Society of Scottish Artists

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The Society of Scottish Artists (SSA) was established in 1891 to ‘represent the more adventurous spirit in Scottish Art’. Its aims and objectives have evolved since those beginnings to include the representation of art from other countries and a more open arena for contemporary art activity across Scotland. SSA is an artist-led membership organisation governed by an elected President and elected Council consisting of around twelve members of the Society. Specialist professionals are co-opted onto Council to assist on particular projects. SSA continues its tradition of holding an Annual Contemporary Open Exhibition in the Royal Scottish Academy Gallery (RSA) in Edinburgh. Installation, video, computer and performance art alongside a strong core of works in traditional media result in challenging and invigorating shows. In an art-world where the divide between "new genres" and "traditional media" has rarely been wider, the SSA plays a unique and vital role in bridging the gap. Each year the SSA selects a number of graduating students from the Scottish art college degree shows to exhibit in the Annual Exhibition. SSA recognised the benefits of an integral education programme in its formative years and this groundbreaking policy has continued and strengthened to the present day, involving school groups, artist talks, workshops and gallery tours.