Applying for Membership of the South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts : Guidance
Introduction
The Academy is committed to putting artists with different cultures, perspectives and experiences at the heart of its artistic community. We aim to select, develop and retain the most talented artists, regardless of their background *¹ and make best use of their talents. At the Academy we are guided by our values in everything we do, and recognise that being a diverse and inclusive Academy helps us fulfil our objective to advance the education of the public in the fine and applied arts and, in particular, to promote the appreciation and practice of the fine and applied arts.
We seek to develop an Academy ethos and environment where all artists are treated as individuals, fairly and in a consistent way. We work within the spirit and the practice of the Equality Act 2010 by promoting a culture of respect and dignity, actively challenging discrimination, should it ever arise. We aim to demonstrate the principles of diversity and inclusion in all of the Academy’s exhibitions and associated activities.
*¹This refers to the protected characteristics of sex, gender reassignment, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity
Becoming a Member of the Academy
There are two routes to membership of the Academy:
by invitation from the Trustees or,
an individual artist’s application to the Trustees –
NB the remainder of this guidance and application form applies to the individual artist’s application route. Please be selective in the amount of information that you provide on the Application Form as you can also email your cv with additional information.
The number of members, whether invited or selected after applying, are not limited to any maximum unless otherwise determined by an ordinary resolution of the Academy at its AGM.
What to do if you would like to apply for membership to the Trustees of the Academy
Become familiar with the Academy’s aims, exhibition programme, workshops and projects by visiting the website at www.southwestacademy.org.uk
Complete and submit a) the Application Form and b) the Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form available at www.southwestacademy.org.uk
You can also email your cv to swac.contact@gmail.com if you would like to provide more detail.
If you do not have a website then email or send by We Transfer 10 images of your work to swac.contact@gmail.com
Pay the application fee of £35 via bank transfer to the South West Academy
sort code: 40-20-30 account number 81877666
What happens next?
A Selection Panel will review your application and draw up a shortlist of artists to be invited to attend a Selection Panel meeting normally in January each year. Details of the date, time and venue will be provided in advance and you will be invited to bring between 5-8 pieces of original work to the meeting to discuss with members of the Selection Panel.
The Selection Panel will be mindful of the Academy’s remit to represent both the Fine and Applied Arts.
After the Selection Panel Meeting
You will be informed of the outcome of the Selection Panel meeting once the Trustees have agreed the Selection Panel’s recommendations - normally within six weeks of the Selection Panel meeting date. Owing to the number of applicants and the complexity of the process we are unable to respond to requests for the reasons why some applicants were successful and some were not.
Successful applicants will be sent an invoice for payment of the first year’s subscription. Membership begins once the invoice is paid and signals that you have understood your privileges and obligations to the Academy. The subscription is reviewed each year and is currently set at £150. Successful applicants may use the title of Academician and are entitled to use the suffix SWAc after their names. Providing that their membership subscription is up to date, members are entitled to exhibit, free of entry fees, up to two pieces of work in the Academy’s Annual Open Exhibition.
The decision of the Selection Panel to recommend membership or not to the Trustees of the Academy for their approval will be final. No written or personal appeal can be considered on behalf of those whose application for membership is unsuccessful. However, applicants are encouraged to continue to develop their relationship with the Academy and to consider making a new application in a subsequent year.
FAQ
Who should I contact if I am not sure whether to apply for membership? Email the Executive Director at swac.contact@gmail.com
When should I apply? You can apply at any point during the year as your application will be held until the next membership Selection Panel.
How often does the membership Selection Panel meet? The Selection Panel normally meets once a year in January but occasionally there is scope for a second meeting, for example, if a large number of applications is received at any point in time
Who is on the Selection Panel? The Selection Panel includes experienced Academicians from a range of disciplines as well as representatives from the Board of Trustees.
Can I still apply if I don’t have an art degree? Yes, you can still apply as your overall experience as an artist will be taken into consideration by the Selection Panel.
Is it essential for me to have a website? No, you can email images of your work to accompany your application but you might want to consider a website in the future for promoting your own work.
Is there a minimum age for membership? No, however there are some criteria that it may be difficult for you to demonstrate if you have not been a practising artist for long
Can I apply if I am a digital artist? Yes, if your work can be printed or exhibited in a physical way.
How many times can I apply? There is no limit to the number of times that you can apply.
The Academy looks forward to receiving your application.