About Us

The Saint John Art Club, 2025. 

The aim of the art club is to promote the appreciation and creation of visual art in Saint John and the surrounding area. We have approximately 90 members who include new and experienced amateur artists as well as a small group of emerging and experienced professional artists.

We have a Gallery on the 2nd level in Brunswick Square which is run entirely by volunteers and displays original paintings, prints and cards created by our members. We welcome passers by to come in and see our work. We sell paintings at a very reasonable price but also are happy just to have them seen and appreciated by the public. Our volunteer attendants are pleased to to talk about the paintings, the artists or just art in general. We are open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

We always welcome new members whether they are just starting or experienced artists. We believe that talent is learned by experience. The club provides lessons in our gallery as well as regular meetings at the Interpretation centre in Rockwood Park. We also have a library of both instructional and historical books on art.

The club continues to award an annual scholarship to a student from our region starting in their first year at a post secondary fine art program. Currently this is valued at $ 1750 which is raised by donations and fundraising, including our work organising the Art display at the Saint John Exhibition. 

 History

 The original "St. John Art club" formed in 1879 at a time when St. John was a wealthy centre of shipbuilding and art.  However, after ten years it petered out, along with the need for wooden ships. With the recession the city could no longer support the art school and collection of paintings of the Owens Art Institution.  They moved to Mount Allison University in Sackville.  Our economy sank as the world discovered metal ships could float. 

Then in 1896 the Saint John branch of the Women's Art Association was established.  In 1908 they started admitting men and became The Saint John Art Club.  Their first meeting  was attended by 109 men and women wearing dinner suites and long dresses.  The club was incorporated in 1912. 

The constitution from 1912 states that “the aims and objective of the club shall be to advance knowledge and love of art through exhibition of works of art; the acquisition of books and papers for the purpose of forming an art library, lectures upon subjects pertaining to art, and by other kindred means to promote social intercourse among its members.”

In the early years the club was very much involved in collecting paintings by well known Canadian and international artists to make them available to the public.  They held exhibitions in various venues and raised funds for a permanent home.  By 1995 they were still unable to buy a home for the collection and were facing expenses for restoration of paintings as well as storage.  At that time it was decided to donate the collection to the New Brunswick Museum.  This was a contentious decision that almost tore the club apart.  However, the relationship with the museum has been a very good one and has allowed the club to pursue other activities.  The collection of paintings is well cared for and hopefully will soon be on display again in the new, much enhanced Museum. 

Another major thrust of the club from the beginning has been art education.  This started with the opening of the Saint John Art School in 1912.  There were three dedicated teachers and between 12 and 20 students.  Many successful artists of the twentieth century started their artistic training at the school.  They include Ted Campbell, Miller Brittain, Jack Humphrey, and Fred Ross.  The school continued regular classes until 1934.  At that time Art Club members played an important role in setting up the art program at the Saint John Vocational school and incorporating art instruction in the New Brunswick school system.  The club continues to provide art classes and to award an annual scholarship for students starting in post-secondary art education. 

Over the years art galleries and schools have taken on many of the roles pioneered by the Art Club. The Club has focussed more on displaying the works of amateur and emerging artists.  However, the core values and objectives expressed in the constitution from 1912 remain the same.     

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.  This brief history is largely abstracted from a book, ”The Saint John Art Club, a 100 year history, 1908-2008” by Mary K. Cormier and Emma May Innis-Weisseneder.