How quickly the year has passed and we are already looking at our events, classes and workshops coming to a close for this year’s syllabus.   The AGM will be soon upon us.

Again I would like to thank all who assisted the committee in organising the Annual Exhibition last November, the contribution from the member artists, the tutors for their paintings and of course, the staff at the Perth Museum and Art Gallery for their enthusiasm and hard work.   Sales of artworks were up a little, to 20 in 2011, against 18 in 2010.   We had many positive, and some adverse comments.   As much as I feel good about the compliments, I will be giving greater attention to the areas where improvements need to be made for the next Annul Exhibition.

It is unfortunate that the Perth Museum and Art Gallery is not available to host our Annual Exhibition in November 2012.   Our usual gallery space will be used all year with the exhibition of ‘The Carpow Bronze-Age Log Boat’.   This is a static display that will occupy most of the gallery throughout the year until spring 2013.   In our Centenary year this comes as a very big disappointment to all of us.   The Committee has spent a great deal of time considering other options and venues.   We will make our decisions known in due course.

Congratulations to Albert Sinclair and Claire Dalby whose paintings were selected for this year’s March RSW exhibition in Edinburgh, and to Ian Imrie who was invited to exhibit in Mexico, but unfortunately was unable to accept.   Well done to all of you.   Steve Carroll, an ex-Committee member, has moved to Dufftown and we sent him our very best wishes for the future.

The Jean Drennan Harkess award this year goes to Oscar Goodall, and we are very excited about this.   As you all know, Oscar is a very well known name in the art scene in Scotland as well as UK and internationally, for his very unique impressionistic style.

I look forward to welcoming you at the AGM.

Allan Perera-Liyanage

President

Congratulations

to Allan, who is exhibiting some of his paintings at Frames Gallery.   The exhibition runs until Saturday 7^th April.

Classes

places available Monday evenings – no tutor, and Tuesday afternoons – tutor led,

both at Oakbank.   Contact Pauline on 01738 583 434 or email: duff.i@sky.com

Workshops

Places available for some Monday workshops.   Contact Pauline as above.

Public Entertainment Licence

By now, most of you will have had news of the forthcoming legislation, to be enacted by the Scottish Government 1^st April 2012.   This allows Local Authorities in Scotland to charge a Licence Fee for any Public Entertainment, including events which come under the heading of ‘the Arts’, and where entry is free.    We have made extensive enquiries to our Local Authority and for the present, Perth & Kinross Council will put forward a proposal for licensing free music events.    It will not be in the public domain for a few months yet, and then there will be a nine months’ consultation period to include all interested groups, before any local legislation is put into effect    There is no move to include art exhibitions, for example, those events like our own exhibitions and those during the Open Studios week.    Should any proposals to license these events emerge, we will be notified, but we suspect nothing will arise for at least a year.

Meanwhile, if you wish to register your comments with the Council Committees concerned with this legislation, we suggest you write or email –

Councillor P Mulheron, Convenor, Licensing Committee.   email: plmulheron@pkc.gov.uk

Councillor E Grant, Convenor, Lifelong Learning Committee.   email: eagrant@pkc.gov.uk

Address for both: P&KC Council Building, 2 High Street, Perth PH1 5PH

A Scotland-wide email petition is also being sent to the Scottish Parliament.    So far, there are over 17,700 signatures.    For those of you who have no access to email, suggest you write to your MSP.

For Perthshire North, this is John Swinney and

Perthshire South, Roseanna Cunningham both at

The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP.

Christmas Party

The party at Oakbank provided the opportunity for artists and tutors from the different classes to meet and socialise.   Everyone enjoyed the games, the ever-popular quiz, and the good buffet.   The party was rounded off nicely with communal singing, led by Marion Neilson.

Help!

Your help will be much appreciated.   We need volunteers to assist in the

Festival Exhibition at the Mission Hall, St Matthews Church, Perth.   During the exhibition

3 people are needed for each session on the rota:

for Saturday 26^th May, 10am till 1pm, 1pm till 4pm and

Sunday 27^th May 12 noon till 2pm, 2pm till 4pm.

Contact Nancy Brooks on

01738 631 930 or email: ronanbrooks@blueyonder.co.uk

Help

also required for setting up the Exhibition, checking in the artworks and the hanging:

Friday 25^th May any time between 9am and 2pm.

Also for dismantling and tidying up the Mission Hall on Sunday 27^th May 4 – 5pm.

Contact Eileen Heirs on

01738 440 158 or email: eileen@woof.myzen.co.uk

Membership Subscriptions

are due at the AGM.   You must have paid your subscription before submitting your artworks to the Festival Exhibition at the end of May.