The Art Society premises consist of a large studio area, library, kitchen facilities plus the adjoining Clear Skies Gallery and Clear Water Gallery. A small, enclosed patio area is accessible from the studio. The current membership stands at around 250, a large percentage of whom are practicing artists.
Vision
The aims of the Society are to promote the creative arts by providing opportunities for the practice of art and continuing education in a wide range of media. The Society also provides opportunities for all members and other artists to exhibit their work in the galleries. Members and artists from the local community are encouraged to hold their own exhibitions either as solo exhibitors or joint exhibitions with like-minded friends.
There are currently groups meeting every day during the week in all disciplines plus an after-school art class, night classes for adults and weekend workshops.
The Society is community based and hosts a variety of exhibitions. More recently local embroiderers, fibre artists, and exhibitions with themes such as figurative art and printmaking have become popular. Local groups such as CARE Marlborough, after school art classes and IDEA services art classes all have exhibitions which showcase their art. They all reflect the diversity of the arts practiced in our community.
History
From early beginnings in 1961 in various locations around Blenheim and, with an increasing number of members, the Society responded to the need for larger premises and after many venues and a temporary home in the old, now demolished, St Andrews Church in Russell Terrace, the first premises owned debt-free by MAS was 42 Arthur Street (now McKendry's car yard). The Arthur Street property was sold and along with an intensive fund-raising effort in 1998, the purchase of 204 High Street, our current location, was made.
The move to its own premises provided the Society with its first on-site gallery space and exhibitions were held at regular intervals. However, as the demand for exhibition space increased, it became obvious that a larger gallery area was necessary and in April 2009 it was decided to extend the gallery. In February 2010 a second gallery extension was officially opened – again debt-free thanks to the loyalty of the members and friends of the Society and sponsorship of the Yealand’s Estate Winery and Mark Stevenson First National Realty, Blenheim.
Life Members
1963 Celina Ballantine
1967 Jack Clarkson
1970 Ben Vrolyk
1970 Stella de Gruchy
1975 George Mitchell
1978 Ken Fairweather
1984 Loris Wisheart
1992 Glad Lewis
1993 Lorna Clarke
2000 Diana Mickell
2001 Shirley Jones
2002 Gwen Fowler
2002 Bobbie Holmes
2003 Peter Jenkins
2004 Ron Warnes
2005 Kelvin Allen
2005 Walter Scott
2009 Suzanne Roundhill
2012 David Godden
2012 Jennifer Jones Godden
2014 Karen Cunningham
2015 Prue Mathews
2021 George Dight
Committee & Contacts
Gallery/Studio
Ph. 03 577 6784
info@marlboroughartsociety.co.nz
President Anne Barrer ph 0210334451
Vice President Carolyn Costley
Secretary Teresa Wilson ph 0273595278
Treasurer Sara Hunter
Committee Bonnie Coad, Leanne Rose, Tiffany Cross, Francie Ryder, Jonathan Rosene, Jill Caslick, Tamara Jansen, Carolyn Costley and Isabel Jordan
Part Time Arts Administrator Ginni Denmead ph 0211 400 592
Teresa Wilson (Custodian)
027 359 5278
Joint Patrons: Walter Scott and Joanna Dudson-Scott