The Northern Beaches Art Society was former known as North Shore Art Society.
The North Shore Art Society was formed back in 1946, in Mosman by Dr. Elliot Smith. Meetings and exhibitions were held at Mosman Town Hall until the mid 1980’s when the Society moved to the Narrabeen Tramshed.
The purpose of the Society has always been to gather together artists and painters of the North Shore and Northern Beaches for an exchange of views, to hold public art exhibitions and to invite other artists to give demonstrations and workshops.
Over the years many well-known artists have been members – Sir Eric Langker, Allan Hansen, Molly Flaxman, Lionel Lindsay, Richard Ashton, Betty Belcher, Harold Hanke, Frank Spears, Fred Goss, Allan Waite, Charmaine McGregor, Alan Greave and Elsie Dangerfield and many others.
As we are based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, members decided that the more appropriate name of Northern Beaches, be adopted. So, as of 1 June 2017, we officially became the Northern Beaches Art Society.
Usually two exhibitions are held each year, at various venues, where members can exhibit and sell their works. A percentage of the sales go towards the running costs of the Society. Exhibitors assist with the running of these events either by helping to set up or by being on duty during exhibition hours. These times are very sociable and great fun, while at the same time raising funds for the Society.
In 2021, we returned to the newly refurbished Tramshed, Narrabeen, to run our demonstrations and workshops at the end of each month, in the Tramshed Hall. These events are advertised in our monthly Newsletter. Members are charged a small fee to help cover the cost of hall rental and demonstrator fees. For a full day workshop, generally, members pay $60 and non-members $75, which includes morning tea.
On the 3rd Tuesday of each month, members are invited to go outside for a morning of Plein Air painting. Each month a different location, on the Northern Beaches is chosen. The morning’s painting is followed by lunch at a local café, near the painting location. These mornings are quite casual, fun and a great way to get to know fellow members.