PONTYPOOL Museum is starting off the year with an exhibition of work by Pontypool and District Art Club, in its exhibition space Cafe Art.

The art club has supported the museum’s campaign of trying to attract 1,000 new members to make up for a £19,000 cash shortfall in its budget after losing council funding by signing up as corporate members.

The group’s members have said they are keen to promote how the museum and the art group have been able to support each other and in turn, the wider community.

The museum’s administrator, Susan Allford, said that Café Art is a great exhibition space and is bookable for two month slots, but, because of its popularity, it is already fully booked for two years.

Originally, the art group – under the experience of Tom Pepper – used to meet every month at the museum but as their numbers have grown and developed, they have now moved to the Woodland Centre at Penygarn.

Ms Allford added: “The work is a variety of subjects in mixed media and at very reasonable prices; an excellent exhibition of a very high standard, it is certainly worth a visit.”

The treasurer of the art group, Roger Purbrick, explained that the group exhibit annually at the museum, and enter work to be displayed in the winter art exhibition – the current display will be on show until the end of February.

Membership benefits include free entry to all exhibitions, ten per cent off selected items in the museum shop, exclusive invitations to special events and exhibitions, newsletters featuring upcoming attractions and trust news, and voting rights at the trust AGM.

Corporate members receive promotion in newsletters, on social media and on the website.

All new membership subscriptions in January can take advantage of the extra three months membership, which will continue until March 2016.

Pontypool and District Art Club meet on Fridays, 12.30pm to 3pm, and have approximately 30 members. If you are interested in joining, call 075231084784.