Aims

This Society aims in all ways to promote the performance and appreciation of the visual fine arts.

Objectives

• Our objectives include maximising our members chances to have their work exhibited by holding our own exhibitions and disseminating information about other suitable exhibitions.
• We organise visits to art galleries and similar places of artistic interest.
• We hold, and disseminate information about, workshops and tutorial activities.
• We aim to have an ongoing series of social events including art activity lunches so that our members may get to know each other better.

We hope that this website will facilitate all of these objectives.

A Brief History of the Society

That the Society continues to exist and still provide a local cultural focus in the visual arts is a tribute to the enthusiasm and dedication of its members, past and present. It should be remembered that this is over a period which included two World Wars.

The Society was started as a result of a Public Meeting convened by the then Mayor of Coventry, Colonel W.Wyley. This was held in St. Mary’s Hall on 12th February 1912.

The first President of the Society was Soloman J. Soloman R.I. He was succeeded by Sir William Orpen A.R.A. and Dame Laura Knight R.A. until 1962. Then Coventry Architect Rolf Hellberg F.R.I.B.A. held the post until 1981. In more recent times Art Historian Dr Antony Hobson, David Shepherd O.B.E. and the Marquess of Hertford, of Ragley Hall have held the post.

In addition to the above Vice-Presidents have included Sir Frank Brangwyn Sir D.Y.Cameron, Sir William Russell Flint, Sir David Murray, Arthur Rackham, Sir Alfred Herbert, Sir Jacob Epstein, Sir F.A.Newdigate, Sir Edward Illife, Sir Hugh Casson and Dame Elizabeth Frink.

Clearly we have a very distinguished History to be proud of.

Sir Alfred Herbert is particularly remembered for his gift to the City of Coventry of “The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum”.

Annual exhibitions were held, with the exception of the two wars, in the Old Corn Exchange until it was demolished and then in St Mary’s Hall until 1948. From 1949-59 the unfinished Herbert Art Gallery was the venue and, once finished, continued to be so until 1991. This fulfilled the specific wishes of Sir Alfred Herbert that at least one gallery should be for the benefit of the City’s population and its local Art Society.

In 1992 Coventry City Council changed this policy and has not permitted the Society to hold its Annual Exhibition there since. The Society has had to find alternative venues since then and has, for 9 years been established for its “Annual” at the Jane Powell Art Studio in Kenilworth. The Society remain desirous of reversing Coventry’s decision and again implementing the Herbert Art Gallery’s founder’s expressed wishes.

Membership of the Society was originally intended to be for practising artists and for many years entry was by submission of work to a committee. The Society’s policy has changed with the spirit of the times and is now open to all who have an interest in the visual arts.

The members enjoy a programme of varied activities and social events as well as, usually three, opportunities to submit work to exhibition. Acceptance of work is by selection committee. Every effort is made to accept at least one work from every member and all agree that the standard of exhibition has not fallen since the Society became 'open'.