The Royal Society of Marine Artists

Celebrating the Sea

GUIDANCE FOR ARTISTS SEEKING MEMBERSHIP

Firstly you must submit to the Annual Exhibition work of a consistently high standard and suitable subject matter.  It is worth reiterating here that we are a marine society and submissions must be essentially marine in character, pertaining to the sea or tidal waters.  Images of waterways, canals etc. will not be accepted.  Over a period of years a good proportion of the work you submit must be accepted (you may submit up to 6 pieces, of which a maximum of 4 can be selected).  If you constantly fail to get a fair percentage of your work accepted then it is unlikely that you have been unlucky with your selection juries but more likely that you are doing something wrong or the work is simply not good enough to make the grade.  You should try to discuss this with some of the Members and do take the trouble to visit the Annual Exhibition to judge the quality of the work that is accepted.

The Society keeps a record of the number of works accepted for exhibition by non-members and takes this into account when short-listing potential candidates.  It follows that if you have made an application for membership you will not necessarily be on that year's shortlist.  Some years we have more than 20 applicants and only those with the best exhibiting record will be considered.

If this all sounds fairly daunting do bear in mind that we are on the lookout for members who not only are good artists but are also prepared to participate in the life and work of the Society.  The RSMA is affiliated to the Federation of British Artists but it remains autonomous and self-governing.  The continued existence and success of the Society is the responsibility of the Members and they are expected to play their part in supporting its activities.  This means producing work for the Society's exhibitions on a continuing basis - members who default seriously in this respect may lose their membership - and in addition being prepared to serve on the Council, or the Hanging and Selection Committees or to fill any of the Society's other offices.

These posts involve time, attending meetings, and the related travelling but they are an integral part of membership.  If the work is not done by one Member it will fall on another who may have to travel even farther.  We do have interest from time to time from artists who are resident in countries that would make it virtually impossible to fulfil these essential requirements and whilst we appreciate their interest the practicalities are formidable.

PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION

Write to the Hon. Secretary (or email), or to the FBA Secretariat stating that you wish to be considered as a candidate.  Your request will be considered at the time your work is being judged by the Selection Committee together with your record of previously accepted work.  The composition of the Selection Committee changes each year allowing full participation in the judging process by all Members of the Society.  If you are successful in making the candidates list you will be judged by the whole Membership at the AGM which immediately follows the annual show where a simple majority vote secures election as an Associate Member.

Associate Membership is seen as a step to full Membership.  The term of Associate Membership is a maximum of 5 years, in the last 3 of which the Associate is eligible for election to full Member.  Again the election takes place at the AGM by the whole of the Membership.

MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS

Non-members often remark on the expense of submitting work and are sometimes unaware that membership also has it's costs.  The current annual subscription for an Associate is £95 and £195 for a full Member.