The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, RBSA, made an historic decision earlier this month to embrace photography and other contemporary artforms. For the first time in over 200 years, the RBSA will now admit photographers as Members and Associates of the Society.
At the Extraordinary General Meeting held on Sunday 9 October, the Members of the Society voted overwhelmingly to accept photographers and artists practising other contemporary digital artforms into the Membership; an historic change for the Society and one that has been under debate for over 10 years.
Viv Astling, President of the RBSA says:
The medium of photography has become second nature to many artists and the Members felt that now was the time for change.
This change signals the beginning of a very exciting chapter in the history of the RBSA as it looks to a more contemporary and inclusive future. Having held successful Photography Biennials since 2015, with the fifth planned for 2023, photographers and those practising contemporary digital artforms will now also be able to submit their work for the RBSA Summer Show and Prize Exhibitions. Artists practising those disciplines will be able to apply for Associate membership immediately if they have previously shown in a RBSA Photography Prize Exhibition.
