The Otago Decorative and Fine Arts Society offers a varied programme of lectures with international speakers.
The lectures are presented by international experts accredited in the United Kingdom by The Arts Society.
As a local member of The Arts Society, the Otago group is part of a global network of about 90,000 members.
Previous topics have included art and architecture in Imperial Calcutta, Getty — oil, money and art collection, and the lives of London’s Pre-Raphaelite painters.
This year the society is hoping to attract more members.
Committee member Maggie Hanton said anybody and everybody would be welcome to join and broaden their knowledge on topics including art, architecture, design and history.
The society is offering eight lectures this year, with a range of speakers who have a wide variety of expertise including fine arts, design, literature, art history, jewellery, classical archaeology and the history of fashion.
Talks take place on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery and are held about every five or six weeks, starting in March.
Since Covid-19, some talks have also taken place as live online presentations via Zoom.
"But there is a question time at the end so you really feel that you are there talking to the lecturer."
Speakers this year include BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Marc Allum, honorary curator of the dress collection at Otago Museum Dr Jane Malthus, and British art historian and broadcaster Leslie Primo.
The non-profit organisation hoped to encourage new members to join.
"It’s a great society, it is very welcoming ... everybody just mingles and talks to everybody else. There are no barriers, no bars," Mrs Hanton said.
Visit dfasnz.org.nz/otago for details.
