Royal Institute of British Architects

Institutional and Business Connections

Collaborated with Royal Society of British Sculptors
1944 (Presumed)
Members of the R.B.S. met with those of the R.I.B.A. to discuss collaborations between architects and sculptors. They agreed on a number of points for further action: see Royal Society of British Sculptors, 'Annual Report, 1944', (1945), p. 5, for further details.

Included representative from Royal Society of British Sculptors
11 May 1908 (Circa)
Letter from the Royal Institute of British Architects read at the meeting of the Royal Society of British Sculptors, requesting that the Society 'appoint a member to represent them [the RBS] upon a committee to be formed for the purpose of considering a proposal to establish an annual international exhibition of architecture and the decorative arts [...] Resolved that the invitation be accepted, and that Mr.Thornycroft be appointed to represent the society on that committee' [11 May 1908, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1]

Received complaint from Royal Society of British Sculptors
15 April 1921
The Royal Society of British Sculptors [R.B.S.]wrote a letter to the Royal Institute of British Architects disputing their practice of 'employing trade sculptors, instead of Members of the Sculptor's profession'. The R.B.S. wrote that they believed that 'at the present time it is the practice of a great number of Architects seeking Sculptors' aid, to proceed at once to a firm of Trade Sculptors who at best must employ or contract with practical Sculptors of possible second or third rate abilities. In this way they feel that inferior work at a higher cost is often the result. My Council is sure that first-rate Sculptors will be only too pleased to furnish an Architect with preliminary estimates, designs, and any other assistance in their power, so that if you are willing to influence your members in this direction, they feel that fine work will be produced at a lesser cost than at the present, to the benefit of the Art, and the satisfaction of clients'. See 'Annual Report', (1921), p. 8.

Shared premises with Royal Society of British Sculptors
1934
The Royal Society of British Sculptors began negotiations to share the new premises of the Royal Instiute of Architects in 1933. This was agreed in 1934.

Support enlisted by Royal Society of British Sculptors
1945
In 1945 the R.B.S. Council reported that they had been in communication with the R.I.B.A. 'with a view of enlisting their help their help in our [the R.B.S.'s] endeavour to persuade the Fine Arts Commission to advocate, with the Government, that a percentage on Building Costs should be allowed for Decoration'. (See 'Annual Report, 1945', (1946), p. 6)

Associated People

Honorary members included (Arthur) Eric Rowton Gill
1935
Gill was made an Honorary Associate of the RIBA

Members of committee included William Hamo Thornycroft
11 May 1908 (Circa)
Letter from the Royal Institute of British Architects read at the meeting of the Royal Society of British Sculptors, requesting that the Society 'appoint a member to represent them [the RBS] upon a committee to be formed for the purpose of considering a proposal to establish an annual international exhibition of architecture and the decorative arts [...] Resolved that the invitation be accepted, and that Mr.Thornycroft be appointed to represent the society on that committee' [11 May 1908, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1]

Presidents included Walter Tapper
1926 (Circa)

Sources

Royal Society of British Sculptors. Annual Report of the Council, with Accounts for the Year Ending 31 December 1944, to be Presented at the Forty-First Ordinary General Meeting, 1945
March 1945
p. 5.

Royal Society of British Sculptors. Minutes of Council Meetings No. 1, 1905-1913
19 May 1913
11 May 1908.