We are the Society of Scottish Artists.
We’re the largest artist-led organisation in Scotland. We lead a diverse and ambitious programme and invite artists based anywhere in the world to join us.
OPEN CALL: LIFE WITH WATER | SSA AT AN TOBAR
The SSA is pleased to be collaborating with An Tobar, Isle of Mull for the first time on a new exhibition with the theme of ‘Life With Water’.
Life With Water: A wave of creativity in response to the Ocean
The sea is not just scenery. It is memory, myth, and movement and the source of all life. It is the pulse beneath our islands, the force that carves our cliffs, the salt in our stories.
On the Hebridean Isle of Mull, where land and water evaporate into one another, we gather to create, to question, to reimagine.
Online Submissions open: Friday 4 April 2025, 12 noon
Online Submissions close: Monday 19 May 2025, 12 noon
OPEN CALL: LIFE WITH WATER
30 X 30 ONLINE EDITION
To accompany our forthcoming exhibition with An Tobar, Isle of Mull, we are inviting the wider SSA Membership (Professional, Artist, Graduate, Student Members) to submit work to our online 30 x 30 exhibition on the same theme – Life With Water : A wave of creativity in response to the Ocean – of which a selection of these works will be available physically in the An Tobar shop.
All works will be presented digitally on a dedicated online gallery throughout the exhibition period, launching on Friday 15 August – 24 October 2025.
Entries open: Friday 18 April 2025
Entries close: Monday 16 June 2025, 12 noon
Online Exhibition: 15 August – 24 October 2025
NEW PROFESSIONAL ARTIST MEMBERS 2025
“The Co-Presidents, Co-Vice Presidents and Council have the honour and pleasure to welcome our newly elected Professional Members for 2025.
The newly elected members have been selected in recognition of their ongoing commitment and dedication to their professional contemporary art practices. They are also to be highly commended for their continued involvement with the Society of Scottish Artists.
Overall, they are not only part of a growing international collective but of a close community of artists whose main drives are to continue showing the best of Scottish contemporary art. We, the SSA, will continue to support and encourage our new Professional Members to further push their practice in the coming years.”
Luke Vinnicombe & Frank To | SSA Co-Presidents
Image: Patsy McArthur, Fire Walk (2025), mixed media collage on canvas
CALL FOR NEW SATELLITES ASSOCIATES
We’re delighted to welcome our new Satellite Coordinator, Calum Hall, whose wealth of experience and passion for connecting artists across Scotland makes them an inspiring addition to the SSA team.
Join the SSA Satellite Network – Help Shape the Future of Art in Your Area
Are you passionate about connecting with artists in your community? Would you like to help shape opportunities for artists locally and across Scotland? The Society of Scottish Artists is expanding our dynamic Satellite Associate network, and we’re looking for enthusiastic members to join us.
Applications close: Monday 30 June, 12 noon
Image: Satellite Associate Logo, courtesy of Dr John Elliott, 2023.
THE LAND | SSA AT THE DICK INSTITUTE, KILMARNOCK
The SSA is pleased to be collaborating with The Dick Institute, Kilmarnock to present an exhibition titled ‘The Land’. The exhibition includes selected works from over 40 SSA Members, displayed alongside work from invited artist Calum Wallis.
The exhibition is taking place at The Dick Institute from Saturday 15th March – 7 June 2025.
Venue: The Dick Institute, Elmbank Avenue, Kilmarnock KA1 3BU
Free Admission
Image: Calum Wallis, ‘Place to scramble’, courtesy of the artist.
JOIN SSA COUNCIL 2025
The Society of Scottish Artists Council runs entirely on a voluntary basis. The Council is made up of the Co-Presidents, Vice Presidents, Professional, Artist, Honorary and Co-opted Members who all give their time and individual skills and experience to the organisation.
This year there are vacancies for 2 x Artist Members and 1 x Co-opted (all levels).
We are looking for people who have not served on Council since 2022 and have the time, energy and ideas to bring to the Society and to its development.
Deadline: Wednesday 4 June, 9am