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on 05 26, 2010

Welcome to the East Kent Art Society’s Website

The Society was founded in 1902, as there is evidence from a document supplied by the Palmer family that Alfred Palmer was instrumental in setting up the society in 1902. However, we have in the Society’s archives an Exhibition catalogue for 1907 which states that this is the ‘East Kent Art Society’s Third Exhibition, Paintings, Sculpture, Carving &c. 1907′ and this means that the Society may have been a private group just exhibiting their own work and not until 1905 actually exhibiting in the public domain. This third exhibition was held in the St. George’s Hall in Canterbury and included paintings both oil and water colour, drawings, designs, metal work, enamels, miniatures and even bookbinding, sculpture and wood carving.

By 1907 the EKAS, as it has now become affectionately known, had as many as forty five Patrons including His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, and also the Right Honourable Lord Northbourne and many other titled patrons. It does seem that many of these patrons were also exhibiting members. There were in all 125 artists exhibiting their work. The names of these artists and their addresses are to be found at the end of the catalogue. Many of the early exhibitions were timed to receive some of those pictures which had been exhibited at the Royal Academy’s Summer Show.

The President was Sir Luke Fildes, RA, the Vice President, The Lord Bishop of Dover and Treasurer a W.H.Horsley, Esq. The rest of the Exhibition Committee were eight ladies who were all responsible for managing the Exhibition.

Society History

It seems that the Society did not exhibit during the war years, which accounts for about ten years when there were no exhibitions and therefore in 1990 we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Society’s exhibitions. This exhibition was organised by Colin George of Adisham Manor and he managed to obtain a variety of paintings from some of the original artists who had been members of the society since its foundation. It is hoped in the year 2002 we will have a variety of events to celebrate the centenary of the Society.

The Current Society

The EKAS is a thriving exhibiting society and has an Annual Exhibition at the Royal Museum and Gallery in High Street Canterbury sometimes known as the Beaney, usually during the month of August, by kind permission of Mr. Reedie the Curator. This has been the main focus of the Society’s activities each year. At the time of setting up the website the Beaney is undergoing major refurbishment and the opening of the Royal museum and Gallery is planned to open sometime late 2012 – early 2013

There are between sixty and seventy members who exhibit and exhibiting is by submission of work to the. EKAS committee. The present day committee of the EKAS is composed of a number of professional artists, teachers and lecturers who are well established in the world of art and have the job of guiding the Society into the next century of its history.