Societies And Qualifications
Becoming a member of an art association or society can be of benefit to all artists. The following associations and societies hold regular exhibitions, which you can visit, or be an exhibiting artist if you are a member. Their respective websites are packed with useful information and some even have forums for you to discuss art-related issues with fellow artists.
Royal Watercolour Society
The Royal Watercolour Society (RWS) is based at Bankside Gallery, which holds exhibitions of watercolours by its members. The society's peers, in a tradition of excellence reaching back almost two hundred years, elect all members. Their work embraces both established and experimental practices, and exhibitions reflect these different approaches.
Pastel Society
The Pastel Society was founded in 1898, and its first exhibition was held in the Royal Institute in Piccadilly, London. Its members are professional artists living and working in this country and overseas, and it is the leading society in the UK for artists working with pastels. Its aim is to constantly promote the medium by means of exhibitions, tutorial workshops, demonstrations and lectures to art societies throughout the country.
National Acrylic Painters' Association
The National Acrylic Painters’ Association (NAPA) evolved from artists' desire to have acrylic paint recognised as a medium in its own right. The Association is a professional organisation. "Professional" is taken to mean that it accepts as members those persons who earn a regular living by painting, or those who although not living by art, adopt a professional attitude toward the subject, exploiting creatively the acrylic medium, using experimentation and imagination.
It welcomes all painters be they traditional or modern in their approach to art, and either fine or graphic artists. It has a membership which is both national and international. The Association is lastly non-discriminatory concerning age, disability, gender or race. Painters are accepted solely on the strength of their work.
Society for All Artists
The Society for All Artists (SAA) was founded in 1992 to inform, encourage and inspire all artists. The SAA has grown into an art organisation with with over 25,000 members in over 50 countries throughout the world. Members range from complete beginners to amateurs, professionals and teachers. It also has over 600 art clubs and societies affiliated to it.
Society of Women Artists
The Society of Women Artists was established to give serious women artists an opportunity to exhibit. Today it has some of the finest contemporary women artists from all over the world as its elected members, and as a consequence its reputation for excellence is well deserved. The society continues, as it has done since 1855, to please, delight and flourish with its variety and versatility. It moves with the modern world, while still retaining its original professional qualities.
