From the very beginnings of the Academy, the Friends Organization has proved to be a staunch and astonishingly loyal foundation, providing funds and practical help at all levels of the Academy's operations. Throughout the last ten years, even at the low ebb of the Academy's fortunes, our Friends have stayed on course toward the achievement of the Academy's Articles and Constitution. Sincere and fulsome thanks must go to all those who have been instrumental in this way, with special thanks going to Dr John Pegg, who has kept the organization in place and who seems to appear with a helping hand on every occasion, especially for the Young Artists' Exhibitions.

Looking to the future, the Trustees have determined that the time has come for a radical rethink of the Friends, and plans are now in place to refresh our lists and rebuild the value for money and support that the Academy provides. Through the medium of this website and by direct contact, we will check and validate our database of Friends, and construct a series of events and offers to give a long overdue renewal to those who have been our loyal Friends for over a whole decade.

If you would like to help the Academy in its mission to promote excellence in the Fine and Applied Arts here in the South West and become part of our family, why not join our renewed Friends of the Academy? Annual Subscriptions have been set at a modest £15 per person for 2011/12, and you can join today by submitting your details through this website on the form below.

Advantages of membership

• Be invited to the Private View of both the annual Academicians and Open Exhibitions.

• Receive discounts on all Academy offers, including prints and original work by Academicians, made
     through this website.

• Receive early invitations to the Drecki Lecture and other Academy events.

• Be in receipt of our half yearly Newsletter.



Associate Membership

For 2012 the Trustees have determined that a new category of membership shall be introduced, that of Associate Member. Intended to be recognition by the Academy of excellence in the work of practitioners in the South West and/or recognition of outstanding work toward the aims and objectives of the Academy in the Fine and Applied Arts, membership will be by invitation from the Trustees and subject to validation by a panel of scrutineers meeting twice yearly in the Spring and Autumn.

Associate Membership will entitle the Member to all the advantages enjoyed by the Friends of the Academy plus, for practitioners, the right to one free entry into the annual Open Show for their work (current entry fee £20 with no guarantee of hanging), and an annual review of members' output by the Scrutineers Panel. The annual subscription for Associate Membership will be set for 2012 at £50. If you would like to be considered for Associate Membership of the Academy, please either submit your initial details on the form to the right or write to: Penny Keen, South West Academy, Monte Rosa, Lower Street, Chagford TQ13 8BX.