The North British Academy of Arts (1908 - ca. 1923) was an art institution of Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...

 in northern England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

.

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

Henry Manners, 8th Duke of Rutland

Henry John Brinsley Manners, 8th Duke of Rutland KG TD , known as Henry Manners until 1888 and styled Marquess of Granby between 1888 and 1906, was a British peer and Conservative politician.-Background:...

 (1852-1925), the 8th Duke of Rutland

Duke of Rutland

Earl of Rutland and Duke of Rutland are titles in the peerage of England, derived from Rutland, a county in the East Midlands of England. The Earl of Rutland was elevated to the status of Duke in 1703 and the titles were merged....

, 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
  Robert Lorimer
  Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer was a prolific Scottish architect noted for his restoration work on historic houses and castles, and for promotion of the Arts and Crafts style.-Early life:...
  
   - Scottish architect.
• James William Lowber - Anthropologist of Austin Texas, also elected a fellow and councilor in 1910.
• Georgina Bainsmith - Cornish sculptor, also elected a fellow and councilor.
• Nestor Cambier
  Nestor Cambier
  Nestor Cambier , Belgian artist and draftsman whose portraits were compared favourably with those of John Singer Sargent but who now is largely forgotten...
  
   - Belgium painter and draftsman, from 1923.
• Henry Robinson Hall
  Henry Robinson Hall
  Henry Robinson Hall was a Victorian and Edwardian landscape painter in oils and watercolours noted for his Highland cattle.-Life:...
  
   - 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.
• Frances Anne Hopkins
  Frances Anne Hopkins
  Frances Anne Hopkins, , daughter of Frederick William Beechey was born in England and had a talent for painting. In 1858, she married a Hudson's Bay Company official, Edward Hopkins, whose work took him to North America. She accompanied him and travelled extensively by canoe along some of the most...
  
   - Canadian and British painter who exhibited at the York Exhibition of 1910.
• Ernest Christie - Surrey painter.
• Ralph Adams Cram
  Ralph Adams Cram
  Ralph Adams Cram FAIA, , was a prolific and influential American architect of collegiate and ecclesiastical buildings, often in the Gothic style. Cram & Ferguson and Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson are partnerships in which he worked.-Early life:Cram was born on December 16, 1863 at Hampton Falls, New...
  
   - 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.
• Edward Enoch Anderson - Yorkshire artist of the Staithes group
  Staithes group
  The Staithes group or Staithes School was an art colony of 19th century painters based in the North Yorkshire fishing village of Staithes....
  
   elected to honorary membership in 1909 and later became vice-president.
• William James Morgan (1849-1923) - Secretary throughout the life of the Society.

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

Publications

Publications by the academy included:

• Inaugural Address by Sir W. Richmond
  William Blake Richmond
  Sir William Blake Richmond KCB , English painter and decorator, was born in London. His father, George Richmond, R.A...
  
  .
• 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.