About the Mannamead Art Group

The art group meets in the Hoddesdon Baptist Church hall on Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm during term time.

What do we do?

The Mannamead Art group is a friendly self-help group that meets every term time Wednesday evening in the church hall of the Hoddesdon Baptist Church, Hoddesdon, Herts, located at the junction of Essex Road and Burford Street (see map). The group meets in the evenings commencing at 7:30pm and finishing about 9:30pm. Tea and biscuits are served during the evening.

Currently the membership comprises around 15 people of mixed abilities. Members may use any medium they wish from pencil through to oils and acrylics.

A 'term theme' is chosen by the committee (which may or may not be followed by members as they wish). Some evenings are given over to a special topic or subject such as 'create a painting in the style of Turner', Paint a Picasso or Paint in Monochrome. Occasionally an outside tutor is engaged to give an evening's demonstration/instruction on a particular subject.

Some members of the group undertake a still life project.

From time to time the group holds a modelling/sculpture evening using air drying clay. Some fine and sometimes amusing works have been created on these evenings with many of the works showing a great degree of imagination.

Every two years the group mounts a dispaly of their work in the Church Hall to co-incide with Harvest Festival. The show is staged in conjunction with the Flower Group which also meets at the Hoddesdon Baptist Church Hall.

Teaching Aids

The group maintains a library of books and teaching videos which are available to all members free of charge.

Outings and Trips

In 2009 the group made a coach outing to The Summer Exhibition at The Royal Academy in

London which was a big hit with the members. It is expected the trip may be repeated each year.

In the past coach outings have also been arranged to see Tate Modern and The National Gallery.

A sculptor at work during one of our occasional fun evenings.

 

Why Mannamead Art Group

The group was named after the Mannamead Centre, in Burford Street, Hoddesdon, which was to have been its original home until it was found the premises were not best suited the kind of activity involved. Consequently the group moved to the hall of the Baptist Church next door.

Membership of Local Organisations

The group is a member of BARTS, the Broxbourne Arts Forum.

Membership Fees

The current membership fee is £7.00 per term.

New members are always welcome (e-mail: david.smythe@btinternet.com for information).