Update from the new chair

I am really delighted and honoured to be offered the role of Chair for the RSA taking over from Denise Franklin who did such a marvellous job especially through the very testing times of the last two years.

The summer exhibition is coming up very soon and we are really excited to be back to our normal two gallery space set up, giving us a chance to show even more beautiful artwork of our members and selected non members work. We have six new members this year, Chris Booth, Sally Cole, Christopher James, Yvette Glaze, Lisa Katzenstein, Janet Milner and Clare Mitchell. Please take the opportunity to have a look at their new pages on our website.

Very sadly we have recently lost one of our most esteemed members, Fred Cuming RA. In 1974 he was elected a Royal Academician (ARA 1969). He was a Member of the New English Art Club and an Associate of the Royal College of Art. His work is held in countless private and public collections around the world. Fred Cuming became a member of the RSA in 1986 and his loss will be felt acutely by the society.

Karen Birchwood

Spring Show 2022

The society is very pleased to be showing again at Rye Art Gallery in the new year.

March 19th to April 24th to include the Easter Weekend.

107 High Street, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7JE

Opening times please check the Rye Art Gallery website:

70th Summer exhibition 2021

Hello all, this weekend has marked the return of the Summer Show. Our 70th Anniversary exhibition is now up and running and has been exceptionally well attended. It feels so good to see familiar faces, loyal followers, old friends and new faces. Please do come along, we would love to see you there.

Behind the scenes

What goes on behind the scenes at RSA?

Caoimhe O’Gorman – Secretary

Caoimhe has been living in Rye for five years, and first came to East Sussex to study museum curating and art history eight years ago. She is delighted to begin working with the Rye Society of Artists as secretary this year, in time for the return of the Summer Show.

Caoimhe has worked previously at several galleries/collections and libraries in London, and more locally at the Rye Creative Centre. She has also volunteered at the Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft and especially loves fine art and craft such as book arts, binding, folk art and textile art. 

She is very excited to be immersed in the work of the society, and looks forward to meeting more RSA members, other local artists and visitors.

Please do get in touch at sec.ryesocietyartists@gmail.com

Call for submissions

The Rye Society of Artists looks forward to receiving work from non-members every year. It is an exciting time for the society to open its doors to new and known artists who live within a 15 mile radius of Rye. Non-members work is shown alongside members work and all works are hung together across two galleries over the month of August. The show is now firmly on the Rye and national calendar and as well as showing the most exciting creative work on offer we made record sales in 2019. Our many buyers and loyal supporters come from near and far to see the show every year. Please read on for the nitty-gritty on how the submission and selection process works and do read through the submission form. Any questions that may arise please contact Caoimhe O’Gorman sec.ryesocietyartists@gmail.com

How does the submission and selection process work?
All works for submission must be handed in on the same day and at the time specified on the submission form. The handing in venue is The Dance Hall, Community Centre, Conduit Street, Rye.

The RSA is an artists-led society and the summer show is put up, managed and run by the artists themselves who will be on hand to unwrap and collect your work.

All art work submitted is carefully stored until the selection process takes place. The selection of work for the exhibition is decided by a group of members which changes every year and the decision is final. The hanging committee will then endeavour to hang all the selected work. Please be aware that we only have two galleries and are constrained by the space available. We do our best to hang all work. You will be informed if your submission has been successful using the S.A.E. supplied. The selected work is then hung or displayed in the galleries. The information that you supply on the front, hanging label will be used to catalogue and price the work. PLEASE make sure both labels you supply are accurate.

Non-selected work can be collected before the show opens on the specified day on the submission form. Please remember to bring the collection form when you pick up the work so the society can release the work. We will not release the work if you or an authorised person does not bring this release form.

If your work sells during the exhibition we will charge a commission of 35% and your buyer will be instructed to collect. If your work does not sell then you need to collect it at the end of the show on the collection day as specified in the submission form. Please be prepared to pack up your own work or if someone else is coming into collect for you then they will have to wrap and pack. There will be RSA members on hand to help if needed.

Good Luck with your submission and we very much look forward to seeing your work.