Melbourne
ArtsNational Melbourne welcomes you
ArtsNational Melbourne is a welcoming and friendly society presenting nine lectures each year in the comfortable Lido Cinemas complex in Hawthorn. Our stimulating program comprises a range of impressive topics from international and Australian specialist lecturers chosen for their expert knowledge. Topics in 2025 include the visual arts, theatre, cinema, cartoons and history. Each lecture concludes with a light supper.
Members book into each lecture via the TryBooking link detailed in the annual program below and which become active approximately one month prior to each lecture.
Members are very welcome to bring along a friend or prospective member to a lecture by making a booking for a guest via the TryBooking website.
A new member welcome drinks evening is held each year to introduce new members to the committee so that when they join us for a lecture, there is a friendly face in the crowd.
Lectures:
Venue:
Lectures are held at Lido Cinema 1, 675 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn.
The cinema is accessed via both a staircase and a lift from the arcade linking Glenferrie Road with the large off-street parking behind the cinema complex. Quite a lot of additional free parking is available opposite the cinema accessed via Wakefield Street through to Liddiard Street. Parking is free after 6pm but can be difficult so allow plenty of time to park and be seated by 8pm.
Time:
Lectures are on a Thursday and begin at 8pm
Program
Find full details of the 2025 program here
Membership:
Annual membership:
$180 single membership
$340 Double membership (couples)
Click here to join or email: artsnationalmelbourne@gmail.com
Admittance to each lecture requires display of a name-tag for members
Guests welcome:
Guests are welcome to attend the lectures for prior payment of $30 per person.
$25 Members of other ArtsNational Societies
$15 students.
To book and arrange payment contact Veronica Rickard on 0408 113 669 or artsnationalmelbourne@gmail.com
Contact:
For all enquiries please email artsnationalmelbourne@gmail.com
Postal Address: PO Box 931, Hawthorn, VIC 3122
ABN: 36 971 725 705
Committee
Chair: Jane Brentnall
Treasurer: Jaye Gregory
Secretary: Julie Thompson
Membership: Veronica Rickard Tel: 0408 113 669
2025 PROGRAM
Thursday 20 February 2025
THE ART OF THE CARTOON
Presented by Harry Venning
Time & Venue: 8pm, Lido Cinema 1
Award winning cartoonist Harry will be tracing the history of his profession through the work of artists who have made an impact upon language, culture, history and most importantly, upon him. These include James Gilray, Charles Schulz, Herje (Georges Remi), Posy Simmonds and Ronald Searle. Harry will also be drawing live. Prepare to hear some tricks of his trade, learn where to put eyebrows for maximum effect, learn what a plewd is and when you should use it and discover exactly what the Eskimo brothers said in The Funniest Joke Ever (Possibly).
Harry is best known for Clare in the Community, a weekly strip in the Guardian, subsequently adapted as a BBC4 Radio sitcom. He has lectured extensively in the UK and in Europe and enjoys being able to interact with an audience through live drawing.
Non-members of ArtsNational Melbourne are welcome as guests and need to book and pay via the TryBooking website. Any queries please contact Veronica Rickard, Membership Secretary.
Thursday 13 March 2025
FASHION, FORM AND FUNCTION
Presented by Christopher Garibaldi
Time & Venue: 8pm, Lido Cinema 1
This lecture examines the history of silver, hallmarks and goldsmiths and the way in which the history of silver reflects the more general social history of England. A broad survey of the changing role of silver in society, as well as an examination of different fashions and styles, it also focuses on some of the leading figures in the history of the silver trade. The role of the Goldsmith’s Company in prompting and protecting the craft will also be discussed.
Part of Christopher’s experience has been to catalogue the silver in the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and other royal residences. Subsequently he was Senior Curator and Assistant Keeper of Art at Norwich Castle Museum and currently works as an independent researcher.
Non-members of ArtsNational Melbourne are welcome as guests and need to book and pay via the TryBooking website. Any queries please contact Veronica Rickard, Membership Secretary
Thursday 10 April 2025
THE ART OF MAPS
Presented by John Williamson
Time & Venue: 8pm, Lido Cinema 1
This lecture discusses the complex topic ‘the world of maps’, their development and gradual improvement for shipping, the addition of longitude and latitude, the location of north, what maps show and what they leave out. The map of the world created by Abraham Ortelius in 1570 was so highly regarded that it was being republished with updates 100 years later. Most of all we look at the great beauty of maps.
John is a polar historian in Nepaluna (Hobart). Until 2019 he was a lecturer on Antarctic history at the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, the University of Tasmania. He has worked as a tour guide in Antarctica and has written widely on Antarctica and the making of maps.
Non-members of ArtsNational Melbourne are welcome as guests and need to book and pay via the TryBooking website. Any queries please contact Veronica Rickard, Membership Secretary
Thursday 15 May 2025
GILBERT AND SULLIVAN THEIR TOPSY-TURVEY WORLD
Presented by Jamie Hayes
Time & Venue: 8pm, Lido Cinema 1
Hear the story of the quarter century partnership of two remarkable Victorians and the birth of English comic opera. Brought together in 1871 by the theatre manager Richard D’Oyly Carte, they collaborated with him on 14 unique comic operas. Their satirical brilliance can still inspire and impress today. Their success was unprecedented in the history of music theatre, their creativity inspired the likes of Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter and left London with three great theatres and three world famous hotels.
A RADA graduate in State Management, Jamie has an extensive background in directing theatre, opera and musical productions with a wide variety of UK and international theatre companies. He was Associate Director of the original production of Miss Saigon in the West End and on Broadway.
Non-members of ArtsNational Melbourne are welcome as guests and need to book and pay via the TryBooking website. Any queries please contact Veronica Rickard, Membership Secretary.
Thursday 17 July 2025
THE RIJKSMUSEUM IN AMSTERDAM Rembrandt’s Night Watch and Much, Much More
Presented by Sophie Oosterwijk
Time & Venue: 8pm, Lido Cinema 1
This lecture offers an introduction to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam: the collection, the building, its history and the 10-year renovation (2003-13) that brought back the splendour of architect Pierre Cuypers’ original neo-gothic decorations. The collection of the Rijksmuseum includes works by Hals, Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh as well as medieval art, jewellery, musical instruments, Asian art and even an FK 23 Bantam plane from 1918. It also has Rembrandt’s famous Night Watch – but only on loan! All this and much more will be revealed about the most famous museum in the Netherlands.
Born in Gouda (Netherlands). Sophie has an MA in Medieval Studies (York) and a PhD in Art History (Leicester), as well as an MA and PhD in English Literature (Leiden). Sophie has taught at the universities of St Andrews, Leicester and Manchester, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, National Trust, V&A, U3A, WEA and other organisations, and organised many study days, tours and visits. She is also a regular lecturer for Cambridge University and travel companies, and Vice President of the Church Monuments Society, and has numerous publications to her name.
Non-members of ArtsNational Melbourne are welcome as guests and need to book and pay via the TryBooking website. Any queries please contact Veronica Rickard, Membership Secretary.
Thursday 14 August 2025
A CARPET RIDE TO KHIVA A PERSONAL STORY OF REVIVING ANCIENT SILK CARPET DESIGNS
Presented by Chris Aslan
Time & Venue: 8pm, Lido Cinema 1
Chris Aslan tells his own story of working with UNESCO to establish a silk carpet workshop in the desert oasis of Khiva, Uzbekistan – the most homogenous example of Islamic architecture in the world. His work took him to the bazaars of Afghanistan to purchase natural dyes, and to the great libraries and museums of Europe to track down 15th century manuscripts to revive carpet designs from their illuminations. He also saw the lives of women transformed and became the largest private employer in town
Chris Aslan was born in Turkey and after a colourful early life and a degree in media and journalism from Leicester University, he lived in several of the ’Stans’ – Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan creating or reviving industries in each place resulting in valuable local employment opportunities. When not lecturing he writes and his latest book, recently published, is Unravelling the Silk Road. He also takes tours to Central Asia where he has left a large chunk of his heart.
Non-members of ArtsNational Melbourne are welcome as guests and need to book and pay via the TryBooking website. Any queries please contact Veronica Rickard, Membership Secretary..
Thursday 18 September 2025
MASTER OF SUSPENSE ALFRED HITCHCOCK
Presented by John Francis
Time & Venue: 8pm, Lido Cinema 1
After moving to Hollywood, Hitchcock created several masterpieces of cinema including Vertigo (1958) and Psycho (1960). Vertigo has recently been voted by critics as the best ever film overtaking Citizen Kane. Together we will explore Hitchcock’s dark film about sexual obsession. Taking a shower still fills many people with dread and foreboding thanks to the Hitchcock modern Horror classic of 1960. A full analysis of Hitchcock’s masterful technique and influences will be the central focus of this lecture. Alfred Hitchcock remains by far the most studied and revered film director of all time.
Initially trained as a painter, John was awarded the Max Beckmann Memorial Scholarship in painting in Brooklyn, New York and went on to be artist in residence for the state of Texas. Later in his career John produced and directed several short films and animations. He has taught film, art and pedagogy at the University of Exeter, Arts University Bournemouth, University Sains Malaysia, Southwestern College, California, Brunel University, London and Kingston University.
Non-members of ArtsNational Melbourne are welcome as guests and need to book and pay via the TryBooking website. Any queries please contact Veronica Rickard, Membership Secretary
Thursday 16 October 2025
AZTEC AND MAYA CIVILISATIONS OF MEXICO
Presented by Eileen Goulding
Time & Venue: 8pm, Lido Cinema 1
Human hearts, blood and children’s tears were all necessary to quench the hunger of the bloodthirsty gods of Mexico. If their needs were not satisfied the consequences for the nation would be catastrophic. Discover some of their ancient gods and learn about the religious rites designed to appease them.
Eileen Goulding has an MA from the Department of Archaeology at the University of London, is a published author and an authority on the ancient cultures of the world. She specialises in the History and Culture of the ancient worlds of the Mediterranean, South America and Australasia and spends her time doing further research and giving lectures.
Non-members of ArtsNational Melbourne are welcome as guests and need to book and pay via the TryBooking website. Any queries please contact Veronica Rickard, Membership Secretary
Thursday 13 November 2025
AGM and AUSTRALIAN IMPRESSIONISM
Presented by Michael Varcoe-Cocks
Time & Venue: 8pm, Lido Cinema 1
The Australian Impressionist movement was spearheaded by a band of Melbourne artists including Tom Roberts, Frederick McCubbin and Arthur Streeton. Through the field of technical art history we are able to combine scientific and archival research to explore the context and method of the creation of these paintings to better define the intention of the individual artist.
Michael is the Associate Director, Conservation at the National Gallery of Victoria where he has been employed as a conservator for twenty-seven years. His work has principally focused on collection-based research and the accompanying treatment of works produced between 1850 and 1950.
Non-members of ArtsNational Melbourne are welcome as guests and need to book and pay via the TryBooking website. Any queries please contact Veronica Rickard, Membership Secretary.
