Dear All ,
Our most important concern at this time is for the health and well-being of all OVAS members and their families. We sincerely hope that everyone is safe and well in these trying times.
The committee met (online) recently to discuss the planned programme and the changes that would now unfortunately be necessary which are detailed below. We also have some new exciting proposals to substitute some of these events with activities to hopefully keep us all connected and in the art mood.
Firstly the planned demonstration by Richard Turner on 1st May has been cancelled and both his and Jake Winkle’s events have now been transferred to 2021. It is likely that the future events in June and July will also be postponed and we will keep you informed via the website or email.
To fill this void in the programme we have been in discussion with a number of our planned demonstrators to see if we can arrange online art demonstrations . So we can confirm that : Phil Creek has kindly offered to set one up for the evening of May 12th at 7pm. We will send an email invite with full details on how to connect in a few weeks time.
We are not sure how many of you at this time are now confident with online connections but let me reassure you that it is really quite easy and does not involve anything technically complicated. If our committee can manage it then I am sure you can as well !
If this is successfull we will arrange more events online.
The second initiative is that we are planning to hold a Monthly Members Art Competition . The submissions can be any subject and medium and entry is by sending a photograph to Chris Poole(charybdis72@hotmail.co.uk) . He will upload the pictures (anonymously) to a page on the OVAS website . At a set date, members will then review the paintings on the website and decide on their favourite. They email their favourite to Chris Poole who will collate and announce the winner.
The dates for the first ‘ May’ competition will be as follows :
i) Submissions by photo to Chris Poole between 27th April and 15th May.
ii) OVAS Members will be asked to vote on their favourite from 18th to 22nd May
iii) Winning entry will be posted on website 25th May .
If this proves successful we will run additional competitions in future months. I do hope the whole membership will enjoy this challenge so get painting !
As we are not sure when and if lockdown and social distancing measures will be eased a decision on the annual exhibition in August will be made in the next committee meeting 29th May. We will keep you informed.
The committee are also aware that members have paid subscriptions for this year and the programme is not as was originally planned . The decision was made to review this later in the year when the full picture may be clearer.
These are very difficult times but we hope that these initiatives will help to keep the creative juices flowing and keep us connected together as a vibrant and successful art club.
Stay safe
Very best wishes
Penny Lamb