The Arts Society Harrow

(formerly Harrow Decorative & Fine Arts Society)

 Registered Charity No: 279023

The National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies was founded in 1968 as an educational organisation to encourage a wide appreciation and knowledge of decorative and fine arts. In May 2017 it changed its name to The Arts Society.

It originated when a group of twelve friends in the Chilterns began meeting to share their enthusiasm and curiosity about treasures of the past. Help was sought from the Victoria and Albert Museum in drawing up a list of lecturers who would come to a local venue. Membership numbers rose rapidly. Soon new societies formed, and were brought together in the National Association in 1968. Harrow DFAS was an early foundation; we are Society Number 25 in a global network of 385 local societies.

The Arts Society now has 90,000+ members.  Lecturers are drawn from a directory of handpicked experts many of whom work in national museums, broadcast on radio and television, and write in specialist magazines and journals.

Study days are held nationally, and within societies, where topics are discussed in depth. Outings and holidays are also arranged.