Royal Ulster Academy
Other names: Belfast Rambler's Sketching Club (1879-1890), The Belfast Art Society (1890-1930), The Ulster Academy of Arts (1930-1950)
Foundation date: 1879
Active: 1879 -
Function: Art society
Policy: '[The Royal Ulster Academy] is an association of Art workers and other interested in Art, who by joining together mutually assist each other in the study of Art and also in a wider sphere use their influence for the spread of Art Culture.'
Rules: Rules established at the formation of the Rambler's Sketching Club in 1879:
I. That this Club be called 'The Ramblers.'
II. That the Club have for its object the production of original sketches. These sketches to be arranged in a book, or books provided for the purpose, and passed from one member to another, in turn, as may be agreed on.
III. That the Club meet once every fortnight.
IV. That the business of the Club be transacted by a President, Treasurer, Secretary and two members, all chosen from the Club; and that these Office-Bearers form the Committee.
V. That the Office-Bearers (the President excepted) retire at the end of every six months, and that a new election takes place.
VI. Each member is free choose his own subject - figure, landscape, or otherwise - and may produce his sketch in oil, watercolours, or any other medium. No sketch less than six inches by four will be received; and all sketches must be sent in unmounted.
VII. Each member must send in at least one sketch per month, or send a reasonable excuse in writing to the Secretary for consideration of the Committee, otherwise he will be required to pay a fine of one shilling, and forfeit his right to the use of the book for a period to be determined by the Committee.
VIII. To meet the expense incurred in providing books, mounts etc., each Member shall pay One Shilling per month. Payments to be made in advance.
IX. Any person wishing to join the Club must be proposed by a Member a week previous to election.
History or description: Established in 1879, The Rambler's Sketching Club held its first annual exhibition in the Royal Ulster Works Library in Botanic Avenue in 1881. the first of the club's large scale exhibitions began in 1885, and was held in 55 Donegall Place. The annual exhibition moved to the Library on Royal Avenue in 1889. In 1890 the Club became The Belfast Art Society, and held its first exhibition in the Belfast Library in 1891. Previously the Belfast Rambler's Club had focused solely on sketching and painting, but the new Society was more inclusive, beginning to exhibit sculpture, metalwork, wood carving, etc. In 1929 the annual exhibition moved to the newly opened Belfast Municipal Museum and Art Gallery, however members of the society thought it unsuitable and the location of the annual exhibition changed between here and the Old Museum Buildings during 1930s. The Society became The Ulster Academy of Art in 1930, gaining the pre-fix 'Royal' in 1950.
Annual subscriptions in 1920 were:
'£1-11-6 for subscribers
£1-1-0 for members
15/- for associate members'
These were raised from previous years due to an increase in the rent for the Society's rooms.
[In 1899]'Life Model Classes are held at the Society's Rooms, 49 Queen Street, during the winter session, which commences on 1st October, and ends on the 30th of April.
Classes for Ladies and Gentlemen, Monday and Thursday, from 10.30am until 1.30pm.
Classes for Gentlemen, Monday and Thursday Evenings from 8 until 10.
Ladies' Class, Tuesday Evening, from 7.30 until 9.30. (1899 exhibition catalogue, p. 20)
Activities: art union, classes in life drawing , exhibitions (open to non-members), exhibitions (members only), lectures, lectures on art, meetings, sketching excursions
Publications: annual reports, exhibition catalogues
Funding types: annual subscription
Locations
Used premises Old Museum Buildings 7 College Square North Belfast Northern Ireland | View on map
1932 - 1972
Exhibitions, Courses, Meetings and other Events
Organized Exhibition of The Royal Ulster Academy of Arts, 1951
17 October 1951 - 17 November 1951
Organized 39th Annual Exhibition of The Belfast Art Society, 1920
6 October 1920 - 6 November 1920
Organized Exhibition of The Royal Ulster Academy of Arts, 1950
1950
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1949
1949
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1948
1948
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1944
1944
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1942
1942
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1940
1940
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1939
1939
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1938
1938
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1937
1937
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1936
1936
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1935
1935
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1933
1933
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1931
1931
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1934
1934 (Presumed)
Organized 48th Annual Exhibition of The Belfast Art Society, 1929
1929
Organized 49th Annual Exhibition of The Belfast Art Society, 1930
1930
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1945
1945
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1946
1946
Organized Exhibition of The Ulster Academy of Arts, 1947
1947
Organized 45th Annual Exhibition of The Belfast Art Society, 1926
1926
Organized 44th Annual Exhibition of The Belfast Art Society, 1925
1925
Organized 43rd Annual Exhibition of The Belfast Art Society, 1924
1924
Organized 38th Annual Exhibition of The Belfast Art Society, 1919
1919
Organized 37th Annual Exhibition of The Belfast Art Society, 1918
1918
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1917
1917
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1916
1916
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1915
1915
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1914
1914
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1913
1913
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1912
1912
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1911
1911
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1910
1910
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1909
1909
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1908
1908
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1907
1907
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1906
1906
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1895
1895
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1896
1896
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1897
1897
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1898
1898
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1899
1899
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1900
1900
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1905
1905
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1904
1904
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1903
1903
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1902
1902
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1901
1901
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1894
1894
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1893
1893
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1892
1892
Organized The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, 1891
1891
Organized The Belfast Rambler's Sketching Club Annual Exhibition, 1890
1890
Organized 40th Annual Exhibition of The Belfast Art Society, 1921
1921
Organized 41st Annual Exhibition of The Belfast Art Society, 1922
1922
Organized 42nd Annual Exhibition of The Belfast Art Society, 1923
1923
Organized 46th Annual Exhibition of The Belfast Art Society, 1927
1927
Organized 47th Annual Exhibition of The Belfast Art Society, 1928
1928
Organized Woodcarving (Royal Ulster Academy), 1901
1901
Associated People
Former members included Newton Herbert Penprase
May 1917
Andrew Cowser supposes resignation could have been due to responsibilities at the Belfast School of Art, or marriage previous year and birth of son 1917.
Honorary elected members included Sophia Rosamond Praeger
1918
Honorary members included Sophia Rosamond Praeger
1918
Reinstated as full member 1920.
Members included Sophia Rosamond Praeger
1892
Member of Belfast Art Society.
Members included (James) Seamus Stoupe
1894
Members included (James) Seamus Stoupe
1894
Members included Newton Herbert Penprase
1915
Members included Sophia Rosamond Praeger
1920
Members included Dorothy B. Scott
1920
Members included George Frederick Morris Harding
1927
Presidents included Sophia Rosamond Praeger
1941 - 1942
Elected first female president
Presidents included George Frederick Morris Harding
1947 - 1948
Vice-presidents included Sophia Rosamond Praeger
1902 - 1903
Re-elected as vice-president in 1929 & 1944.
Sources
Catalogue of The Belfast Art Society Annual Exhibition, Belfast Public Library, 1899
1899
The Belfast Art Society Annual Report, 1919
1920
p. 6
The Royal Ulster Academy of Arts
1981 (Circa)
Citing this record
'Royal Ulster Academy', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/organization.php?id=msib3_1255700479, accessed 22 Sep 2023]