Who we are 

We are a volunteer-led organisation that connects people with the arts and with each other, creating inviting spaces to share and explore the richness of art together. We offer highly-rated talks on the arts and events across 360 local Societies in the UK and abroad.

A brief history

In 1965, The Chiltern Antiques Group was founded by Patricia Fay and a pioneering group of young women, eager to be educated about the arts.  Just a few years later, in 1968, eleven such Societies came together to form the National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS), which became a registered charity in 1970.  On 17 May 2017, following a major rebranding exercise, the NADFAS name was replaced with The Arts Society. After 50 years, it was felt that the organisation needed to evolve to keep up with changing times, in order to reach out to more people in more places.

The story of The Arts Society - Pewsey Vale

Before our local society had been formed, Nesta Waine had been an active member and president of the Kennet and Swindon Arts Society.  But once she had finished her tenure as president, she decided that the Pewsey area needed their own society.  She encouraged friends and like-minded individuals to come together to make this happen and in March 1991, NADFAS Pewsey Vale was inaugurated.  Nesta lead this nascent organisation as its Chair, leading her ultimately, to the position of National Chairman of NADFAS from 2004 to 2006.  She remains a great supporter of what is now The Arts Society - Pewsey Vale and is delighted that so many of the original, founding members of our Pewsey society still regularly attend the lectures.   Nesta has been awarded Life Membership of The Arts Society, in recognition of her invaluable contribution over many years.