Guild Newsletter
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Principal's Welcome
It’s been a brilliant year so far and I am delighted to report that, now that the weather is improving, we are recommencing day trips and residential courses. Our first outing is a day trip by coach to the Lake District which includes a ride on a steam train and a ferry on Windermere. Our next residential trip, An Art Weekend in Cromford, is already fully booked. Please check our website for details about other new activities. In addition to the published courses we are also offering this summer term:
· Women Artists in the 20th Century, with Ian Irvine
· The 40’s. Don’t panic there’s a war on! With Steve Milward and Frank Vigon
· Find your happiness and thrive in 2025, with Dr Sheila French
The Guild is an apolitical charity, but it is impossible to ignore the world around us. Our resident Politics tutor has organised a symposium “The Conservative Party: from Rout to Renewal?” where we will hear from prominent experts on the Conservative party including our constituency MP Esther McVey, Laura Evans, the Conservative candidate up against Andy Burnham in both the 2021 and 2024 GM Mayoral elections (Chair of the Conservative Women's Organisation and a member of the national Conservative Party Review), Jonathan Gullis (former Tory MP for Stoke-on-Trent North) and Liverpool University’s Dr David Jeffery. We will be hosting a similar event about the Labour Party later this year.
The curriculum for this September is nearing completion and there is much to look forward to. There are some exciting new courses and activities as well as the old favourites continuing. Everything will be available to book online after summer half-term week. A discount code will be published for ‘early bird’ bookings made before 31st July 2025.
As always, if you have any ideas for a new course or activity please get in touch. We’re always on the look-out for new teachers; and, for volunteers to coordinate activities and help with administration.
I would like to thank all the volunteers, students and staff who have worked so hard to make the charity a success. I wish you all a very enjoyable Easter break and look forward to welcoming you back during the week commencing Tuesday 22nd April.
With best wishes,
Paula
Art News
Art aficionados and local history enthusiasts alike are warmly invited to a special preview of "Through a Lens," a captivating photographic exhibition at the Gallery at the Guild. Friday 25 April 2025
This free-entry event celebrates the beauty and intrigue of our local landscape. "Through a Lens" is an Open Call Exhibition held in conjunction with Discover Lindow 2024, and serves as a visual echo of the temporary Art Trail that graced Lindow Moss last year, offering a unique perspective on our cherished surroundings.
We hope you can make it.
OPEN ART EXHIBITION 2025
“Abstracting Life”
The Guild is inviting entries to their annual Open Art Exhibition with the theme “Abstracting Life”
Whilst of particular interest to students of the Life drawing classes, any student may submit work for selection, and the word ‘Life’ is open to interpretation. Artwork may comprise either two or three-dimensional works.
Photographs of all entries must be submitted as jpeg files to gallery@guildlifelonglearning.org by midnight on Friday 2nd May 2025 (maximum of three submissions per artist)
For more information please contact gallery@guildlifelonglearning.org
New Course
Find your Happiness and Thrive in 2025
Congratulations
Sabine Kussmaul's PhD Exhibition
You're all invited
My PhD project is coming to an end. I am setting up an exhibition to show all the
work I have done. And, I am writing to invite you to the preview of the exhibition!
Friday, 11th April, 4 pm – 6 pm.
CASC in Castlefield Gallery, New Art Spaces, Chester, Unit 16
Grosvenor Shopping Centre, Centre, Chester CH1 1EA
After the preview the exhibition continues:
12th April – 2nd May 2025, Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 11 am – 4 pm.
Parking can be found in many places in Chester and there is multi-story parking on top of the Grosvenor Centre. The entrance is from Newgate Street (CH1 1DE).
Short Course with Frank and Steve
The Forties -Don’t Panic, There’s A War On
This five-week course explores the 1940s' diverse cultural landscape, focusing on music, entertainment, and societal shifts during and after World War II. Students will examine European music under Nazi occupation, the escapism of wartime entertainment, and the jazz revolution. The course also covers British musical resilience, post-war changes, and the impact of the Blitz. Beyond music, it explores the Empire's unraveling, Israel's creation, and the 1951 Festival of Britain, highlighting cinema's crucial role during this transformative decade.
The plants for sale are donated by members of the gardening club and there is always an eclectic mix of plants from some quite common ones to rare treasures. There is something for everyone from novice to expert gardener Gardening club members will be on hand to give advice about plant care.
All the plants are sold at bargain prices compared to those in a garden centre.
Politics Event
The Conservative Party: From Rout To Renewal? A Public Symposium
Thursday 1 May 7.30pm
The Conservative Party is Britain’s oldest political party and its most electorally successful organisation. Since its emergence in the 1830s, it has spent most of its time in government and has adapted to a range of social, economic and cultural shifts.
Yet, at last year’s general election, the Party suffered an electoral rout. A record 251 Conservative seats were lost, including seats where, a few years earlier, Tory defeat would have been unthinkable (Macclesfield and Congleton being examples from our own region). As a result, the Party won just 121 seats, its smallest total ever, and just 3 of the 73 seats here in the North-West. Nationally, it polled just 24% of votes cast – again, its worst ever performance at a general election.
Now in Opposition, Conservatives face some awkward questions. Why did they suffer such a cataclysmic defeat? Can they fully recover? Should they heed those who deserted them for Labour and the Lib Dems - or those now supporting Reform? What is the likely strategy of the Party’s new leader, Kemi Badenoch? And will she be allowed to pursue it?
To help with these questions, we have assembled a panel that is both expert and experienced. Our constituency MP and former minister, Esther McVey, will be joined by Laura Evans, the Conservative candidate up against Andy Burnham in both the 2021 and 2024 GM Mayoral elections, an experienced politician, along with Jonathan Gullis, former Tory MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, and Liverpool University’s Dr David Jeffery, author of numerous publications concerning the Conservative Party.
Chaired by our resident Politics tutor, Richard Kelly (co-author of MUP’s British Political Parties Today), the event will combine panel analysis with questions and comments from the audience. As such, the event promises not just the views of Conservative politicians, but a chance to participate in one of the key debates surrounding modern British politics.
NB: A similar event, on the future of Britain’s centre-left, is planned later this year.
Community Course
Friday 16 May 2025
Approved by the First Aid Industry Body (FAIB) this is a 1 day/8hour Mental Health in the Workplace (MHW) course. This course is suitable for anyone who wants to increase their awareness of mental health and how to support and manage it in the workplace. No prior knowledge or experience is required.
Day schools in May
Chainmaking Day
This class is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience. Learn to make your own chains, whether to incorporate into another piece of jewellery or as a stand-alone chain. Exploring modern chain making ideas in depth and create a truly one-off necklace.
Jewellery Introduction Surface Patterns
A day to design and make handcrafted jewellery from silver, copper, brass or gold. We welcome complete beginners and more competent makers to this class. Working with an array of tools and techniques to create your designs in our workshop. Take opportunity to explore texture.
Life Drawing
Life drawing is one of the most fascinating things to do in art and design. It is a superb way of starting your drawing journey if you have never been there before, and it is a never-ending theme for more advanced artists at all levels. The session is suited for beginners and experts alike.
Scenic Lakeland Adventure
Coach Trip 4 June
Embark on a Scenic Lakeland Adventure!
Join us for a delightful day trip to the heart of the Lake District, a region renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and charming villages. We've crafted a special itinerary promising a relaxed and memorable experience filled with stunning views and nostalgic journeys.
Charity work
Complimentary Lunch and live music
16 April 12.30pm
Social connection is vital for everyone, but it becomes especially crucial for older residents. By coming together, older individuals can share experiences and build friendships.
Our work, in collaboration with local organisations, aims to create and support these vital social spaces, ensuring that older residents remain connected, engaged, and thriving within their community.
Please forward this event onto anyone that supports our older residents in Wilmslow and neighbouring areas. Thank you
Guild Event
Wilmslow Festival of Writing - Save the date
Saturday 5th June
Round up from last term
Artisanat en français
What a unique and fun workshop!
We combined the art of crafting succulents from recycled paper with the practice of conversational French.
A huge thank you to Stephanie for leading this fantastic session. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. If you missed out, don't worry! We're planning another workshop.
Who's in for round two? Let us know by email
Mandarin Workshop
Wonderful feedback from the last two sessions.
Look out for our twelve week course starting in September, details will be published on our website in June.
A marvellous, vibrant teacher inspired us on Saturday during our Mandarin taster class. Liz made learning accessible in such an interesting way. It was fun, relaxed and with no pressure . Our activities were relevant and varied. I loved it. Thank you.
Free reading group begins Thursday 8th May
Each week, The Reader brings people together at Shared Reading groups across the UK. These groups are free, and for everyone. At Shared Reading groups, our trained Reader Leader, Kate selects wonderful stories and poems to read aloud together.
On Thursday 8th May at 6.30pm we have a face-to-face session to introduce you to the Reader Please register your interest through the Guild website, click the button below.
If you'd like be a part of this new group and train as a Reader Leader, please contact Michael at partnerships@thereader.org.uk
Fundraising news
We're fundraising for a slab roller for our ceramics studio!
This tool creates even clay slabs, enabling larger, more creative projects. It also reduces physical strain, making ceramics more accessible. Plus, it speeds up clay prep, allowing more class time for creating and more cups of tea!
Thank you to all our students who have donated pieces of their work to raise funds. You can find the artwork in the cafe space. Take a look.
Every contribution helps us reach our goal.
Intermediate Photography course
Welcome to Intermediate Digital Photography
This course is designed for those with a basic understanding of photography who want to refine their skills, enhance their creative vision and explore more advanced digital techniques.
Led by professional photographer Richard Weston, this hands-on course will deepen your knowledge of composition, lighting and post-processing while encouraging creative exploration. You'll gain greater control over key camera settings, experiment with different photographic styles and develop an excellent editing workflow using a variety of software to produce striking and intentional images.
By the end of the course, you'll have the technical confidence and creative insight to your photography that will allow you to capture the world around you.
Good news section
Guild Creative Writer Achieves Success!
Anna Rains, a long standing member of the guild’s creative writing classes and enthusiastic supporter of all things literary at the guild, is excited to be embarking on her publishing career - at the age of 82.
Anna has had a full and exciting life, and comes from a rather eccentric (her word!) family who gave her the inspiration for her first book, The Quirky Clan - a memoir of her amazing relatives. Now, she is full speed ahead with her fiction writing, with several novels already published, a selection of classic English ghost stories (on sale at the guild), and her new novel which hits the bookshops this month.
As Anna would be the first to say, she is having the best time, and wants a strong message to go out to anyone who wants to give creative writing a go:
‘If I can do anything it would be to show other writers that it doesn't matter how old or young you are, everything is possible. It’s hard work, but it is amazing to touch your book for the first time. Whether I sell a lot of books or not doesn't matter - just doing it is so important.’
Anna’s writing tutor at the guild, Gill Rossini, agrees: ‘ Anna is the perfect example of what can be achieved; she has worked so very hard and had great success, but is still an attentive student and supports her writing colleagues magnificently. We are all very proud of her!’
Anna’s latest book, In the Wake of Betrayal, is a fast paced thriller centred around a kidnap. Play detective and see if you can work out who commits the crime, and why!
King's Birthday Honours
Debbie Brown
