Gustav Klimt and his colleagues broke away from the imperially endorsed art institutions in Vienna in 1897 and founded the Secession. That was the same year that Gustav Mahler arrived to take charge of the Opera House in the city. Comparing these two totemic fin de siècle talents, this lecture places Klimt and Mahler in context, asking what fundamentally links and, indeed, divides them.

A writer and broadcaster. Appears on BBC Radio 3 and 4, and contributes to newspapers, magazines and opera and concert programmes worldwide. Lectures widely about the culture of Central Europe. Recent appearances include Klimt and The Kiss in cinemas worldwide, and talks for the Hay and Cheltenham Literature Festivals, the Royal Opera House, the National Gallery, the National Trust, the National Theatre, the British Museum and the V&A. His first book, A Home for All Seasons, was published in 2022; his second, The Gay Apocalypse: Queer Life and Culture in Vienna 1900 will be released next year.  

On Ernest Shackleton’s third Antarctic expedition in 1914, his ship, the Endurance, was trapped and eventually crushed in the pack ice. After camping for five months on the ice, Shackleton’s men rowed to the remote Elephant Island. From there, Shackleton sailed for help to South Georgia over 800 miles away. Over three months later he returned to rescue the crew of the Endurance. Frank Hurley, one of the great photographers of the 20th century, was the expedition’s official photographer. His photographs are a visual narrative of an epic journey which capture with great artistry new and amazing landscapes within which a remarkable human drama is played out.

I was born on the Isles of Scilly, educated at Truro School in Cornwall and graduated from Birmingham University with an MA in Late Medieval Society and Culture. I have spent my whole career, at home and abroad, teaching and lecturing in Further and Higher Education.

I joined The Arts Society in 2007and thoroughly enjoy it.  Frankly, for a lecturer with a set of their own personal subjects, it is a privileged existence. My subjects tend to focus on the English medieval and the sixteenth century periods – both as lectures and special interest days. In addition, I have two twentieth century topics which have been a personal interest for many years: Ernest Shackleton and Winston Churchill. My lectures always include an up-to-date annotated reading list and my special interest days provide each participant with a detailed course file to underpin the day and encourage further study.  My sincere intention is for each and every lecture and special interest day to be interesting, enjoyable and thought-provoking.

I have lectured for The Arts Society throughout the British Isles and abroad, most recently in Germany and Australia (ArtsNational).  I have been invited back to Australia for another month’s lecturing tour in 2026. New Zealand (DFASNZ) has also kindly invited me for a lecture tour in the same year. 

The older I become, the more convinced I am of the importance of The Arts Society and the values it upholds. I am proud to be a part of this unique organization. 

This talk is in itself a celebration of how the Ancient Greeks and Romans created our love of wine.  How wine's popularity spread, how wine production has and has not changed, what wine connoisseurs 2,000 years ago thought made a wine great!    

As an archaeologist who has excavated a Roman wine-producting warehouse, I promise that this talk will refresh your palette!

BA (Hons) Latin and Ancient History, Exeter University, and then branched out into archaeology. Ex-BBC, lecturer for British Museum and York University, an award winning writer and author who specialises in relating the ancient world to our modern lives, in person, in the field, on line and in the media (most recently on BBC News Channel, Radio 4 Today programme and BBC World Service). Publications include Visiting the Past: A guide to finding and understanding Britain's Archaeology and Roman Britain. Forthcoming Latin Yesterday, Today and For Ever, and A Mediterranean Tour: Not just a Load of Old Stones. Teaches adult education courses in Latin, archaeology and ancient history and has publicly lectures widely and passionately, on cruises and tours and for museums such as the British Museum & Ashmolean, national press, universities, literary festivals, and diverse societies including Classical Associations, the U3A and the National Trust. 

Synthesising recent research into the nature of human creativity and current concerns about the impact of machine learning on originality, this very topical lecture focuses on how original thought and innovation are affected by the growing application of Artificial Intelligence across all academic disciplines. Justin considers how AI offers great advantages as a tool in scientific and medical research, for social scientists, and also perhaps for many working in the humanities, with exciting applications in painting, sculpture, architecture, video gaming and film.

After officer service in the Royal Navy Justin had a long career in business management, latterly as Director of Studies for executive colleges in Oxford and Washington DC. He was one of the earliest consultants in knowledge management and e-learning, advising the UK Government, until he retired from business in 2000. Justin then studied the History of Art and Architecture at Oxford, and later studied Classical culture with the University of Athens. While researching for a doctorate in naval history, Justin was invited to join the Bodleian Library as a senior academic manager, advising external researchers and graduate students, editing manuscripts in the Bodleian's collections, and acting as the Bodleian’s internal consultant on maritime documents and artworks. He is a published historian. A qualified teacher, he is a tutor in the History of Art and Architecture and Classical Studies for independent colleges at Oxford and for private graduate students. He was recently commissioned to write a university preparation course on human creativity and innovation in the age of Artificial Intelligence. A member of the Arts Society West Oxfordshire, Justin is a frequent lecturer for The Arts Society with a wide range of talks, study mornings and study days on art history, painting, sculpture, architecture and decorative arts across cultures from antiquity to the modern era.

MANUFACTURED WOMEN: This lecture explores the stories of three women manufactured by the gods for men and examines how they influence our view of women today

Pandora, Eve and Galatea have something in common – they were manufactured rather than born.  This lecture looks at the original sources for the stories, draws parallels between them before showing how ballets, operas and plays from Coppelia to My Fair Lady and The Winter’s Tale to Educating Rita have developed the theme of a creation that runs out of control.

Mary is an experienced broadcaster and teacher with particular expertise in literature and drama. She worked for many years for BBC Radio 4 producing some of its most popular programmes including Start the Week and Woman’s Hour before joining the senior management team as a Commissioning Editor. Mary has subsequently worked as a teacher and Director of Sixth Form at a leading girls’ grammar school. She now runs her own company 'Opening Up Literature' which offers literature courses for adults including studies of Shakespeare and Creative Writing. Her most popular course is 'Telling Tales' which explores how writers and artists have reinvented classical stories. She is also a professional bridge teacher and lecturer. 

“Antiques. I don’t understand them and they’re beyond my budget. They’re not for me.” A persuasive introduction to buying antiques and integrating and using them in today’s homes. The state of the antiques market and the different meanings of the word value are considered, and we take a look at what current and future generations of collectors are buying, why they are buying it and how they are displaying it.

Mark studied History of Art & Architecture (BA Hons), and began his career as a porter and Junior Cataloguer at Bonhams, before moving to Sotheby's where he was a Specialist in the Collectors' Department. Became director of an internet company forming and running a ground-breaking deal with eBay Live Auctions. Was co-author of the internationally published Collectables Price Guide with Judith Miller from 2002-17. Founded his own publishing company in 2005 and has published over 15 books on emerging specialist subjects in the decorative arts. A Miscellaneous expert on the BBC 'Antiques Roadshow' since 2007 and an expert on the BBC's 'Antiques Road Trip', has also co-presented five primetime TV series on antiques and collecting for BBC2. A member of the British Antiques Dealers' Association (BADA.org). An experienced auctioneer having consulted for numerous auction houses, and founded one. Strategic Advisor at a company offering digital solutions to the antiques industry. Has lectured across the world, including at the V&A in London, and contributed to many newspapers, magazines, radio and TV programmes. A Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars and a Freeman of the City of London.

Few gallery-goers are aware that Rubens was not only the most influential artist of his period, but also a high-ranking diplomat and informal spy. During his glamorous and prestigious career, Rubens travelled throughout Europe and was esteemed by the mightiest kings and queens of the age. He was intelligent, good-looking and could speak several languages. His career as an artist was an excellent cover for international travel and private meetings. So, acting on behalf of the Governors of the Spanish Netherlands, Rubens had covert summits with Europe’s most significant power brokers like Marie de’Medici of France, King Philip IV of Spain, and King Charles I of England.

Secret symbols, Nazi-fighting, cultural love affairs, the ‘nude’, snowmen, and artistic espionage are among the diverse interests of art historian Matthew Wilson. Matthew studied History of Art at the Courtauld Institute and is an author, lecturer, and educator. As a freelance journalist he writes for numerous publications including BBC Culture, The Spectator, The Economist and Aesthetica Magazine. He has written two books on symbolism – ‘Symbols in Art’ (Thames & Hudson, 2020) and ‘The Hidden Language of Symbols’ (Thames & Hudson 2022) and his latest book is 'Art Unpacked' - a fully illustrated introduction to understanding art (Thames & Hudson 2023).

Having had access to the jewels designated Heirlooms of the Crown and with a spectacular collection of her own, the Queen Mother had so much jewellery to choose from over the course of her long life that it would be almost impossible to describe it all. So in this talk I chronicle her passion for jewels by concentrating on a selection of items which are of particular gemmological and historic interest ..… and have an intriguing story attached.

On leaving Durham University with a degree in geology I decided to join the army. I then spent five years in the Irish Guards, the last two and a half of which were on secondment to Clarence House as the Queen Mother’s equerry. Being a geologist I couldn’t help but notice the magnificent gemstones in the Queen Mother’s jewellery. Indeed if I admired a piece she would sometimes take it off and give it to me to have a closer look. This inspired me to study gemmology and on leaving the army I qualified as a Fellow of the Gemmological Association. Then, in addition to working as an exploration geologist in South Africa and a gold miner in California, I spent several years as a jewellery and precious stone dealer in London’s Hatton Garden. When the Queen Mother died in 2002 I helped open the Castle of Mey to the public and what was supposed to be a six-week appointment turned into six years. As a result I spent more time at the Castle of Mey than its royal owner ever did, and developed it as one of northern Scotland’s most popular visitor attractions.

John Osborne said, “Mr Coward is his own invention and contribution to this century. Anyone who cannot see that should keep well away from the theatre.” From fairly humble beginnings Noël Coward went on to establish himself as the most astonishing theatre animal of the 20th century. Playwright and composer, performer and director Noël Coward created some of the most memorable songs and plays in theatre history and some very witty quotes along the way.

Malcolm has lectured on the Victoria & Albert Museum Short Course and Year Course Programmes since 2009, devising and developing a range of courses on Theatre History and Practice. Malcolm was Workshop and Events manager at the V&A Theatre Museum in Covent Garden for 10 years where he was responsible for lectures, Study Days and workshops for adults and interviewed many leading British actors and directors including Kenneth Cranham, Zoe Wanamaker, Barry Cryer, June Whitfield and Don Black. He has lectured and led workshops in the past at many drama schools including RADA, The Actors Centre and Rose Bruford College. He has also lectured on theatre for groups visiting the UK from America. He has chaired panels and post show talks for Ambassadors Theatre Group. While at the V&A Malcolm contributed as a speaker on theatre to many television and radio programmes. He also works with Age Exchange Community Arts since 2000 on many creative arts programmes with older people and intergenerational film and theatre projects.

MacDonald 'Max' Gill, younger brother of the sculptor Eric Gill, was an architect, letterer, and graphic artist of the first half of the twentieth century. He was famed for his whimsical map posters for the London Underground and magnificent painted map panels for landmark buildings such as Lindisfarne Castle and the Palace of Westminster. His architectural legacy lives on in the arts and crafts cottages he designed in rural Sussex and Dorset while the alphabet and badges he created for the standard military headstone are familiar to all. This wonderfully illustrated talk by Max Gill's great-niece gives fascinating insights into the life and work of this remarkable but little-known artist.

Caroline Walker began research into her great-uncle 'Max' in 2006.  Since then she has co-curated several exhibitions of his work, contributed articles to publications including Country Life and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, and set up a dedicated website. An accredited lecturer for The Arts Society since 2016, she's also given talks for the National Archives, the Art Workers' Guild, Christie's, U3A, and the National Trust. Her illustrated biography MacDonald Gill: Charting a Life was published in June 2020.