Ipswich Art Society

We are delighted to announce that next we will be sharing reciprocal membership with IAS. For the duration of the calendar year, we will be able to enjoy access to their events and any publications at IAS member rates, and we look forward to sharing with their membership just what we do.

Stephen Cassidy, the Chair of IAS says:

“Next year sees the 150th Anniversary of Ipswich Art Society, and we are thrilled to be sharing a year’s joint membership with The Friends of the Ipswich Museums. The Society and the Friends closely align in the promotion of local culture, building on the past to develop the future.

The Art Society was founded as the “Ipswich Fine Arts Club” back in 1874, in the Victorian zeal for high quality pursuits and public involvement. Its Annual Open Exhibition – which continues to this day – grew out of a collaboration between professional artists, teachers, students and amateurs. The Borough Art Collection includes acquisitions from these exhibitions over time. We hope to recognise this in some way at the Mansion next year. Further exhibition plans include the Annual Open, Fine Arts students at UoS, and one at The Hold using the Society’s and Suffolk’s archives to illustrate the 150 years of significant shifts in the industry and appearance of Ipswich. A series of talks will include John Sheeran and Emma Roodhouse as well as members of the Society and UoS. An Art Trail will connect the exhibitions and points of cultural interest in the town. Artist-led workshops will encourage wide public participation. We look forward to sharing the celebrations with as many as possible.”

At the Field’s Edge by Mark Beesley