ART SOCIETIES to JOIN ????

I know there are plenty of different societies, associations and guilds 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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Heh, Graham Norton - reason enough for me. Studio groups are a good thing though, 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.

Thank you for your reply.

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.

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...

Mmmm. OK. I will search more

Thanks.

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...

Okay. With the more specific information you've offered, I can offer some in return.
http://arts.endow.gov/

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: