The Arts Society & RBA Star Students competition encourages aspiring young artists who are identified by The Arts Society's local Societies and whose artworks are entered for it. The RBA then selects the very best pieces for exhibition in London.
Volunteering with The Arts Society
Our volunteers offer their time and energy to help us preserve and celebrate the arts and heritage. But you also get something back from volunteering – you’ll make new friends, learn new skills, and you can enjoy knowing you are making a huge difference.
Watch our short video below to learn more.
Our Societies are run entirely by volunteers; a massive achievement by our members. Many Societies also have teams of volunteers who focus on the following areas of work in their local community:
Volunteering stories
10 Aug 2022
The Arts Society Birmingham’s faith project is a true expression of localism at work, showing how an Arts Society initiative can have a powerfully positive effect on community
7 Apr 2022
Through workshops and exhibitions, Dartmoor pupils had a chance to unleash their creativity, with support from The Arts Society
18 Nov 2021
Art @ The Station turns railway waiting rooms into pop-up galleries with works by locals of all ages. Caroline Wheater talks to people involved, revealing how this brilliant initiative can move down the line fast, as more Societies join in
26 Oct 2021
Anna McNay reveals how Arts Society volunteers helped create this immense work of art
26 Feb 2021
Among the many ways The Arts Society gives back to local communities, there is one initiative that is especially rewarding for all involved – the Trails of Discovery. This work helps to connect diverse community groups with their local heritage.
Volunteering Sound Bites
Listen to stories from our volunteers about how they offer their time and energy to deliver outstanding arts and heritage projects.
Volunteers Chris Hemming, Jan Tucker, Wendy Burdett, Gill Waller and Susan Merelie share their experiences of volunteering. Click play below to listen.
The Marsh Awards
Every year the Marsh Christian Trust recognises some of the outstanding contributions made by volunteers of The Arts Society in the field of heritage conservation and arts education.
Link to Marsh Awards page
Volunteer with The Arts Society
There are different ways in which you can take part in volunteering with us ranging from helping to run one of our Societies to taking part in projects involving arts and heritage in the local community.
In order to be covered by our insurance, our volunteers are required to become members of The Arts Society. This can either be a member of a local Arts Society or as a Supporter Member.
In order to find out where your nearest Society is please visit https://theartssociety.org/our-societies or if you do not want to join a Society, details of our Supporter Membership can be found at https://theartssociety.org/member-benefits
If you have any queries about volunteering please email volunteering@theartssociety.org
Church Recording
Between 1973-2020 Church Recording volunteers completed the momentous task of recording the contents of over 2,000 churches. Working in small groups volunteers researched and documented the memorials, metalwork, stonework, woodwork, textiles, paintings, libraries, windows and miscellaneous items found in churches across the country. Church Records now reside with local record offices, Church Care, Historic England and the National Art Library at the V&A. These records have previously assisted with local fundraising, grant applications, insurance and research. Interesting past finds have also been reported to The Royal Armouries, National Portrait Gallery and Royal Museums Greenwich to expand their own archives. We wish to offer our sincere thanks to Church Recorders past and present for their hard work and dedication to completing this amazing project.
From 2021 The Arts Society is no longer affiliated with Church Recording but the work is continued by The Church Recording Society and for information on The Church Recording Society and its activities please see - churchrecordingsociety.org.uk