ART SOCIETIES to JOIN ????
Julia.A
for writers, architects, designers etc.
I am sure there are some for visual artists too. Maybe they are not that
active due to small profits and stagnation on art market, low interest of
public in arts and insignificant interest of artists in associating
(and paying quite useless membership fees)?
I could not create more or less distinctive picture of what is going on in
the art community at these days. There are programs of some universities,
city council with local projects, etc...
I run accross few of them some time ago. But all those associations seemed
to do was collecting fees and issueing some useless membership cards for
that, the rest was vague and incoherrent.
I would like to ask knowledgeable people of this forum if there are
some art societies that are worth applying for?
Bigger scale? Nation wide? With interesting programs? Benefits?
New opportunities (otherwise unattainable)? Prospects?
First-hand information? Prestige?
It's obvious that artist's works with subsequent recognition and commercial
succcess (sales, galleries, collections, museums) speak for themselves
and all guilds seem pretty irrelevant; and yet there can be something
WORTH joining?
Thank you.
Julia A
Crawling back into PC clipboard,
Leon Kubasski
-------------
Esther Aigh
>
>I would like to ask knowledgeable people of this forum if there are
>some art societies that are worth applying for?
I was unable to ascertain where you live. That
would make a great difference in replies to you.
I sense you are in the UK. "Societies" are probably
a lot different there than in, say, the USA.
In the USA there is really no single "society" that
I can think of. By doing a web search using GOOGLE
and entering search words like "national society
of artists" or "national association of artists"
you'll find literally hundreds of references to
various art organizations. Most of these are local,
or regional in nature. Those that are truly national
are usually specialized. For example: National Watercolor
Society, etc.
Tina Mammoser
National Artists Associate is good for professional information. They produce
excellent advice on contracts, finances, etc, and work on behalf of artists to
change way (ie. they are working for resale income and standard exhibition
fees for any public work). Through them you can get a deal on insurance and
other things. Anyone can join - it's not work-based.
There is the less-know SAA which I'm a member of simply for their excellent
exhibition insurance coverage. Gold membership for about £50 a year covers you
up to £5000 for an exhibition. There is membership starting about £18 a year
too. They have a website at www.saa.co.uk. They are very hobbyist/amateur
focused but I found the insurance deal hard to beat.
There are several societies that are all part of the Federation of British
Artists at the Mall Galleries. If any of these interest you submit to their
annual open exhibitions. The societies range from the british artists, oils,
pastels, marine painters, etc. www.mallgalleries.co.uk.
there are also societies like the Painters-Printmakers; Painters, Sculptors
and Printmakers; Watercolourists; Acrylic painters; the Printmakers Council.
Medium specific and have exhibitions for the group, some more than once a
year. It depends what type of work you do.
Other than that my best advice for opportunities is to subscribe to A-N
Magazine. It's my monthly bible. www.anweb.co.uk :)
Tina.
_____
Contemporary marine and landscape paintings:
http://www.tina-m.com
Alison A Raimes
> I also can't tell where you are but if you are in the UK there are some. The
> National Artists Associate is good for professional information. They produce
> excellent advice on contracts, finances, etc, and work on behalf of artists to
> change way (ie. they are working for resale income and standard exhibition
> fees for any public work). Through them you can get a deal on insurance and
> other things. Anyone can join - it's not work-based.
Something dramatic must have happened to the NAA in the last six
months then. In the first instance, the NAA is open only to
professional artists - they offer around eight criteria and you must
be able to prove at least three ie. self employment status;
professional qualification; exhibition history. In addition to this,
the NAA has been in crisis for some time. In the past it has happily
taken 15 pounds per year off artists for what? For nothing. That is
what. Recently the entire board of directors was replaced after much
protest and because the NAA is sponsored by the British Arts Council.
As to advice, I sincerely hope that you are right - that they finally
have someone at the end of the phone who is knowledgeable enough. I
haven't heard anything to confirm this (and I was originally offered
the job, which I turned down without reservation).
Artists Newsletter is a good source of information, as you say. If
you live in London then joining a studio group is by far the best way
though. Apart from subsidised studio rent, some studio groups offer a
number of facilities and services that are not available anywhere else
for artists. I'd recommend Space; ACME; Aciva and Bow Arts Trust. The
latter, where I have a studio, offers the cheapest studios in London
(secured rental for the next five years with the possibility of
purchasing the building) http://www.bowarts.com Artists become a
member of the charity and therefore have a say in the running of the
studios. Insurance is included in the rental, which is very unusual in
London. We have an artist's run gallery and following recent funding
grants now have a paid curator and two educational officers. Through
this, there is an abundance of paid work for artists - mainly through
workshops with the local schools. The pay is in excess of 100 pounds
per six hour session.
Studio groups like this, have a dynamics that creates a very good
working environment, with networking that brings opportunities
directly to the artists. Of course, we hve an incredible director who
has more energy, drive and commitment than anyone I have ever met
before - so that helps. Last year we had a politician curate the
annual open exhibition which coincides with Open Studios - this year
we have Graham Norton (just to add some spice to the event ;-) June
14th, 15th & 16th for anyone who is interested.
Alison A Raimes
http://raimes.com
Esther Aigh
>In the USA there is really no single "society"
When I was in University, seeking degrees in art,
I was a member of the COLLEGE ART ASSOCIATION
of the USA and received their publications. They
hold an annual convention for academics where
there is always great hope placed on obtaining
a teaching position at their "job fair" section.
Tina Mammoser
I've checked out Candid Arts, Acme and Space in the past but am in a private studio now
due to luck (with 6 other artists in the building). A studio group is probably an even
*better* idea than joining a society.
Tina.
_____
Contemporary marine paintings:
http://www.tina-m.com
Julia.A
> I was unable to ascertain where you live. That
> would make a great difference in replies to you.
> I sense you are in the UK. "Societies" are probably
> a lot different there than in, say, the USA.
Mmm. Sorry, that I did not specify where I am.
It's just probably the way I am using the language always gives wrong
impression. I am in the USA, all right.
> In the USA there is really no single "society" that
> I can think of. By doing a web search using GOOGLE
> and entering search words like "national society
> of artists" or "national association of artists"
> you'll find literally hundreds of references to
> various art organizations. Most of these are local,
> or regional in nature.
I am afraid that local societies are not that attractive.
Of course, there are thousands of them, but some of them just exist for the
sake of own existance and, unfortunately, quite useless...
It would do no good just to join something just to waste money and dump
dubious memebership in a short while.
I asked about ASSOCIATIONS, hoping that SOMEONE knows from PERSONAL
experience and can give very practical advice.
Tina gave some good tips but regarding British sources; I am looking for
something of the sort in the US.
I am interested in association of NATIONAL scale.
That, for instance, can offer some help or programs like
- contests/competitions info and so on,
- copyright protection (in case of some infringement),
- legal advice,
- exhibition insurance (lower than usual)
- etc, etc...
> Those that are truly national
> are usually specialized. For example:
> National Watercolor Society, etc.
Mmmm. OK. I will search more
Thanks.
Julia
Julia.A
Thank you, Tina.
Your posts are always very informative.
I saved your information for future reference.
But unfortunately I am not sure if I can use it soon.
Somewhere among my numerous plans I have intention to organize few gallery
shows in GB (hope is a great thing, isn't it?), but that's about it.
I live in United States and my primary interest was artists societies and
associations in the USA.
I checked some English web sites before and I know some magazine as well.
What can I say? I can only envy British artists because they have things
perfectly organized.
:-(
Here, in USA, every other person is a "writer" or an "artist", but, for
some strange inexplicable reason, nothing ever gets organized in any way,
but only gets worse...
Julia
Duchas de Abril
>I am interested in association of NATIONAL scale.
>
>That, for instance, can offer some help or programs like
>- contests/competitions info and so on,
>- copyright protection (in case of some infringement),
>- legal advice,
>- exhibition insurance (lower than usual)
>- etc, etc...
Okay. With the more specific information you've
offered, I can offer some in return.
The above is the web site for the National Endowment
for the Arts. It's a government funded organization
that in turn funds local art events nation-wide
in the USA. Individual artists don't "join" the
NEA, but benefit from it's many programs both
directly and indirectly. The NEA publishes, or
co-sponsors publication of books etc such as
the one I recommend frequently in this forum:
The Business of Art, by Lee Caplin. Published
in cooperation with the NEA.
That and the College Art Association are the only
two I know of that have national stature that cuts
across all artistic disciplines - performing,
visual and historical.
There are of course NUMEROUS not-for-profit
organizations that serve a "national" audience.
Whether or not they offer anything beyond a
monthly newsletter is something you have to
research for yourself. You can easily do this
by searching with "GOOGLE" online, typing in
phrases like "national watercolor society"
"national art organizations" and other such
phrases - note inclusion of the "qoute" marks
in your search string.
Additionally, there are newsletters you can
subsrcibe to that offer dates for annual
juried shows, art fairs and such. I don't
happen to have addresses to offer but suggest
searching "GOOGLE" for "art fairs" and such.
Good luck...the USA is a very complex place
full of valuable art resources for anyone
willing to put in the research time...
PS Here's another web site reference with
some good links that will help you. Click
on the individual logos on the home page: