About Basingstoke Art Club

  Basingstoke Art Club was formed in 1948 and the first open meeting was held on July 13, 1948. It was started by students and staff of Winchester Art school, brought together by Percy Belton who taught art at Winchester and Basingstoke.

 The First Annual Arts and Craft Exhibition was August 23rd – 28th 1948 when there were 92 exhibits. Opened by Mr J Shields, headmaster of Queen Mary’s School, this was at Brinkletts Hall, Winchester Road.We held regular exhibitions after that, at different venues in Basingstoke. The First Arts Ball was 1956 – very grand affair which, according to the Gazette attracted large numbers of people to the Town Hall dancing to Dudley Barber’s music.  

 Meetings were held in the Congregational Church Schoolrooms where art films were shown, the Shrubbery which was previously a maternity unit and was eventually demolished. 

 Our art club today continues with two exhibitions a year. We have demonstrations, trips and life drawing at Brookvale Village Hall. Wednesday morning group meet at the Library, Festival Place for weekly painting.