Patti Leino, the society's president
Dumfries and Galloway Fine Arts Society is one of the oldest art societies in the country and is celebrating its centenary this year.
Notable founding members in 1922 included Jessie M. King, her husband E. A. Taylor, and Chris J. Fergusson. Early members included E.A. Hornel and Charles Oppenheimer. The Scottish Colourist F.C.B. Cadell and Katherine Cameron were also regular exhibitors in the 1920s.
An annual exhibition has been held every year since 1922 with the exception of five years during the Second World War. Centenary year 2022 is being marked with special exhibitions in Dumfries and Kirkcudbright.
In a normal year, In addition to a selected annual exhibition, the society arranges other unselected exhibitions at different venues.
The covid pandemic put paid to gallery exhibitions in 2020 but online "virtual" exhibitions were mounted instead. We were able to resume gallery shows with our annual exhibition at Gracefield Arrts Centre, Dumfries, in 2021.
The society normally arranges a winter programme of demonstrations and workshops given by professional artists, and a summer programme of workshops in different media. Our members include amateurs of all levels, and non-painters who enjoy the talks and demonstrations, as well as many professional artists.
The subscription rose from £10 to £20 a year from January 1, 2020. The increase - the first for years - will help meet the cost of presentations and workshops and contribute to the society's aim of promoting the arts, particularly among young people.
Click on the link under "Join now" to download a membership application. Existing members: if you did not amend your standing order before January 1, 2020, please download the "Subscription update" form now and send to your bank; please email the membership secretary to say that you have done so. If you have already paid £20 for 2023 and are setting up a standing order for the first time please use the "bank mandate" form. Contact the treasurer if you need help.
Click here to see the society's constitution