAS) act as stewards on open days. Additional volunteers would be welcome as would those interested in helping in other ways, including curatorial duties (such as preparation of descriptive panels for the various works and displays), fund-raising and the establishment of a "Friends" group.
For more information about the museum, please visit The Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum website.