New Members with an Interest in Art And Culture are Always Welcome
Founded in 1880, the Providence Art Club has long been a place for artists and patrons of the arts to create, congregate, circulate and display works of art.
Located on historic College Hill, the Art Club is housed in a picturesque procession of historic buildings, home to the clubhouse, studios and galleries. Through its ongoing exhibits, programs, art classes and other activities, the Providence Art Club continues a welcoming tradition of sponsoring and supporting the visual arts.
How to Become a Member
New members are sponsored by two current Art Club members who have known the applicant for at least two years*. If applying for Exhibiting Artist status, one of the sponsors must be an Exhibiting Artist Member.
Those who do not know two current members, please contact Membership Services (julia@providenceartclub.org) and request to meet with members of the Membership Committee for coffee or lunch at the Art Club.
Initiation fee and annual dues vary by type of membership and residency status. You are considered a Non-Resident if you live outside a 50-mile radius of the Club (not to be confused with road map measurement) for more than 6 months of the year. Those living outside of the 50-mile radius but work inside the radius are considered Residents. For clear radius measurement see https://providenceartclub.org/radius.
The initiation fee is waived for Exhibiting Artists and Arts Professionals under the age of 35. We welcome all walks of life of all ages into our beloved Club.
The Membership Process
Prospective members are introduced to the Club as guests of a member at lunch or at social functions. Thereafter, they can be nominated for election to membership by recommendations of a sponsor and a seconder who have known the interested party for at least two years. Proposals for membership are submitted in writing, on forms available to members from the Membership Committee.
1. The Proposer will mail, email, or hand-deliver a request for an application to Membership Services and include the following information:
• Name and address of applicant
• Type of membership being applied for
• Proposer’s affiliation with applicant
• Name of Seconder
2. Membership Services mails an application packet to the applicant (or it can be picked up in person). Outstanding applications have four months to be submitted, unless otherwise arranged. The Proposer is expected to help the applicant fill out the application if questions arise, and introduce the applicant to a least two members of the Board of Managers.
The Proposer and the Seconder each write a letter in support of the applicant, either on the application itself or separately.
3. Once the completed application is submitted to Membership Services, a proposal for membership is presented to the Board of Managers, which meets monthly**. The Board votes on acceptance of the proposal for membership. If accepted, the proposed member’s name is posted the next day in the Green Room for 30 days.
4. At the next month’s meeting of the Board of Managers, the Secretary of the Board presents information about each applicant and the Board votes on acceptance of the applicant for membership. If approved, the names of the new members are displayed the next day in the Green Room and in the monthly newsletter. The applicant and both sponsors will be notified.
5. Membership Services mails a Welcome Packet to the new member upon payment, full of information and answers to FAQs.
* To obtain a list of current members, please contact Membership Services at info@providenceartclub.org. ** except during the summer
Membership Levels
PATRON MEMBERS enjoy the benefits of the Art Club, with the exception of exhibiting, and are encouraged to take classes and workshops. *Some people join the Art Club as a Patron Member and then later apply to transfer their status to Exhibiting Artist Member.
ARTS PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS enjoy the status of being a Professional Member of one of the oldest art clubs in the nation, and must submit materials to support this status to the Arts Qualification Committee. They are encouraged to take classes and workshops, as well as possibly teach at the Club. They may also later apply to transfer their status to Exhibiting Artist Member.
Arts Professional Members include, among others, architects, landscape architects, art educators, museum directors and curators, gallery owners, graphic designers, fashion designers, set designers, and art scholars.
EXHIBITING ARTIST MEMBERS enjoy the additional benefit of being able to exhibit and sell their work in our galleries. To become an Exhibiting Artist Member a portfolio is submitted for jurying by the Arts Qualification Committee. Exhibiting artist members are dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in any of the following categories: painting, drawing, collage, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics printmaking, fine art jewelry, photography, and digital art.
*TO APPLY FOR A TRANSFER OF STATUS, please contact Membership Services Coordinator at julia@providenceartclub.org to obtain the guidelines. Members applying for a status of transfer to either Arts Professional or Exhibiting Artist must provide a portfolio as well as two letters of recommendation from current Artist members.
There are Six Categories of Membership in the Providence Art Club
Artist Resident • Artist Non-Resident • Arts Professional • Arts Professional Non-Resident
Patron Resident • Patron Non-Resident
(Non-residents are those living 50 miles outside Providence for more than six months of the year.
Persons living outside the 50-mile radius but working in Providence are NOT eligible for non-resident status)
Annual Dues and Initiation Fees*
| Monthly Dues | Initiation Fee | Initiation Fee Quarterly Payment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibiting Artist/Arts Professional | $110 | $1760 | $484 x 4 = $1936 |
| Patron | $138 | $2200 | $605 x 4 = $2420 |
| Exhibiting Artist/Arts Professional Non-Resident | $56 | $1760 | $484 x 4 = $1936 |
| Patron/Non-Resident | $70 | $2200 | $605 x 4 = $2420 |
*There is a $100 quarterly Café minimum spending requirement for Residents and a $200 annual Café minimum spending requirement for Non-Residents. There is a monthly building assessment fee of $45 for all members. NOTE: The initiation fee is waived for artists 35 and under.
If you are not familiar with the Providence Art Club and would like to take a tour, contact Michael Rose at michael@providenceartclub.org to sign up for a visit.