Royal Birmingham Society of Artists launches new programme aimed at giving early-career artists from the Midlands membership opportunities
The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) has launched its Next Generation RBSA programme, a triennial opportunity open to early-career visual artists based within easy reach of the RBSA Gallery. Through the programme, the Society is offering a small number of artists the opportunity to enjoy the benefits a three-year free membership of the Society, which is based at the RBSA Gallery on St. Paul’s Square in the Jewellery Quarter.
In contrast to the Society’s previous Graduate Artists programme, this new scheme reflects the multitude of ways in which people begin their artistic journeys, and the Society is actively encouraging self-taught artists to apply for the programme alongside those who have completed arts-related courses at university.
As one of the oldest art societies in the country, the RBSA has an impressive history stretching back over 200 years, and one of its original, and enduring, objectives is to support artists and promote engagement with the visual arts. The current RBSA Membership is a diverse mix of around 200 artists ranging in age from those in their 20s, to one Member soon to be celebrating their 100th birthday, and artists from all backgrounds are welcomed into the Society as equals.
The reach of Next Generation RBSA mirrors the fact that many of the current Membership did not study an arts-related course during their time in education, and are in fact self-taught. Indeed, President Ed Isaacs came to art following a different career path.
Ed says:
“We recognise that a growing number of incredibly talented artists are beginning their artistic careers without having been down what may be seen as the ‘traditional route’ of attending art school. I say this as a self-taught artist who came to art following retirement. Through Next Generation RBSA, we want to promote the non-graduate, self-taught path as a legitimate route to becoming a successful artist, and give those artists parity with those who have a conventional arts education.
What we are looking for are early-career artists, no matter their age or background, who feel that they would benefit from the support offered by this programme. We want creatives who have a growing body of work and who are committed to producing that artwork. Applicants will be keen to engage with the Society and excited to grab this wonderful opportunity with both hands.”
Following interviews, a number of applicants will be invited to exhibit their work at the RBSA Gallery in September 2026. From this group, those selected by the RBSA Council to become a Next Generation RBSA artist will be offered full Membership benefits, including multiple exhibition opportunities at the RBSA Gallery each year, a solo show space, expert guidance and tutoring, inclusion in Society activities, and valuable invitations to networking events. They will achieve the prestige of having NGRBSA letters after their name for the duration of their tenure and, at the end of the three years, will be supported in completing an application to become part of the Society’s Membership.
Applications are now open on the RBSA website, the closing date for entries is Tuesday 7 July at 4.00pm.