Brief
History
of The Contemporary Art Society of Victoria
(Inc.)
The Contemporary Art Society was established 13 July, 1938,
by George Bell in protest at the perceived conservatism of
the dominant Australian Academy of Art, with primary and
paramount objectives being the fostering and promotion of
contemporary art, to further the understanding of it, and
to encourage and stimulate artists. george Bell was
president from 1938 to 1940.
Its first exhibition was held in the National Gallery,
Victoria, in June 1939 with work from all states. After
disagreement over the direction of the Society, George Bell
and 83 other members seceded in 1940 and John Reed was
elected president. Membership of the Contemporary Art
Society brought together some of Melbourne’s young
radical artists - Arthur Boyd, John Perceval, Harry de
Hartog, Albert Tucker, Sidney Nolan, Vic O’Connor,
Yosl Bergner, Noel Counihan. However, in 1947, after
personal and political differences, C.A.S. suspended
activities.
John Reed revived C.A.S. in 1954, and in 1956 established
the Gallery of Contemporary Art (later the Museum of Modern
Art and Design of Australia) as the C.A.S. head office. In
1955 the annual subscription of ten shillings was increased
to one pound. In 1956, Georges Mora was elected President.
Artists donated paintings towards an inaugural fund raising
exhibition in 1957, and the Victorian Government made
available a grant. In 1960 Edwin Tanner was elected
vice-president, 1961 David Boyd as president and John
Perceval as vice-president. In 1963 C.A.S. rented premises
at 9 Collins Street, Melbourne, and 1 Fitzroy St, St Kilda
in 1967.
From 1967 to 1987, presidents elected were: 1967 Robert
Grieve, 1972 Heather Johnson, 1975 Joan Gough, 1980 Sue
McDougall, 1982 Louise Foletta, 1984 Anthony Syndicas, 1985
Marek Dobieki, 1987 Jan Delaney. From 1972, members were
able to rent exhibition space at Joan Gough’s studio
in Kew and, later, her studio in South Yarra until early
1989.
In a change of direction, the Society's July 1989 Annual
Exhibition, judged by Erica McGilchrist, was held in the
“Old Court House Gallery” in Seymour, Victoria.
In June 1989, Robert Lee became President. The C.A.S. held
its Council and Members’ meetings at members’
homes, and local hotels. In October 1989, the
Members’ Exhibition was held in the “Sky”
Gallery in Collingwood.
In February 1990, the C.A.S. gained use of the Ola Cohn
Centre in East Melbourne, as a base for its activities.
Many successful artists’ evenings and discussion
nights were held over the next 7 years. 1990 also saw
exhibitions held at the State Bank Galleria and AMP Square,
Melbourne.
1991: exhibitions were held at Seymour’s “Old
Court House Gallery” and the State Bank Galleria in
Melbourne. In the same year, the C.A.S. became an
incorporated body.
1992: C.A.S. Inc. revisited the AMP Square for its Annual
Exhibition. It also took part in the winter Richmond Off
Peak Arts Festival, with an exhibition at Café Richmond,
and a 12-minute televised segment about the Society and
members’ works on Richmond Access Television (RAT).
The 1992 Members’ Exhibition was held at historic
Coolart, Balnarring, for 5 weeks.
The 1993 C.A.S. Inc. Annual Exhibition was held at the
State Craft Collection Gallery at the Meat Market Craft
Centre, North Melbourne. 1993 also saw the first “3/4
x 1 Foot” show (a touring small works exhibition),
which was held at “The CUB Malthouse”, South
Melbourne, and later at “Arts Post” in
Ballarat, Vic. The 1993 Members’ Exhibition was held
at the Doncaster Gallery. At this show, the C.A.S. Inc.
Works on Paper Folio was introduced. Mark Burt was elected
President in July, and opened the “Arts Post”
exhibition. 1993 also saw the introduction of
“Friends of C.A.S. Inc.” for people interested
in the society and the arts.
The 1994 C.A.S. Inc. Annual Exhibition was again held at
the State Craft Collection Gallery at the Meat Market Craft
Centre. A second touring small works show, the “City
to City 9 x 12 Board Show”, was shown at the The CUB
Malthouse Gallery, South Melbourne, and the Seymour Theatre
Centre, Sydney. The 1994 Members’ Exhibition
travelled to Cowwarr Art Space, Cowwarr, in Gippsland. 1994
saw the implementation of CASspace, a programme for
displaying contemporary art in non-traditional public
venues, and the first CASspace venue for displaying members
works: Suits Cafe, Bar & Lounge, Melbourne.
In 1995, a second CASspace
venue - 2 huge
shopfronts in Collins St - was found, and had its first
exhibition in March. CASspace 546-564 Collins St, and
CASspace at Suits, showed regularly changing exhibitions up
to July 1997.
The 1995, 1996 and 1997 C.A.S. Inc. Annual
Exhibitions were held at the Meat Market
Craft Centre. Members’
Exhibitions were held at AMP Square in
1995, Colonial Bank Gallery & Mully’s Cafe,
Bendigo, in 1996, and Chapel Gallery, Prahran, in 1997. The
1995 and 1996 touring exhibitions of 9” x 12”
works, “Bridge the
Gap” and “The Shanghai
Boomerang Board Show”, both opened at The Malthouse
Theatre, then moved across town to CASspace 546-564 Collins
St. “The Shanghai
Boomerang Board Show” was also shown at the Seymour
Theatre Centre in Sydney after the Malthouse Gallery. The
C.A.S. Inc. 9” x 12” Exhibition 1997 was the
first one to be opened to non-members. It travelled from
Melbourne to Sydney, Tennant Creek, Darwin, Adelaide and
Hobart.
1998: Mandy Hopkins was elected President. Exhibitions for
this year were: the Annual
Exhibition, Meat Market, and the
Members’
Exhibition at The Haven Gallery,
Williamstown. From September 1998, this venue was also a
new C.A.S. Inc. exhibition space - C.A.S. Inc. at The Haven
- from 1998 to 1999. CASspace
546-564 Collins St
also became available again, from October 1998 to December
2001.
1999: Robert Lee was elected President. Exhibitions
were: Annual
Exhibition, “Windows
99”, May, and Members’
Exhibition, November-December, both
at CASspace
546-564 Collins St,
Melbourne. The C.A.S. Inc. 9” x 12” National
Touring Exhibition of Contemporary Art 1999-2000 was
launched at Steps Gallery, Carlton, July 1999, then began
its travels around Australia to Perth, Adelaide, Hobart,
Gippsland, Sydney, Grafton, Cairns and Tennant Creek (NT),
returning to Melbourne in July 2000 for a final showing at
CASspace 546-564 Collins St.
2000 exhibitions were: Annual
Exhibition, May-June, at Artistcare
Gallery, South Melbourne; Members’
Exhibition, November-December, at
CASspace
546-564 Collins St,
Melbourne; and “I said Pet ...
Show!” also at CASspace 546-564
Collins St, Melbourne.
2001 exhibitions were: Annual
Exhibition, March. at Eckersleys Open
Space Gallery, Melbourne, and Members’
Exhibition, November-December, at
CASspace
546-564 Collins St,
Melbourne, followed by “I said Pet ...
Show!”, December, at the same venue.
2002 exhibitions were: C.A.S. Inc. Annual
Exhibition, June, at Eckersleys Open
Space Gallery, Melbourne; C.A.S. Inc. Members’
Exhibition, November, at Artistcare
Gallery, South Melbourne; and The Collectors’
Exhibition, December, at Steps Gallery,
Carlton.
2003 exhibitions were: Annual
Exhibition, March-April, at Eckersleys
Open Space Gallery, Melbourne; and Members’
Exhibition, October, at Clifton Creative
Arts Centre, Richmond.
From December 2000 to August 2004, CAS had 10 group shows
of members’ works at Commercial Bedding
Supplies in Richmond.
2004 exhibitions were: The Collectors’
Exhibition, February, at Steps Gallery,
Carlton; Annual
Exhibition, May, at Eckersleys Open Space
Gallery, Melbourne; Members’
Exhibition, October, at Clifton Creative
Arts Centre, Richmond, and the inaugural outdoor art show
on the banks of the Yarra river, “Art At Burnley
Harbour”, December, at Burnley Harbour
in Richmond.
2005 started with the 3rd Collectors’
Exhibition (February) at Steps Gallery,
Carlton, followed by the Annual Members'
Exhibition at Eckersleys Open Space
Gallery in Melbourne's CBD (August) and “Art At Burnley
Harbour” on the Yarra River at Burnley
Harbour in Richmond (December).
2006
exhibitions were: a CAS exhibition in February - March as
part of the Herring Island Summer Arts
Festival, Herring Island;
The
Collectors’ Exhibition, May, at Steps Gallery,
Carlton; Annual
Exhibition, September, at Eckersleys Open
Space Gallery, Melbourne; and Art At Burnley
Harbour, December, at Burnley Harbour
in Richmond.
2007 exhibitions were:
Contemporary by
Nature in March, our 2nd CAS
exhibition as part of the Herring Island Summer Arts
Festival, Herring Island;
The
Collectors’ Exhibition, May, at Steps Gallery,
Carlton; C.A.S. Inc. Annual
Exhibition 2007, September, at Eckersleys Open
Space Gallery, Melbourne; and Art At Burnley
Harbour, December, at Burnley Harbour,
Richmond.
2008 started with Contemporary by
Nature in March, our 3rd CAS
exhibition as part of the Herring Island Summer Arts
Festival, Herring Island, and continues
with the 6th Collectors’
Exhibition, May, at Steps Gallery,
Carlton. Forthcoming shows: the Society’s 70th
Anniversary C.A.S. Inc. Annual
Exhibition 2008, September, at
Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne; and Art At Burnley
Harbour, December, at Burnley Harbour
in Richmond. There were also two exhibitions of CAS
members’ works at MoorWood contemporary furniture
showrooms, Fitzroy, where the Society displayed regularly
changing exhibitions from September 2005 to April 2008.
The Contemporary Art Society of Victoria Inc. holds at
least two major exhibitions each year, also occasional
special exhibitions. There are also other exhibition
opportunities, including displays of members’ works
at Fitzroy Library and Richmond Library (Vic). The Society
holds various activities, including gallery walks, dinners
and social events. It is a non-profit organisation, run by
artists, for artists and those interested in the arts.
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