HASLEMERE Decorative and Fine Arts Society (HDFAS) is about to have a new name – The Arts Society – but is keen for people not to confuse it with another organisation based in the town... Haslemere Art Society.

Members of both HDFAS and Haslemere Art Society met for tea and chat last Tuesday, after HDAFS’s monthly lecture in Haslemere Hall, when the guest speaker Bernard Allan gave a lecture on Cornish artist Laura Knight, the first woman elected to the Royal Academy.

The HDFAS has been established in the town for 45 years and is affiliated to the national arts-based charity the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS).

The move to ‘rebrand’ the society was announced by the national society and all affiliated groups throughout the UK will be renamed as arts societies.

There are 385 societies making a membership of 92,000 worldwide plus 12,000 volunteers.

NADFAS chief executive Florian Schweizer said: “After 50 years, we needed to evolve to keep up with changing times in order to reach out to more people in more places.

“The Arts Society isn’t a radical change though.

“We wanted something that better communicates who we are, what we do and what we mean to our members.

“A big part of that is social, hence: ‘society’ and an even bigger part is the arts, thus: ‘the arts’.”

The arts-based charity’s aim is the advancement of arts education and the appreciation and preservation of artistic heritage. There are monthly talks by lecturers who are experts in their field.

A series of in-depth study days and outings to places of historical and artistic interest is also planned each year.

HDFAS or – as it will be known – The Arts Society, meets for lectures on the third Tuesday of the month, in Haslemere Hall, at 2pm for a 2.15pm start (www.haslemeredfas.org.uk).

• THE Haslemere Art Society started in 1894 as the Haslemere Society for Artists and is, still thriving after 122 years. It currently has about 130 members from several professionals to many talented amateurs. The HAS organises regular demonstrations by a range of professional artists, talks and workshops.

September’s annual exhibition in Haslemere Museum brings together work by members, whether paintings, sculptures, ceramics or craft.

Its informal painting class for all abilities in all media, is being held at Haslemere Educational Museum, every Tuesday, from March 6 until April 25 (2-4pm). Members free, non-members £5. (See www.haslemere.com/artsoc)