St. Ives Arts Club

St. Ives Arts Club was established in 1890 and membership has continued unabated through two World Wars. Membership is encouraged from all art disciplines. These include painting, drawing, sculpting, ceramics, writing, music and acting. In 1888 a meeting was held in Louis Grier’s studio and discussions took place about the formation of a ‘Club’. Within two years the Club was up and running and early members included Adrian Stokes, the first President, his wife the artist Marianne Stokes, Arnesby Brown, Leslie Stephen the father of Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell, John Henry Titcomb, Stanhope Forbes, Elizabeth Forbes, George Bradshaw, John Mallard Bromley, Alfred Hartley, William Evelyn Osborn, George Walter Jevons, and George Turland Goosey. Ladies had long been members but, despite vigorous arguments they were not allowed to serve on the Committee until 1954 when Clare White was elected as the first female President. Barbara Hepworth joined the Club in 1956.

In 1927 the St. Ives Society of Artists was formed largely by members of St. Ives Arts Club.