I hope you have all enjoyed a great summer and are looking forward to returning to your Settlement!
We have a wonderfully diverse range of courses and activities to choose from, starting very soon and available to book from the new website:
We are launching several fresh courses this year, for example, ‘ Exploring Interior Design’ with new tutor, Laura Halsey. This is intended to develop your ability to visualise in three dimensions and make your own Interior Design concept, perhaps a room or set of rooms in your own home, an exciting reality!
Exploring Interior Design – Letchworth Settlement
I am delighted to announce that artist Vanessa Stone will be joining the Settlement with a new offer: a ‘Still Life Drawing Club’. Meeting just once a month, on Saturday mornings, Vanessa will teach drawing skills, and will nurture your own individual style by first focussing your attention on an inspirational arrangement of objects. This is suitable for all skill levels from beginner upwards.
Life Drawing Club – Letchworth Settlement
Let Wafa Tarnowska take you on ‘A Journey through the Arabian Nights’, departing on Thursday 19 September (10am -12pm):
A Journey through the Arabian Nights – Letchworth Settlement
Also on Thursday 19 September (1-3pm), start your exploration of political, religious, and social divisions in post-1815 France with Andrew Bamford:
France 1815-1914 – Letchworth Settlement
Explore the studios, directors, and stars that shaped an artistic and commercial powerhouse here in the UK to rival that of our friends in Hollywood (starts Friday 20th September 10.30am – 12.30pm; with Christopher Budd):
125 Years of British Cinema – Letchworth Settlement
Learn woven tapestry skills at your own pace with expert Lucy Sugden (starts Tuesday 17th September 7-9pm):
Woven Tapestry – Letchworth Settlement
I could go on! There is so much more across the arts and humanities – and in our substantial language department. Do look at Creative Writing – which has now expanded to four include tutors: Elizabeth Barber, Paul Walker, Adrian Poynton, and Sharon Priestley.
Even more activities, such as some great evening lectures from Michael Williams and, separately, James Willis, will be announced soon. Meanwhile, our two, brand-new, Artists-in-Residence, Becky Ullah and Nade Simmons, have already begun to get involved with the life of the Settlement. We are delighted to launch this innovative development, so do please look out for them throughout the year. The two artists were chosen as part of a competitive process that was open only to those previously working with the Digswell Trust and based in the Letchworth Fenners building.
Throughout September we, once again, are proud to operate as part of the Herts Visual Arts Open Studios programme! Look out for art demonstrations in the Common Room and the Evans Dressing Room and check out the items on display and for sale in the Common Room.
Following the sad death of John Baskerville, whom so many of you knew, and in recognition of his vibrant and substantial contribution to the Settlement (and elsewhere, locally) over many years, I can announce that the room formerly known as the Green Room is renamed the Baskerville Room from today.
Thanks and much appreciation is due to Stephen Charles, Vice-Chair, and Marian Adams, Secretary, for their magnificent, sustained, and extremely high-quality work on the development and launch of the new Settlement database booking system and website. This has elevated the Settlement to a new level and will provide a stable operating system for years to come.
As if that was not enough, we have been very busy during the summer refurbishing the Kincaid Hall, including the carrying out of floor restoration, painting, a new sound system, and the installation of some fabulous curtains of Charles Rennie Mackintosh design. This has been accomplished under the leadership of trustee, Nigel Carrick, and the members of our Properties Sub-Committee. We have added a super Yamaha Clavinova digital piano, too. It all looks splendid and completely ready for action. I know you will like it.
To enhance our class teaching, we have fitted electronic monitor screens in the Kincaid Hall and in the Weston, Williams, and Brunt rooms.
Assistant Manager, Julie Butcher, managed to obtain, free of charge, 60 brand new, black, upholstered chairs which we have distributed around the main building.
We can’t wait to get the term started! Let’s go!
Best wishes,
-Nick
