ABOUT BEXHILL ART SOCIETY
The Bexhill Art Society is friendly and supportive and encourages all members to engage in the creative pursuit of individual art.
We meet on the 1st Saturday of the month at St Augustine's Church Hall, St Augustine's Close (off Cooden Drive), Bexhill-on-Sea, TN39 3AZ
Doors open at 2pm – Demonstrations are from 2.30 to 4.30pm and visitors are welcome for a £5.00 fee.
The programme for 2023 includes a variety of demonstrators who are all experts in their chosen activity and should appeal to a diverse audience. Please click here for the programme.
Membership
Annual membership year runs from 1 st March to 28 th February.
Fees per person are:
-
From March £30 (2023) per person
-
From September £15
The Membership Fee includes all the demonstrations, refreshments and monthly newsletter.
TO JOIN US PLEASE CLICK HERE
HISTORY
Terry Carter moved to Bexhill in 1959. In 1960 the Corporation staged an Art Exhibition at the De la Warr (with the East Sussex Arts Club). Why hasn’t Bexhill an Art Society of its own? was the logical question Terry asked.
In November 1960 Terry wrote to the Bexhill Observer. As a result, several people contacted him, and he called a meeting at his house. They discussed the situation and decided to take action. Each person put in £5, (a considerable sum way back than) booked a room at the De la Warr and placed an advert in the Bexhill Observer. The first meeting took place on 14th January 1961 attended by about 100 people.
It was decided at that meeting to form a Bexhill Art Society with Mr Williams as Chairman, Mrs Williams as Treasurer and Terry Carter as Secretary. They held monthly meetings with criticisms, talks, demonstrations, outings and painting classes. The first Society Exhibition was in July 1961 at the De la Warr, with the paintings hung round the walls and on screens in the rotundas. 159 pictures were received, 139 hung, 20 being rejected however 12 were sold. Over 800 catalogues were sold at a tanner each.
Five years later, in 1966 280 pictures were received, 216 hung, 64 rejected, 35 sold. Also 1000 catalogues were sold.
A debt of gratitude must surely be owed to Mr Carter as 60 years on the society still flourishes, and with your help will go on for at least 60 more.