Beckenham Decorative & Fine Arts Society
PATRICIA FAY MEMORIAL FUND
The first Decorative and Fine Arts Society was the inspiration of Patricia Fay, seen right. In 1965 she formed The Chiltern Antiques Group, later to become the Chiltern DFAS. The aim of the group was to bring together people interested in the decorative and fine arts who wished to hear expert lecturers; to visit museums, galleries, houses and collections; and to increase and broaden their knowledge. Patricia received help and encouragement from Sir Trenchard Cox, then the Director of the V&A, and he subsequently became the NADFAS President.
Such was the success of the Chiltern DFAS that other societies followed. In 1968, with 11 societies, the National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS) was formed. It held its inaugural meeting at the V&A in the presence of HRH The Duchess of Kent, who became the first Patron.
For the inspiration and vision which lay behind the rapid success of the NADFAS, Patricia received an OBE but sadly she died in 1979 aged 46.
The Patricia Fay Memorial Fund (PFMF) was set up in Patricia’s memory with the aim of helping students and apprentices working in the fields of decorative and fine art with their studies.
In 2010 BDFAS decided that it should place a large part of its reserves with the PFMF rather than in a bank deposit account. The reasons were that we would have instant access to the money on loan and that there would be benefit to the aims and ideals of the NADFAS movement as all the interest gained on the loan goes into the Memorial Fund.
To achieve the Fund's aims NADFAS works closely with the relevant Partner Institutions who together decide on the most appropriate recipients for awards. Awards are made nationally and examples of the awards made in the London area in 2009 and 2010 are:
£2,500 to the City & Guilds of London Art School for two conservation students;
£5,000 to the Hand Engravers Association to support an apprentice hand engraver placed with an
employer in central London;
employer in central London;
£5,000 to the Guildhall Art Gallery for an intern in its conservation studio;
£5,000 to Tate Britain for an intern in the frames conservation studio.
£3,000 was given to Cockpit Arts Support for a craftsperson;
£2,500 to the City & Guilds of London Art School Support for a conservation student.
