Art club celebrates 50 years

Farsley Art Club in Leeds is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month, having brought visual arts to the local community since 1960.

Created by local mill workers, the club has had a number of locations, including a barber's shop, before the council offered them their own studio in 2004.

It now has 65 members who take classes at the club and sell their work at exhibitions.

Michael Gill, who has been a member since the 1960s, said: 'I think the art club is really important to the community especially now, as many art classes at night school and colleges are having their funding cut or closing down.'

To mark the anniversary, a special exhibition will be opened on April 17th.

Chair of the club Mary Johnson-Green, commented: 'The exhibition is open to the public and everyone is welcome to come and look around see the paintings on display.

'All the artwork on display is for sale, so people can come along and buy themselves a piece of artwork by a local artist.'