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Chelsea Arts Club is a private members' club at 143 Old Church Street in
Chelsea Arts Club was originally located in rooms at no. 181 King's Road. In 1902, the club moved to larger premises at no. 143 Old Church Street. In 1933 the club's premises, which had an acre of garden, were remodeled. The clubhouse includes a snooker room, bedrooms, dining room, former 'ladies bar' turned private party room, and a garden.
From 1908 to 1958 the club held a series of public fancy dress balls at the Albert Hall, latterly on 
Although normally a plain white building, the club exterior is occasionally painted to coincide with a themed event, most frequently by scenic artists Tony Common, Annie Ralli and Annie Millar. In 2010 it was painted bright colours with images of circus performers, and in 2011 was painted to appear as if it had been bombed in order to coincide with celebrations marking 70 years since the end of
*
News footage of the 1922 new years ball
(British Pathe)
News footage of the 1954 new years ball
(British Pathe)
Membership proposal form
{{coords, 51.4880, -0.1746, display=title 1891 establishments in England 19th-century art groups Arts in London Arts organizations established in 1891 British art British artist groups and collectives Chelsea, London Gentlemen's clubs in London Grade II listed buildings in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area in West London, England, due south-west of Kilometre zero#Great Britain, Charing Cross by approximately . It lies on the north bank of the River Thames and for postal purposes is part of the SW postcode area, south-western p ...
with a membership of over 4,000, including artists, sculptors, architects, writers, designers, actors, musicians, photographers, and filmmaker
Filmmaking or film production is the process by which a Film, motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, beginning with an initial story, idea, or commission. Production then continues through screen ...
s. The club was established on 15 November 1890 (in Chelsea), as a rival to the older Arts Club in Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of Westminster, London, England, in the City of Westminster. It is in Central London and part of the West End. It is between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane and one of the most expensive districts ...
, on the instigation of the artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler
James Abbott McNeill Whistler (; July 10, 1834July 17, 1903) was an American painter in oils and watercolor, and printmaker, active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom. He eschewed sentimentality and moral a ...
, who had been a (sometimes controversial) member of the older club.
During its primary events season from September to April, Chelsea Arts Club serves as a host for many functions, from instrumental and choral performances to film nights, literary talks and weekend artist lunches. Exhibitions of Members’ work are held throughout the year.
Applicants for membership need to be sponsored by two current Members.
The club is located in the former Bolton Lodge, a Grade II listed
In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, H ...
building on the National Heritage List for England
The National Heritage List for England (NHLE) is England's official database of protected heritage assets. It includes details of all English listed buildings, scheduled monuments, register of historic parks and gardens, protected shipwrecks, ...
.
History
Chelsea Arts Club was originally located in rooms at no. 181 King's Road. In 1902, the club moved to larger premises at no. 143 Old Church Street. In 1933 the club's premises, which had an acre of garden, were remodeled. The clubhouse includes a snooker room, bedrooms, dining room, former 'ladies bar' turned private party room, and a garden.
From 1908 to 1958 the club held a series of public fancy dress balls at the Albert Hall, latterly on New Year's Eve
In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve refers to the evening, or commonly the entire day, of the last day of the year, 31 December, also known as Old Year's Day. In many countries, New Year's Eve is celebrated with dancing, eating, drinkin ...
, which raised funds for artists' charities. In 1958, balls were banned from the Albert Hall owing to their notoriety for rowdiness, nudity and public homosexuality ( illegal before 1967). Subsequently, private functions were held at the club instead, with similarly lavish decorations and themes.
In 1966 the club was redecorated, a new bar was opened, and membership was opened to women artists.
Although normally a plain white building, the club exterior is occasionally painted to coincide with a themed event, most frequently by scenic artists Tony Common, Annie Ralli and Annie Millar. In 2010 it was painted bright colours with images of circus performers, and in 2011 was painted to appear as if it had been bombed in order to coincide with celebrations marking 70 years since the end of The Blitz
The Blitz (English: "flash") was a Nazi Germany, German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom, for eight months, from 7 September 1940 to 11 May 1941, during the Second World War.
Towards the end of the Battle of Britain in 1940, a co ...
.
See also
*Gentlemen's club
A gentlemen's club is a private social club of a type originally established by males from Britain's upper classes starting in the 17th century.
Many countries outside Britain have prominent gentlemen's clubs, mostly those associated with the ...
* List of gentlemen's clubs in London
This is a list of members' clubs in London, which is not complete. It includes private members' clubs with physical premises in London, England, as well as those that no longer exist or have merged. There is an additional section for clubs that a ...
References
Sources
* Anthony Lejeune, ''Gentlemen's Clubs of London'', London: Macdonald And Jane's, 1979 (ill. Malcolm Lewis). . * Tom Cross, ''Artists and Bohemians: 100 Years with the Chelsea Arts Club'', London: Quiller Press, 1992. . *External links
*
News footage of the 1922 new years ball
(British Pathe)
News footage of the 1954 new years ball
(British Pathe)
Membership proposal form
{{coords, 51.4880, -0.1746, display=title 1891 establishments in England 19th-century art groups Arts in London Arts organizations established in 1891 British art British artist groups and collectives Chelsea, London Gentlemen's clubs in London Grade II listed buildings in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea