YORKDFAS

YDFAS, York Decorative and Fine Arts Society is a charity and is part of NADFAS the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts.

Nine lectures are held each year on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 1.00pm in the Gimcrack Room at York Racecourse excluding July, August and December.

The Lectures cover a wide range of decorative and fine arts subjects by lecturers who are approved by NADFAS and are chosen from a directory of over 200. Members participate in the amazing historical perspectives of Art History, and grow to understand and relate to such diverse subjects as Michaelangelo to Modern Art, Palladio to Corbusier, Elizabethan oak furniture to William Morris and the Arts and Craft Movement. In no other organisation is it possible to enjoy a greater range of subjects, given with such authority by specialists in their chosen fields for the modest sum of the society's annual subscription.
The National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts was launched in 1968 by Patricia Fay, with eleven societies and has expanded to over 350 in the UK, 10 in Europe, 34 in Australia and 5 in New Zealand, with 91,000 members world wide.
NADFAS works towards promoting and preserving the arts.

The Association's concerns include voluntary work to maintain historic buildings, recording churches and their contents, working towards developing the arts for the young and maintaining lecture programmes for members.

HISTORY OF YORK DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY.
1973:
Thurs 22nd February. First committee meeting held.
1974:
Zena Walker a friend of Patricia Fay was encouraged to form a YorkDFAS and the first AGM was held in the Gimcrack Room, York Racecourse on 23rd April 1974 at 3.30pm
President - Mr George Howard.
Chairman - Mrs Zena Walker
1975:
2nd AGM
Chairman - Mrs Elspeth Armitage
Retiring Chairman - Mrs Zena Walker nominated as Vice President ( which she continued until her death in 2005)
1975:
A flourishing group of The Voluntary Conservation Corps (VCC) worked on textile repair at Castle Howard.
1977:
Mrs Mackenzie Smith continued to organise the VCC and completed book refurbishing in the long gallery at Castle Howard. Work now extended to the library of Hovingham Hall (home of Sir Marcus Worsley)
1979:
VCC working in York Minster Library
1983:
Conservation Group working at the Castle Museum cataloguing a large collection of Valentine Cards.
1983:
We celebrated our 10th anniversary on 10th June.'By kind invitation of our President, Lord Howard, we spent an extremely enjoyable evening at Castle Howard. This included viewing the State Apartments, and a most delicious supper'
1985:
The death recorded of our president Lord Howard of Henderskelfe.
A study day had been planned to York Glaziers' Trust in July but due to the 'unexpected fire in York Minster' this had to be cancelled. The visit was rearranged in October to see the restoration of the famous Rose Window.
1986:
Sir Marcus Worsley, Bt, welcomed as our new President.
Mary-Rose Farquharson hosted a lunch in aid of York Minster Appeal Fund and a cheque was sent for the repair of the Rose Window. (20 years later we still support The York Minster Appeal)
1987:
Young NADFAS launched by Mrs Louise Wheatley.
Masks and hats were made for the Early Music Festival's Venice Extravaganza.
They also prepared and ate a four course Roman meal after viewing exhibits in the Yorkshire Museum.
1989:
15th anniversary celebrated with a dinner held at the Merchant Taylors' Hall. The National Chairman, Shirley Hewitt attended.
1990:
The first outing abroad to Paris.
1994:
20th anniversary celebrated with a dinner at the Merchant Adventurers' Hall - Lord Norwich was the guest speaker.
Church Recording group started led by Captain & Mrs Wood
2000:
Millennium year. The Chairman, Buff Reid planned lectures centered on York, with Roman York, it's history and architecture, craftsmen and silver collections.
The National Study Day on the Art of the World's Religions was held in Central Hall at York University.
2002:
30th anniversary evening reception was held on June 19th at Beningbrough Hall, with drinks in the garden. Chairman Prue Smeeton.
2004:
Sir Marcus Worsley retired as President. He had been a great support to the Society.
He was succeeded by Dr. Dick Reid,(master wood and stone carver who ran workshops and restored wood and stone carving in historic houses including Windsor Castle}
2005:
Royal Ascot was held at York Racecourse and members of the Royal party attending praised the Volunteers for work undertaken in the Racecourse Library.
2007:
New web site launched 5th Jan 2007, designed by Mrs Chris Shepherd
2008:
Yorkdfas' 40th Anniversary celebration of NADFAS at the September meeting with tea and celebration cake and a lecture on teapots and tea with David Battie from the Antiques Roadshow.
2009:
Retirement of Mrs Joan Patchett and Mrs Cynthia Scott who each achieved an incredible 25yrs service working as team leaders for the Heritage Volunteers. Joan at York Minster Library and Cynthia at Castle Howard
2010:
Lectures gradually moving into the digital age.
2011:
11 Heritage Volunteers work at Fairfax House, York Minster Library, Yorkshire Museum doing 3200 hrs work. Team leader Jane McKeown
Castle Howard Library, 4 volunteers,528 hrs. Team leader Pam Clark.
York Railway Museum, 4 volunteers, 528 hrs. Leader Eileen Ledger.
Total 4256 hrs by the Heritage Volunteers.
Heritage Volunteer Representative Deborah Bird.
21 Church Recorders, recording Stillingfleet church working 1900 hrs.
Total hours worked by volunteers in 2011, 6156 hrs.
Sun 25th Sept 2011:
Healaugh Church Record finished and presented to the church.
Work completed by Caroline and Tony Wood.

Since the first lecture we have always held our lectures in the palatial surroundings of York Gimcrack Room, a lovely venue although we have used other rooms during various rebuilding programmes.



For further NADFAS information please contact enquiries@nadfas.org.uk or ring 020 7430 0730

For further YDFAS information e-mail:
anything@yorkdfas.co.uk