Welcome to The Arts Society South West London

The Society (TASSWL) was founded in September 1972 and produced its first full programme of events in 1973. We are proud that Lady White, one of the founding members of both our Society and The Arts Society (formerly NADFAS), is our President.

In 2021, we registered the Society as a Charity (No. 1195700). You can see a copy of the Society's Constitution by clicking HERE. We are still affiliated to The Arts Society (TAS).

Our main objective, as stated in our Constitution, is to broaden knowledge and appreciation of the decorative and fine arts through lectures, study days and visits.

LECTURE TIMES:

We are based in Putney and meet on the second Monday of each month (except in April and August). Doors normally open at 7:30 pm (for a lecture at 8 pm) 

Non-members are welcome to attend our lectures and entry is FREE (but donations are encouraged to enable us to introduce art to a wider audience). 

We offer a varied programme of illustrated lectures given by speakers, accredited by The Arts Society, all of whom are experts in their own specialist fields. Our members come not only from Putney but also from Barnes, Sheen, Roehampton and Fulham.

Now that most lectures are offered as hybrids, members from further afield can watch our lectures too. Non-members can watch online free of charge but will need to contact us to obtain the Zoom link to use on the night. To do this, please email theartssocietyswlondon@gmail.com.

Click HERE to see what lectures are coming up.

LECTURE VENUE:

THE COMMUNITY CHURCH, WERTER ROAD, PUTNEY SW15 2LL

In 2025, we moved from our 'home' for over 50 years in the Dryburgh Hall at Putney Leisure Centre to The Community Church in Werter Road. It has good transport links and an arrangement with Sainsbury's, opposite the church, allows members to use the supermarket car park on lecture nights. Click HERE for a form to print and hand in at Sainsbury's

Click HERE  to see where the church is.

VISITS & TOURS:

As well as the monthly lectures, we organise day visits to places of special artistic, historical, or architectural interest. Click HERE to see what visits are planned.

The annual tours (organised by a specialist travel company) alternate between those in the UK and those abroad.

STUDY DAYS:

We aim to organise TWO study half-days per year. These provide in-depth lectures and discussions either related to the Away Tour for that year or to some topic of interest.

HERITAGE VOLUNTEERING:

A key aspect of our membership is the opportunity to work as Heritage Volunteers on local and London based projects. Click HERE to see the current 2026 opportunities. More information can be found on our Heritage Volunteering Page. Alternatively, contact Winefride Bolton (our Hertiage Volunteering Representative) for information about how to sign up.

JOINING US:

Currently, we do not have a waiting list for membership and welcome new applications. If you would like more information about joining us, please click HERE

NEWSLETTERS:

Click HERE to view the 2026 Newsletter. Recent Newsletters are also available online. Click on the each of the years below to see copies.

2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018

OTHER:

Members may be interested in the lectures offered by our neighbouring societies, The Arts Society Wimbledon, The Arts Society Chiswick and The Arts Society Richmond and in study days, courses and events organised by The Arts Society Greater London Area.  Members attending any of these would have to pay a guest fee.

Click HERE to visit The Arts Society Greater London Area home page to see the current GLA Study Courses (listed under Events).