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Our Story

In February 2025, The Arts Society Chiswick (TASCH) celebrated its 10th birthday, marking ten years since our very first talk in February 2015. Over the past decade we have enjoyed more than 100 talks, organised almost 100 visits and events, and welcomed hundreds of members, growing into a lively and well-established part of Chiswick’s cultural life.

This page shares how the Society began — and how it has grown into the friendly community it is today.

The Arts Society Chiswick

The Arts Society Chiswick is the local branch of The Arts Society, a national organisation that supports learning and enjoyment of the arts through local societies in the UK and abroad. While you can find full details about the national organisation here, TASCH brings those shared values to life locally, offering a relaxed and welcoming way to enjoy the arts close to home.

At the heart of what we do is a simple belief: spending time with the arts enriches our lives and brings people together.

Why Chiswick?

The idea of starting a society in Chiswick first took shape in 2013, when it became clear that there was a gap in west London. There were already thriving societies in Ealing and Kensington, and others south of the Thames in Richmond and south-west London, but nothing serving Chiswick, Brentford or Hammersmith — areas with a strong interest in the arts and a vibrant local community.

An email sent on 11 July 2013 marked the start of the journey, and as one early supporter later said, it was something she had been thinking about “for a few years”.

Creating the Society

A small Steering Committee was formed in 2014, supported by advisers from NADFAS (as The Arts Society was then known). Leaflets were distributed, emails sent and conversations started to see whether local people would be interested — and the response was immediate and enthusiastic.

One of the biggest challenges was finding the right venue: somewhere available every month, with good audio-visual facilities, space for at least 250 people, close to Chiswick and affordable. After exploring several options, the Malinowa Room at the Polish Social and Cultural Centre (POSK) in Hammersmith was chosen in May 2014, and it has been our home for Thursday evening talks ever since.

The First Talks

Our free taster talk, The Boy Who Bit Picasso, given by Antony Penrose in September 2014, confirmed just how much local interest there was. It was promoted through word of mouth, local churches, libraries, historic houses and community events.

The inaugural talk followed in February 2015: Great Tarts in Art: High Culture and the Oldest Profession, presented by Linda Smith.

From the outset, we offered ten monthly talks each year (excluding August and December), at an annual membership fee of £50.

Growing Together

By April 2015, membership had reached the maximum capacity of the Malinowa Room, with 250 paid-up members, and a waiting list was introduced — a clear sign that the Society had quickly found its place in the community.

Alongside our talks, the programme gradually expanded to include visits and special events. Early outings included a local visit to Apsley House, followed by coach trips further afield such as Farley Farm House, the home and archive of Lee Miller.

In 2017, we organised our first art history holiday, a trip to Liverpool. Its success led to the introduction of regular annual trips abroad, now a much-enjoyed part of Society life.

Social events soon became part of the rhythm of the year, with summer gatherings and Christmas celebrations bringing members and friends together in a relaxed, sociable setting.

Run by Volunteers

Like all Arts Society branches, The Arts Society Chiswick is run by a volunteer committee. Roles include Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Programme Organiser and Visits or Study Day organisers, with many members giving their time and enthusiasm to help the Society thrive.

Over the years, the Society has benefited from the leadership and commitment of several Chairs, including Alison Watson, joint Chairs Alison Miller and Pat de Wilde, and later Olivia Freeman, each of whom has helped shape the welcoming and successful Society we enjoy today.

Today

Now firmly established, The Arts Society Chiswick continues to offer a stimulating and enjoyable programme of talks, visits, travel and social events — bringing people together to learn, discover and enjoy the arts.

We are proud to be part of the bustling arts scene in Chiswick with strong collaborative relationships.

New members and guests are always warmly welcome.

Data Protection and Privacy Notice

What information do we ask for?

  • We ask for your name and contact details. Optionally you may also complete a Gift Aid declaration. As a minimum we need your name, postal address and a phone number or email.

What will we do with this information?

  • administer and maintain membership records and subscriptions;
  • provide information to you such as newsletters and information about our activities;
  • pass your name and address to the Arts Society National Office and the publishers of The Arts Society magazine;
  • provide Gift Aid returns to HMRC (if applicable to you)

Our Obligations

  • we take appropriate measures to secure and protect your data;
  • we will not share any of the information you provide with any third parties for marketing or any other purposes;
  • access to your data is restricted to Arts Society Chiswick committee members for specified purposes;

How do we keep your data?

  • Your details are held as paper forms by our Membership Secretary and on our Membership Secretary’s and Treasurer’s computers.
  • On leaving the Arts Society Chiswick your data will be kept for no longer than 24 months. By law, Gift Aid submissions are kept for 6 years.
  • You can request to see your data and have it corrected or removed by emailing the Membership Secretary

Our Story

In February 2025, The Arts Society Chiswick (TASCH) celebrated its 10th birthday, marking ten years since our very first talk in February 2015. Over the past decade we have enjoyed more than 100 talks, organised almost 100 visits and events, and welcomed hundreds of members, growing into a lively and well-established part of Chiswick’s cultural life.

This page shares how the Society began — and how it has grown into the friendly community it is today.

The Arts Society Chiswick

The Arts Society Chiswick is the local branch of The Arts Society, a national organisation that supports learning and enjoyment of the arts through local societies in the UK and abroad. While you can find full details about the national organisation here, TASCH brings those shared values to life locally, offering a relaxed and welcoming way to enjoy the arts close to home.

At the heart of what we do is a simple belief: spending time with the arts enriches our lives and brings people together.

Why Chiswick?

The idea of starting a society in Chiswick first took shape in 2013, when it became clear that there was a gap in west London. There were already thriving societies in Ealing and Kensington, and others south of the Thames in Richmond and south-west London, but nothing serving Chiswick, Brentford or Hammersmith — areas with a strong interest in the arts and a vibrant local community.

An email sent on 11 July 2013 marked the start of the journey, and as one early supporter later said, it was something she had been thinking about “for a few years”.

Creating the Society

A small Steering Committee was formed in 2014, supported by advisers from NADFAS (as The Arts Society was then known). Leaflets were distributed, emails sent and conversations started to see whether local people would be interested — and the response was immediate and enthusiastic.

One of the biggest challenges was finding the right venue: somewhere available every month, with good audio-visual facilities, space for at least 250 people, close to Chiswick and affordable. After exploring several options, the Malinowa Room at the Polish Social and Cultural Centre (POSK) in Hammersmith was chosen in May 2014, and it has been our home for Thursday evening talks ever since.

The First Talks

Our free taster talk, The Boy Who Bit Picasso, given by Antony Penrose in September 2014, confirmed just how much local interest there was. It was promoted through word of mouth, local churches, libraries, historic houses and community events.

The inaugural talk followed in February 2015: Great Tarts in Art: High Culture and the Oldest Profession, presented by Linda Smith.

From the outset, we offered ten monthly talks each year (excluding August and December), at an annual membership fee of £50.

Growing Together

By April 2015, membership had reached the maximum capacity of the Malinowa Room, with 250 paid-up members, and a waiting list was introduced — a clear sign that the Society had quickly found its place in the community.

Alongside our talks, the programme gradually expanded to include visits and special events. Early outings included a local visit to Apsley House, followed by coach trips further afield such as Farley Farm House, the home and archive of Lee Miller.

In 2017, we organised our first art history holiday, a trip to Liverpool. Its success led to the introduction of regular annual trips abroad, now a much-enjoyed part of Society life.

Social events soon became part of the rhythm of the year, with summer gatherings and Christmas celebrations bringing members and friends together in a relaxed, sociable setting.

Run by Volunteers

Like all Arts Society branches, The Arts Society Chiswick is run by a volunteer committee. Roles include Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Programme Organiser and Visits or Study Day organisers, with many members giving their time and enthusiasm to help the Society thrive.

Over the years, the Society has benefited from the leadership and commitment of several Chairs, including Alison Watson, joint Chairs Alison Miller and Pat de Wilde, and later Olivia Freeman, each of whom has helped shape the welcoming and successful Society we enjoy today.

Today

Now firmly established, The Arts Society Chiswick continues to offer a stimulating and enjoyable programme of talks, visits, travel and social events — bringing people together to learn, discover and enjoy the arts.

We are proud to be part of the bustling arts scene in Chiswick with strong collaborative relationships.

New members and guests are always warmly welcome.

Data Protection and Privacy Notice

What information do we ask for?

  • We ask for your name and contact details. Optionally you may also complete a Gift Aid declaration. As a minimum we need your name, postal address and a phone number or email.

What will we do with this information?

  • administer and maintain membership records and subscriptions;
  • provide information to you such as newsletters and information about our activities;
  • pass your name and address to the Arts Society National Office and the publishers of The Arts Society magazine;
  • provide Gift Aid returns to HMRC (if applicable to you)

Our Obligations

  • we take appropriate measures to secure and protect your data;
  • we will not share any of the information you provide with any third parties for marketing or any other purposes;
  • access to your data is restricted to Arts Society Chiswick committee members for specified purposes;

How do we keep your data?

  • Your details are held as paper forms by our Membership Secretary and on our Membership Secretary’s and Treasurer’s computers.
  • On leaving the Arts Society Chiswick your data will be kept for no longer than 24 months. By law, Gift Aid submissions are kept for 6 years.
  • You can request to see your data and have it corrected or removed by emailing the Membership Secretary