http://www.dtas.net.au (not operating as at 24/2/2020)
http://doncastertemplestoweartistssociety.org.au/
Certificate of Incorporation No. A6473
Patron: Margaret Bland
Founding Members: Fay Erwin, Frank Jolly and John O’Beirne
Honorary Life Member: Vida Bollard, Derek Borrell, Fay Erwin, Lilian Mather, Stuart Smith and Miffy Tomsett
http://doncastertemplestoweartistssociety.org.au/?page_id=26 (Feb2020)
History of the Society
In 1969, an art tutor John O’Beirne and students Frank Jolly and Fay Erwin decided that Doncaster needed a place for people who were artists or were interested in art, to meet. A meeting on the evening of the25th November 1969 was advertised, inviting all members of the public. 17 people attended, and it was decided to form a group, so a President and a committee was elected, and so the D.T.A.GROUP was founded. Later altered to the D.T.A.SOCIETY.In 1970 classes were commenced, the membership was increasing rapidly, and the 1st open art exhibition was held. A newsletter was produced, and over the years various venues were rented where classes, demonstrations, critiques, art exhibitions, workshops, and plein air outings, and social events were held. In 1986 the Council offered the Society the lease of the Old Shire Hall, and with the use of a Bi-centennial Grant, the Society had the hall refurbished in 1987 into a working area for the artists, and opened as splendid gallery and working studio on 19th March, 1988.
The D.T.A.S. at last had a home for its many members. Self- help days for members to meet and paint were then possible. An art library and a DVD library were added for members’ use and to enjoy.
The D.T.A.S. is a non-profit organisation, and offers low membership fees to encourage all members of the community to develop their artistic side, and provides the opportunity for both experienced and beginner artists to work in a congenial atmosphere in a well-appointed studio, during the day, evening, and at weekends.
Source: http://doncastertemplestoweartistssociety.org.au/?page_id=28 (Feb2020)
Doncaster Templestowe Artists Society
As we are conducting an Open Air A rt Show on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th of October; members will be interested in the history of the Artist's Society. One of our members, Pay Erwin, a long time artist and one of the founding members of this art group has written a history of the beginning and growth of the Artists Society.
Brief History of the Doncaster Templestowe Art Group/Artist’s Society
In August 1969, while attending an art class at what was then the Preston Technical College, the tutor ¦ John O ’Beirne and students Frank Jolly and Fay Erwin, realised that they were all residents of Doncaster and agreed that it was unfortunate that a venue did not exist in what was then the City of Doncaster and Templestowe, for artists and people in the community who were interested in art, to meet and socialise, and discuss art. They decided that something should be done to form an Art Group. The three had a further meeting at the O’Beirne home, and after some discussion, they decided to place an advertisement in the local paper, to invite anyone interested in art, to attend an evening meeting in the Memorial Hall, on 25th November 1969. This resulted in an attendance of 17 interested people, and so the Doncaster Templestowe Art Group was formed.
A committee was elected from those who attended the meeting, with John O ’Beirne - President, Faye Wiltshire - Secretary, Owen Gill - Treasurer, Fay Erwin - Social Secretary, and Frank Jolly and David Dyson - Committee.
The annual fee for membership of the Doncaster Templestowe Art Group would be $2 Single and $3 for a family, for one calendar year, 1st January - 31st December or part thereof.
John O’Beirne created the Group’s first logo.
A second general meeting was held at the Memorial Hall on 18th December 1969. Council had encouraged various groups in the city to form a combined group known as the Doncaster Templestowe Art & Cultural Society. At the meeting, the Art Group decided to adopt the Constitution of the Cultural Society and to join the combined group. David Dyson and Fay Erwin were nominated as the representatives to the Doncaster Templestowe Art & Cultural Society.
In the early years, some meetings were held in members’ homes to save funds.
The Art Group decided to see if there would be any interest in holding an art class. Early in 1970, a class with tutor Connie Carter commenced on Monday mornings in the Memorial Hall, with each student paying a class fee, and it proved to be very popular.
After extensive discussions, the Group’s committee decided to hold an art exhibition and the first was held in 1970 at the Memorial Hall from 9th-18th November and was open to all artists, with entries received from all over Victoria and South Australia. In 1971, a second very successful exhibition was held with about 500 entries, awards were given in several mediums, and 97 paintings were sold. In 1972 owing to ill health, the Monday tutor had to leave and the Group decided to rent the double room at Doncaster High School Classes were held on a Tuesday evening with two classes for tonal painters, and on a Thursday evening, a very popular contemporary class, tutored by member David Dyson.
Art exhibitions were held in 1972 and 1973 with awards again given in several mediums. After the sudden death of the President, the watercolour award became the John O ’Beirne Watercolour Award, in his memory.
Source: 2013-09 DTHS Newsletter
Brief History of the Doncaster Templestowe Art Group/Artist’s Society (Continued)
The Group decided to work towards having a home of its own, so a variety of fundraising events were organised, everyone worked together, spouses became very involved in the friendly atmosphere, and everyone had a lot of fun. In 1974, the Group leased a shop in Doncaster and extended lessons to include macrame, patchwork, Japanese pen painting and craft as well as the traditional and contemporary classes. Classes for children were held on a Saturday morning, approximately 250 people were attending these classes, and membership of the Art Group was continuing to increase.
Meetings and workshops were held for members and visits to galleries were organised. Classes, meetings, social functions, workshops, picnics, and BBQ outings for painting and pleasure were very well attended, with spouses and families supportive and enjoyed by all.
Screen hire had become very costly, so Frank Jolly made 28 very substantial screens to display paintings at exhibitions. The Group also had twelve easels made for members to use in class. Hall hire for exhibitions was expensive, so the Group decided to look for alternate venues. Smaller local areas were used, with only 200 pain tings able to be hung. Open exhibitions ceased, and entries were only open to members of the Art Group.
By 1977, Council was holding classes similar to the Group, people became confused with whom they were classes. Unlike Council who did a lot of advertising for classes, the Group was financially limited. with what they could afford for advertising. The class attendances were gradually diminishing, and the funds were decreasing rapidly.
The Group decided to withdraw from the shop and moved to the Templestowe Valley Preschool Centre for evening classes, which became painting classes only.
For the next 18 years, the Group rented a variety of venues and continued with the classes and exhibitions, and had also changed its name from Doncaster Templestowe Art Group, to the Doncaster Templestowe Artist's Society (DTAS).
Local venues were used for exhibitions, including Strapp Ford's Showroom, the barn at Schramm's Cottage, Westerfolds Park, and in 1985, Council invited the Society to be the first group to exhibit in the new Doncaster Gallery, which was officially opened on 1st December 1985. During all those years, many letters had been sent to Council requesting their assistance to find and old building somewhere in the City for the Society to use, but there was nothing forthcoming. Membership had increased, classes, meetings, demonstrations and other events were well attended, but having to keep finding appropriate venues was difficult.
Finally, in 1986 the Council offered to lease the Society the wonderful Old Shire Hall With a Bi-centennial grant, the Hall was renovated, a gallery was formed, and a mezzanine floor was added. The members at last had a "home" in which to present their art to the community. Classes continued with excellent tutors, and social events for members and their families were still being held. Workshops were conducted by award winning artists and demonstrations were organised, which non-members and friends were very welcome to attend.
A library of reference art books was established as well as a DVD and video art library.
On 6th June 1992, the Society celebrated the 100th year of the Old Shire Hall. A special Art Exhibition was held, and ex Councillor/Mayor Les Cameron was invited to attend and unveil a mural, which was comprised of 80, 10" x 811 paintings by the members of their individual impressions of the OSH. It hangs over the front entrance inside the hall.
The Society is now proudly 44 years old, has 140 members, and has multi award winning artists as the tutors who conduct the classes, in several mediums.
In 2014, a special Autumn Art Exhibition will be held by the Society, in the Old Shire Hall, as an early birthday celebration for the 45th year of the DTAS, which is on the 25th November 2014. Date of the exhibition is still to be announced.
Source: Compiled by Fay Erwin, Foundation Member and DTAS President and published in 2013-12 DTHS Newsletter
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