Getting a Club Started

Each art club is organized according to the needs and desires of the students and sponsor within the limits of the school requirements.

Get Organized

Suggestions for getting started:

1. Write a constituion or by laws
2. Plan your first meeting
3. Elect officers and set dues
4. Plan a good public relations program
5. Plan a schedule of events and appoint committees
6. Keep school administrators informed
• organization of your club
• purpose of your club
• time and place of meetings
• activity plans
• other important facts
7. Give reports of activities at school board meetings
8. Present programs at local organization meetings
9. Get parents involved
10. Invite another club or officers to talk to your group
11. Begin a file drawer of club material
12. Set aside space for club news on a buttetin board
13. Mark dates on school calendar
14. Suppport other school activities

Elect Officers

Suggestions for offices and chairs of committees:

1. President
2. Vice-President
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. Public Relations
6. Scrapbook Chairperson
7. Fundraising Chairperson
8. Refreshments Chairperson
9. Special Project Exhibit Chairperson

Plan Activities

Activities that broaden students art awareness should be planned into the club calendar. A club may take a day to visit an art museum or have a guest artist to introduce new new ideas and methods.

Local projects could be a mural, a field trip, Christmas tree decorating, making favors for a nursing home, visiting nursing homes to do a demonstration or draw portraits, host an art exhibit, or paint scenery.

Club members may enjoy inviting students from neighboring schools to share a field trip or guest artist. All clubs may participate in the State Convention and Special Project Exhibit. More ideas are available on this site by clicking the Club Ideas, What's New, and ISAA Info links at the top of this page.

Recognize Achievement

• Recognize student artists by sponsoring local exhibits in the school hall, gym, bank, civic center, library or other public places. Give certificates or awards for outstanding work.
• Enter student members' art work in exhibits sponsored by other organizations such as colleges, Scholastics, National Art Honor Society, art councils, and museums.
• Enter student members' art work in the ISAA-Rembrandt Society Art Contest held at State Convention and in the Special Project Exhibit.
• Recognize students with certificates or other awards for:
  • attendance
  • participation in club meetings and activities
  • improvement
  • fullfilling duties of office and committees
• Recognize nonmembers for:
  • donations of money
  • donations of time
  • chaperoning
  • publicity
  • cooperation and support

Display your Pride

Pride and prestige are important for an active art club. A motto and logo can be a common bond to hold a club together. A motto gives direction and a logo provides immediate recognition. Continued use of the motto and logo creates pride and loyalty among members and recognition from those outside the club.

ISAA-Rembrandt Society members have a common logo (ink bottle with art tools), motto (Art Flourishes where there is a Sense of Adventure), and mascot (Arty cartoon character). These may be copied by members to display on letters, t-shirts, aprons, buttons, and other accessories.

Keep a scrapbook. A scrapbook keeps record of activities and is a source of inspiration and pride for present members as well as for future members. A scrapbook can include photos, news articles, letters, correspondences, awards, invitations, souvenirs, drawings, comments, and other club information. Chapter scrapbooks are displayed at the State Convention. Awards are given based on cover design, interior presentation, thoroughness of reporting, quantity of activities, and quality of activities.

Promote your Club

Promotion is important for school organizations. The public wants to know what they are supporting. Good publicity doesn't just happen. You get publicity because your Public Relations chairperson plans it. The ISAA-Rembrandt Society helps its members attract the media by providing exciting events, by recognizing outstanding achievements, and by providing chapters with prewritten news releases about State Convention. More information is available on at Club Ideas.