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Nadfas the Organisation
'The National Association of
Decorative and Fine Arts Societies' is an arts based educational charity with
nearly 90,000 members and
338 societies in the U.K., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The aims
are 'to promote and advance the aesthetic education of the public,
the appreciation and study of decorative and fine arts, and the giving
of aid to the preservation of our artistic heritage for the benefit of
the public'.
.....these aims are promoted
through lectures on decorative and fine arts, study days, visits, tours
and through volunteer activities such as Church Recorders, Heritage
Volunteers and Young Arts.
.... the 'Nadfas Review' is
sent out to all members
40 Years of Nadfas
 |
The first Decorative and Fine Arts Society was the
inspiration of Patricia Fay (pictured left) in 1965. The Chiltern Antiques Group, later to
become the Chiltern DFAS, was formed to bring together ladies, mainly
housewives, interested in the decorative and fine arts who wished to hear expert
lecturers and visit museums, galleries, houses and collections and to increase
and broaden their knowledge. Patricia Fay received great help and encouragement
in her work from Sir Trenchard Cox, then the Director of the Victoria & Albert
Museum and subsequently NADFAS President.
Other societies quickly followed and men were admitted! In
1968 the first eleven societies formed the National Association of Decorative &
Fine Arts Societies, held the Inaugural Meeting on May 28th at the
Victoria & Albert Museum in the presence of the Duchess of Kent, who became the
first Patron. NADFAS became a registered charity in 1972
NADFAS expanded throughout the United Kingdom and in 1984 the
first overseas Society was formed in Rheindahlen, Germany, to be followed by the
first Australian Society, in Sydney, in 1985 |
The 1970s saw the creation of Church Recorders, Young NADFAS
and the Voluntary Conservation Corps (VCC). These are now Young Arts and
Heritage Volunteers. Overseas tours followed by British tours were arranged, and
a national newsletter, now the Nadfas Review produced for members. By the late
1980s a separate committee was formed, now the Education Department, to give
advice to societies on opportunities for further study at local and national
level. This has led to Nadfas South West Area offering the first certificated
university Foundation Course, currently in partnership with Plymouth University.
For all her inspiration and vision Patricia Fay received the
OBE in 1975. She died in 1979 aged 46.
One of Patricia Fay’s daughters is currently on the Grants
committee of the Patricia Fay Memorial Fund. This fund gave
over £48,600
in 2007 to support conservation students but also in a
new apprentice scheme, and to YA and other society projects. The main fund
income comes from Gift Aided subscriptions from society members.
Past South West Area Chairmen of Nadfas
Records, which are sparodic go back to 1981
when the society hosting the area meeting provided a chairman for the meeting.
Previous
South West Area Chairmen (formerly Area Representatives):
Mrs Rosemary Horton
(Devon DFAS) June 1981 nominated as AR to take office. No records for 1982;
Mrs Moyra Major
(South Devon DFAS) AR June 83 –
June 84; Mrs
Alison Mackie (North Devon DFAS) AR June
84 – June 85; Mrs
Rosemary Horton (Devon DFAS)1985-1988;
Mrs Gillian Keddie
(South Devon DFAS, Liskeard DFAS) AR June 89 – Nov 90;
Mrs Joan Kimber
(Exmoor DFAS & Taunton DFAS) AR & Area Chairman, April 1991-1994;
Mrs Pamela Dunkley (East Devon &
Sidmouth DFAS) 1994-1997, Dr Tony Barford, (Kingsbridge Estuary DFAS)1997-2000;
Dr Jean Robinson (Exe DFAS) , 2000-2003; and Mrs Vivien Stefanino Vega (Exmoor
DFAS) , 2003-2006.
Mrs Horton has some interesting early memories of Nadfas:
Mrs Horton joined the second
“Decorative & Fine Art” society, pre Nadfas, “The Vale of Aylesbury” 41 years
ago in 1967, then in 1969 joined their committee. “All younger members in those
early days were immediately asked to become committee members, but I have loved
every minute of it, making many good life time friends.” In 1975 she moved
to Devon and was persuaded to set up the second “Nadfas” society in the
South West Area, “Devon DFAS”, and is still an active member of that society
today.