THE ARTS Society Sarum has marked its 40th anniversary with a special event, bringing together long-standing members and newer faces to reflect on four decades of art appreciation in the city.

Around 150 members attended the anniversary lecture at Salisbury Playhouse on Tuesday (January 27), including eight founder members whose involvement stretches back to the society’s beginnings.

The gathering was seen as both a celebration of the past and a moment to recognise the society’s continuing place in Salisbury’s cultural life.

The lecture was given by Wiltshire-based art and antiques journalist Marc Allum, well known to television audiences as a long-serving specialist on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, where he is now in his 27th year.

His talk focused on the concept of the Grand Tour and the influence of European travel on fashion, architecture and design.

Using objects from his own collection, Marc illustrated how the experience of travel shaped tastes and ideas, while also offering expert assessments of selected items brought along by society members.

Marc Allum speaks with those gathered.

The event formed part of The Arts Society Sarum’s 2026 lecture programme, which continues to offer a wide range of talks exploring art, history and culture.

Following the lecture, members gathered for a celebratory lunch, providing an opportunity to share memories, reconnect with former colleagues and acknowledge the contribution of the society’s founder members.

Chair Peter Hicks spoke about the significance of the milestone for the organisation and its members.

“As chair, I am immensely proud of what we have achieved over the past four decades – bringing art appreciation to our community and nurturing countless art and drama projects in local schools,” he said.

“We now look forward to celebrating this success throughout our exciting 2025/26 programme of events, made all the more enjoyable by the loyalty and enthusiasm of our members.

“Having a dozen of our founder members still actively involved is living proof of our enduring success — and a reminder of the strong foundations on which we continue to build.”

Society chair Peter Hicks with president Julia Tibbs.

Marc, who lectures widely in the UK and internationally and is also an author and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, was described by members as one of the highlights of the anniversary year.

Those attending said the evening reflected the character of The Arts Society Sarum – combining expert knowledge with shared curiosity and a strong sense of community – while also looking ahead to a future programme that continues to place the arts at the heart of the community.