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Beith Arts Guild was established in 1964 with the aim of encouraging the development and appreciation of music, drama and art - not just in Beith, but in the whole Garnock valley and beyond. An elected committee organises a Winter programme of concerts and a Summer Art Exhibition, to which everyone is very welcome.

Concerts are held once a month on Sunday afternoons at 2.30p.m in Beith Community Centre, or sometimes in Trinity Church. The performers are mostly professional musicians, and we aim for a wide variety of music in each season

Every June we hold our very popular week long Art Exhibition, also in Beith Community Centre. In this we show about 300 works by local artists including paintings, photographs, embroideries and other craft items. There is also a children's section, with entries produced in local schools.

The first concert of our 45th season was a great success, with the Swingcats enrtertaining a large audience in a tribute to the Andrews Sisters, the world-famous close-harmony singing trio of the 1940's and 50's.  Feet were tapping all around the hall as they sang the up-tempo hit songs recorded by the American trio - like "Boogie Woogie Bugle-Boy of Company B", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "Alexander`s Ragtime Band", and many others.  The audience`s verdict ---- "A great concert!"       

The next Sunday concert - at 2.30 p.m. on 18th October at TRINITY CHURCH, Beith - featured Trio Burnsteeg, consisting of Robin and Emma Versteeg and Louise Burnet.  .Robin is the conductor of the Cunninghame Choir, but in this concert he appeared as pianist and accompanist to his wife Emma who is a fine soprano.  Louise is a talented flautist, and in their combined  performance there was a distinct North American flavour to the musi. This was an excellent concert which did full justice to the wonderful acoustic of Trinity Church.

 The November concert, also in Trinity Church, was another feast of beautiful singing and virtuoso musicianship. Mark O"Keeffe on trumpet and Walter Blair on piano and organ were at their best and the lovely clear tones of Patricia McMahon's soprano were a joy.

January saw the return of Philip Contini and hid Be Happy Band. This was a very 'happy' afternoon and we had to thank our guests for raising our spirits during the awful weather we were having in January. The Neapolitan music was warm and sunny and reminded us that Summer would be here eventually.

February was another treat from the more classical genre and we were entertained by three gorgeous girls and a wealth of woodwind in the form of the Scottish Reed Trio. The music was magical and took us from Mozart and Beethoven to Elgar and Jacob. We were thrilled by the crisp delivery of some familiar, and not so familiar, pieces.

March is one of our most popular occasions when Bobby Wishart returns with his Jazz Group to entertain and excite with his particulat brand of crowd pleasers. Don't miss this if you like jazz!

In April you will get the chance to hear Gordon Mabbott give is a selection of songs from the shows and other popular songs, to join in if you wish, but certainly to enjoy. There will be a short meeting afterwards and you can tell us what you would like to see and hear in the future, and if it is possible we will do our best to oblige.

The Art Exhibition opens on Sunday May 30th and runs for a week until Sunday 6th of June. There will be the usual display of works from our very talented local artists and the opportunity to purchase an original piece of art at a very good price.

As the Local Council are looking to close Community Centres in the future as a money saving exercise, we hope you will come to as many events there as possible - not only ours, of course - so that all who use the Centre can make a good case for keeping it going.