Dundee Art Society was founded in 1890 as the “Graphic Arts Association”, the name being changed to Dundee Art Society in 1904. The minute book of the then Council of the Society notes that it was created “to fill the want of an Art Association in such an ardent art admiring centre as Dundee, wide enough in its scope to embrace not only those practising art professionally but also the numerous patrons and admirers.” Subsequently this was amended to include the many gifted semi-professional and non-professional artists throughout the area.

The Society had premises in the Nethergate, and then in Tay Street, until it bought the ground floor of 17 Roseangle - a Grade B listed building - in 1949, adapting it then, and again in 1969, to form a gallery and caretaker’s flat and renaming it Roseangle Gallery. We are therefore one of the oldest Art Societies in the North-East of Scotland – if not the oldest - and one of the small minority of art societies to be fortunate enough to own its own gallery, where all meetings and exhibitions are held. The Gallery has been considerably updated and overhauled – the entrance lobby has been completely re-roofed, there’s a new lighting system, new curtains, a new gas central heating system, a public address system, and we have re-carpeted and redecorated, completed a major overhaul of the caretaker’s flat, and have taken the first steps to make all changes necessary to provide disabled access.

The Society’s objective is the fostering of the study and advancement of the visual arts by promoting interaction between professional artists and interested lay persons. The Society is a registered charity with the Inland Revenue (CR42103), and is administered by a Council elected by and from its members. It conducts an annual programme that includes four exhibitions (two Members’ Exhibitions and two Open), around eighteen Friday evening lectures or demonstrations, around eighty painting classes and a dozen all-day workshops each year. There are also visits and trips from time to time.

Why Art Societies are Important!
With the emphasis so strongly on conceptual and installation art nowadays, art societies have an important role to play in encouraging and supporting painting in all its forms, and so the Society’s role in the encouragement of painting has become more significant. In recognition of this DAS has taken the initiative in encouraging liaison between Art Societies in the North-East of Scotland – the annual Open Exhibitions are an example – and we are pleased to say that this initiative has been welcomed and supported by other societies.

We shall continue to support painting and the other “traditional” arts whenever and wherever we can. That does not mean we are opposed to other forms of art - Tom Zatorski’s installation “Regeneration”, subsequently in the Chicago Museum of Modern Art, was first shown in Roseangle Gallery – but inevitably the majority of Society artists tend to be working on more traditional subjects

Although we already have a membership of nearly three hundred, there are at present no restrictions on membership and the Society’s objectives would be greatly furthered by an even larger membership. At a time when the artistic establishment seems to be concerned only with concepts and installations, traditional painting needs its champions, and a cordial invitation is therefore extended to all who value the Arts to participate in our activities and thus support our endeavours. You will enjoy yourselves, too!

The Membership Subscription is presently £20 for individuals, £30 for family membership and £10 for student members. At the time of writing we are also considering establishing a category of Corporate Membership.