Ipswich Art Society rules

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Name

The name of the Society is Ipswich Art Society

Objects

The Ipswich Art Society exists to promote the creation, enjoyment and appreciation of

the visual arts in Ipswich and the surrounding area through organising exhibitions,

education, discussion and the support of artistic activity.

The Ipswich Art Society (formerly the Ipswich Art Club) has served these aims

continuously since 1874. It is a UK Registered Charity (No. 219257).

The Society follows an Equity and Diversity policy and a Child and Vulnerable Adults

Protection policy. The designated Officer is the Chairman.

Honorary Officers and Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is made up of an Honorary Chairman, Honorary Secretary,

Honorary Treasurer and members of the Executive Committee, up to a maximum of 12.

The Executive Committee is wholly responsible for the administration of the Society, but

is authorised to appoint sub-committees for specific purposes. Five members of the

Executive Committee is deemed a quorum.

President

The appointment of the President of the Society is at the discretion of the Executive

Committee. The Presidency is a non-executive role occupied by a well-respected

Member of the Society.

Membership

The Society is open to anyone with an interest in art at any level, whether or not a

practising artist.

Honorary Life Members can be appointed by the Executive Committee in recognition of

their exceptional contribution to the Society.

Activities

Each year the Society will hold an Annual Open Exhibition. The regulations for the

exhibition will be set by the Executive Committee. Works may be submitted by Members

and non-members. The works to be shown are selected by a rotating panel of five, made

up of Members and one or two non-members of artistic standing, and chaired by a

member of the Executive Committee.

At the discretion of the Executive Committee, the Society may hold the Anna Airy Award

Exhibition of works submitted by artists aged 16 to 20 at the time of the exhibition. The

Anna Airy Award, named in honour of a prominent past President of the Society, is made

for the painting judged best in the exhibition. A second award, the Ipswich Art Society

Award, is made for the work in any other medium which is judged best in the exhibition.

Further categories of awards may be included at the discretion of the Executive

Committee.

Additional exhibitions, events and other activities may be organised or sponsored at the

discretion of the Executive Committee.

Annual General Meeting

An Annual General Meeting is held each year before 30 th April.

A minimum of three weeks’ notice will be given to the membership. The meeting will

receive a Chairman’s report and a Treasurer’s report together with audited accounts of

the previous year, which ended on 31 st December. The meeting will elect an Executive

Committee, to include a Secretary and a Treasurer. Nominations for the Executive

Committee are required no fewer than 7 days before Annual General Meeting and

should be accompanied by the nominee’s written permission. Members of the Executive

Committee retire annually, but, unless declaring otherwise, are deemed to have offered

themselves for re-election. At the Annual General Meeting, an Auditor (who need not be

a Member of the Society) is appointed. Members are eligible to vote.

As soon as practically possible after each Annual General Meeting, the Executive

Committee selects a Chairman from amongst its members.

The Chairman or no fewer than five of the Society membership may request an

Extraordinary General Meeting. A minimum of three weeks’ notice will be given to the

membership.

Finances

The annual subscription for Members falls due on 1 st January each year. Members who

join after the date of the Annual Open Exhibition will pay half the relevant subscription

for the remainder of that year.

The Executive Committee may, at its discretion, cease the membership of a Member

whose subscription is more than six months in arrears or who fails to comply with the

rules and regulations of the Society.

Cheques on the Society’s bank account(s) may be signed by the Treasurer or Chairman.

In the event of a proposal that the Society be wound up being carried at an Annual

General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting, the Society’s funds, after all

outstanding debts have been settled, are to be donated to a charity or charities as

decided at the Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting.

Rules

These Rules can only be altered at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General

Meeting.