The RGA

PRESIDENT

Honorary Members

BACKGROUND

The Reading Guild of Artists, founded in 1930 and currently with almost 250 members, plays an active role in the development of artists in Reading.

We organise an Annual Exhibition as well as additional exhibitions throughout the year. Exhibition venues have included The Old Fire Station Gallery, University of Reading, Reading Museum, and the Turbine House. Many members also participate in local events such as the Whiteknights Studio Trail, Caversham Arts Trail, and the Reading Charity Art Fair as well as shows further afield on an individual basis.

Members include painters, printmakers, digital artists, sculptors, textile artists, ceramicists, and a silhouette artist. Members over the years have included names such as Robert Gillmor MBE SWLA, Eric Stanford FRBS, Gilbert Spencer, and Donald Hamilton Fraser.

We arrange various events throughout the year including RGA Fridays, Earley Painters, and Summer Painting Days.

The RGA became a charity in 1987 and in 2018 a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Our object is for the advancement of public education in visual arts by means of exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations, criticism, and discussion.

MEMBERSHIP

The RGA is run by its members for its members on a voluntary basis. Membership is open to all and new members are very welcome, from complete beginners to experienced professionals, or those just interested in art. All new members join as Affiliate Members (non-exhibiting). The annual subscription for Affiliate Membership is £15. Membership runs from the date you join until 31st December of that year or, if dated after 30 September, the 31st December of the following year. If you are rejoining having previously been an exhibiting member then, if your membership has not lapsed for longer than 5 years, you should be able to rejoin directly as an exhibiting member (annual subscription £25).

As a member, you will receive information about exhibitions, activities, and events, invitations to private views, and have RGA voting rights. Affiliate Members may apply to become Exhibiting Members by submitting work to an “Upgrading” review panel that meets several times a year depending on demand.