EAST KENT ART SOCIETY

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The East Kent Art Society was founded in 1902 by Alfred Field Palmer (1877–1951) and Walter John James, 3rd Baron Northbourne (1869–1932) and some other close friends who decided to set up an art society covering East Kent and to bring together influential artists including Royal Academicians from the district to exhibit their works on an annual basis. This commenced with the Annual Cricket Week at Canterbury Cricket Club during the month of August and later the Society moved the Annual Exhibition to the Sidney Cooper building then the Canterbury College of Art which continued until about 1975 when it moved to the Royal Museum and Art Gallery, 'The Beaney’ which has been refurbished and renamed 'The Beaney House of Knowledge and Art Gallery' in High Street Canterbury. Currently East Kent Art Society is the resident art society in St Peter's Church, Market Street, Sandwich where three major exhibitions and numerous members' shows are held every year. East Kent Art Society is an exhibiting Society only, although occasionally is involved in other projects to promote Art in the area. Any who wish to join the society, which is by the submission of four images or sculptures and election to the EKAS is by approval of the selection committee comprised of professional artists, teachers, and lecturers in art as well as present members of the Society. Suffolk artists who exhibited with the East Kent Art Society include Cecil Rashleigh Duke, Nellie Eaton and Dorothy Lightfoot.
Website: http://www.eastkentartsociety.co.uk