IMPERIAL ARTS LEAGUE
The Imperial Arts League, later known as The Artists' League of Great Britain was founded in London in 1909 by solicitor Arthur Dacres Rendall. Its aim was to protect and promote the interests of artists who are members, and to inform, advise and assist artists in matters of business connected with the practice of the Arts. This included providing advice on legal matters, insurance for works of art, copyright, export regulations, etc. It also acted as a pressure group, representing the interests of artists to Government departments. The League was directed by a Council of experienced artists and arts administrators who offered their services voluntarily and with the first secretary Arthur Dacres Rendall who held the position for some 25 years, with original members of the council Sir Charles Holroyd (9 April 1861–17 November 1917), director of the National Gallery; Count George Noble Plunkett (3 December 1851–12 March 1948) director of the National Museum of Science and Art in Dublin and the artists Laurence Alma-Tadema (August 1865–12 March 1940), George Clausen and Thomas Benjamin Kennington (7 April 1856–10 December 1916). By 1910, the League had some 600 members; by 1912, over 800 members and by 1921, 1100 members. Membership was open to practitioners of the fine and applied arts and individuals interested in the arts. Members included Ivon Hitchens, Blair Rowlands Hughes-Stanton, potter Bernard Howell Leach (5 January 1887–6 May 1979), Eduardo Paolozzi, William Michael Rothenstein (19 March 1908–6 July 1993) and Ernest Howard Shepard (10 December 1879–24 March 1976). The League issued a journal which ran from 1910 to 1925 and occasional publications. In 1915, in collaboration with the Royal Institute of British Architects, organised the Artists War Relief Exhibition at Maddox Street Galleries in London. The Imperial Arts League changed its name to The Artists' League of Great Britain in 1971 and ceased to function in 1985. The League's archives are held at the London Metropolitan Archives (reference
GB 0074 LMA/4054).