The Arts Society Cotswolds
Registered Charity Number 284674
Member Society of The Arts Society
CONSTITUTION AND RULES, MARCH 2025
1. TITLE
The Society shall be called “The Arts Society Cotswolds” and is hereinafter referred to as “The Society”.
2. OBJECTS
The Society’s objects shall be the promotion of the aesthetic education of the public residing in the Cotswold area, the study of the decorative and fine arts, and the conservation of the national artistic heritage for the benefit of the public.
3. POWERS
In furtherance of the above:
(a) To organise members to give assistance in houses of historic or artistic interest,
museums, libraries, exhibitions, and other places where such assistance is
required, and to make and necessary arrangements for the provision of
courses of instruction for such members.
(b) In furtherance of the above instruction, to arrange lectures and visits to houses,
museums and other places of artistic interest.
(c) To present exhibitions and artistic displays of an educational character.
(d) To conduct courses of study.
(e) To purchase or hire premises and properties for the promotion of the objects of
the Society.
(f) To support any charitable institution and to subscribe money to any charitable
fund as long as they are established to promote the objects of the Society.
(g) To take any lawful action designed to further the above objects.
4. MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to anyone interested in furthering the objects of the Society. Application for membership must be made to the Honorary Secretary, who must submit the application to the committee for approval. The committee may elect Honorary Members.
5. SUBSCRIPTION
The annual subscription for membership shall be payable on a date decided by the committee, and the amount shall be decided each year by the committee. An entrance fee shall be payable by new members if the committee so decide. No subscription will be payable by Honorary Members.
6. CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Notice of cessation of membership shall be given to the Honorary Secretary before subscriptions are due. Non-payment of subscription by one month after that date will entail automatic cessation of membership.
7. OFFICERS
The officers of the Society shall include a President, Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer.
The Chairman shall be elected for a term of two years. At the end of the term of office the Chairman may be reappointed for a further term. Four years will be the maximum duration the post can be held by one person to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.
The election of officers shall be made at the annual general meeting, but casual vacancies arising during the year may be filled by the committee.
8. TRUSTEES
The trustees of the Society shall number three and shall be appointed by the committee. Trustees shall hold office until resignation in writing to the committee or until removed from office by a two-thirds majority of members present in general meeting.
All assets of the Society shall rest in the trustees, with full powers to buy, sell or mortgage such assets in their absolute discretion.
9. MANAGEMENT
The policies of the Society shall be administered by a committee comprising the President, Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and not more than twelve other members elected.
Any casual vacancies arising may be filled by the remaining members of the committee by a majority vote. The committee may delegate responsibility for specified activities to individual members of the committee, who shall make a report to the committee at each meeting.
The quorum at a committee meeting shall consist of at least one half of the members of the committee.
10. GENERAL MEETING
An annual general meeting shall be held as soon as possible after the end of the year for the purpose of:- (a) Electing officers and committee members (b) Approving the audited accounts (c) Receiving the report of the Honorary Treasurer (d) Receiving the report of the Chairman (e) Conducting any other business that the committee may decide to bring forward.
A special general meeting may be called at any time by the committee, and must be called at the request in writing of at least ten members of the Society. At least two weeks notice of any general meeting must be given to each member.
11. ALTERATIONS TO CONSTITUTION
The constitution of the Society may be altered by a majority vote of members present at a general meeting.
No amendments shall be made to the objects, and no amendment shall be made to any other of the clauses which would cause the Society to cease to be a Charity in Law.
12. WINDING UP
If a resolution to wind up the affairs of the Society shall have been carried by a two-thirds majority of members present at a general meeting, the Trustees, after discharging all outstanding liabilities, must make over the remaining assets of the Society to such charitable institutions having similar objects to the Society as they may choose from the various bodies recognised by the Charity Commissioners.