The North British Academy of Arts (1908-1921+) was an art institution of Newcastle upon Tyne in northern England.

Overview

The Academy, sometimes known as the North British Academy of Arts, Science, Literature, and Music, was located in the Claremount Buildings on the western side of Barras Bridge on the corner with Eldon Place in Newcastle-on-Tyne, which is now opposite the County Council Offices. It was founded in 1908, incorporated in 1913, and was still extant in 1921, but was defunct by 1925. William James Morgan (1850-1923) was the secretary throughout the life of the academy. At various times, Henry John Brinsley Manners (1852-1925), the 8th Duke of Rutland, was its president.

Fellows of the academy were entitled to append F.N.B.A. to their names, and exhibitions of the works of members were held.

Exhibitions

Eight exhibitions were held by the Academy before the Great War.

Exhibition	Location	Town	Dates
1	Academy of Arts Gallery	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	3-24 Feb 1909
2	Corporation Art Gallery	City of York	24 Jan-19 Feb 1910
3	Royal Society of British Artists	London	29 Aug-19 Sep 1910
4	Corporation Art Gallery	City of York	3 Jul- 12 Aug 1911
5	Towneley Hall Art Gallery & Museums	Burnley	5 Mar-27 Apr 1912
6	Crystal Palace	London	1 Nov-31 Dec 1912
8	Crystal Palace	London	6 Apr-8 Aug 1914

Members

Notable men and women were invited to become members, including:

• Sir Robert Lorimer - Scottish architect.
• James William Lowber - Anthropologist of Austin Texas, also elected a fellow and councillor in 1910.
• Georgina Bainsmith - Cornish sculptor, also elected a fellow and councillor.
• Nestor Cambier - Belgium painter and draftsman, from 1923.
• Henry Robinson Hall - Lancastrian, Yorkshire and Northumbrian painter, from 1910.
• Lillian Heatley - Wife of painter Harold Swanwick
• Charles Francis Brush - American pioneer in the commercial development of electricity.
• Francis Ann Hopkins - British painter who exhibited at the York Exhibition of 1910.
• Ernest Christie - Surrey painter.
• Ralph Adams Cram - American architect of collegiate and ecclesiastical buildings.
• Thomas Phillips Honey - Financier, banker and company director.
• Chow Cheong Ling - Chinese diplomat, district customs officer, company director and merchant.
• Francis Henry Lenygon - Decorator and furnisher in London and New York NY.

A list of members can be found in the first Exhibition Catalogue.

Publications

Publications by the academy included:

• Inaugural Address by Sir W. Richmond.
• Journal and Transactions of the N.B.A (1909-1913).
• Annual Report (1918, 1921).
• Catalogue of the Pictures Exhibited by Members at the Different Exhibitions Held During the Year (1918, 1921).

And also

• Jeffrey Marden, Surgeon - A Novel by E.N. Blamey (1913).
• Exhibition Catalogues (1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1914).

Awards

Awards by the academy included:

• A gold medal and honorary fellowship offered in 1909 to the first British aviator who flew a British-made machine between Newcastle and London.

References