Next years' AGM gives you the chance to have a long weekend based around the historic and beautiful venue of Royal Holloway College in Surrey, with a whole day at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London on Saturday 5 April 2003.

The weekend starts on Thursday evening with a private view of the art exhibition in the Orleans House Gallery on the bank of the river Thames in Richmond, where the galleries curator will introduce us to the work in the exhibition and tell us a little about the house itself.

Friday is based entirely on the campus of Royal Holloway College with the exhibition of the Annual Members Competition 2003 'Signs & Symbols', displays from the 2002 Guild Scholars and De Denne Competition, demonstration workshops and talks, the Guild Bookshop and some of your favourite materials suppliers, as well as a chance to catch up with friends from around the country. There's also a chance to take a trip out and visit the costume stores of the Theatre Museum in London, with a tour from the museum's keeper.

A short walk through the beautiful wooded grounds of Royal Holloway takes you to the colleges Reid Halls, our accommodation for the weekend where all rooms are single en-suite. For Thursday and Friday meals will be served in the Dinning Hall of the Grade 1 listed Founder's Building, which originally opened in 1886.

On Saturday we travel to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, where the Guild's Annual General Meeting, and the Annual Guild Lecture will take place in the V&A's Lecture Theatre, a magnificent Victorian auditorium reached via the ornate Ceramic Staircase. A very special lunch has been arranged for Saturday in the stunning Gamble Room of the V&A, of which we have exclusive use. This wonderfully ornate room is the V&A's finest example of high Victorian decoration, it's completely tiled walls, painted enamel ceiling, stained glass windows, marble fire place and mirrored alcoves make this unique space shine from floor to ceiling.

Following their 40th anniversary in 2002, and subsequent exhibition based on the collections of the V&A, a member of the 62 Group will provide in the afternoon's Lecture an insight into the development of work from their exhibition, and the inspiration found at the V&A. There will be time, during lunch and at the beginning and end of the day, for you to find your own inspiration while exploring the expanse of galleries at the V&A's.

Returning to Royal Holloway, Saturday evening brings dinner in the splendid Founder's Building, with musical accompaniment in the famous Picture Gallery of the college's Founder's building, which houses Thomas Holloway's own collection of Victorian art. During the evening you will here more about this magnificent collection from a local historian. An entertaining end to what will hopefully be an enjoyable weekend, with a chance for you to venture into London for the day on Sunday before heading home.

For further details and a booking form please send an SAE to:
AGM 2003, Embroiderers' Guild, Apt 41 Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, KT8 9AU

or email to [email protected]