Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia
| Main Focus: | Soft Pastel |
| State: | Victoria |
| Region: | Melbourne Region |
| President: | Roz Long |
| Number of Members: | 240 plus |
| Established: | 1986 |
| Exhibitions: | Yes |
| Art Shows: | Yes |
| Tuition: | Yes |
| Workshops: | Yes |
| Art Prizes: | Yes |
| New Members | On Application |
| Membership Fee: | RENEWALS: Single | $85, Country/Interstate $70 | Family $105 | Full-time Student $65 | Associate/International $65 |||| NEW Single | $95, Country/Interstate $80 | Family $115 | Full-time Student $75 | Associate/International $75 |
Group Information
The Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia (PSVA) was founded in 1986 by a group of Pastel enthusiasts – Margaret Lourey, (the founder and first President), Ming Mackay (the first Patron), Arno Roger-Genersh and Janet Hayes, and was officially formed at the first Annual General Meeting on 6th November 1986.
Their aims were to educate the public about Soft Pastel and its use as a fine art medium and to promote the exchange of information and ideas concerning Pastel among interested artists.
The Society still upholds the aims of its founders. It holds regular monthly meetings with Demonstrations, weekend Workshops tutored by renowned national and international artists, en Plein Air|Paint Outs, Paint Away Retreats, a monthly Members' Encouragement Awards (MEAs) competition and other activities for its membership & friends.
Go to our Events Program webpage for more information
We have also instigated awards for recognition of the amazing skills of our members with our Signature Award and Master Pastellist Award.
Members & friends are kept up to date regarding these events via our eNews newsletter, as well as being informed about issues in the wider art world. Non-members can sign up for our eNews on our homepage at vicpastel.com.au
Our monthly meetings are a platform for Demonstrations by fantastic artists in both soft pastel and other mediums. The Society is a member of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS).
We were saddened by the death of our dear Patron, Ming Mackay in September 2009. Early in 2010 the eminent art historian and friend of the Pastel Society of Victoria, Andrew Mackenzie, accepted our invitation to become our new Patron.
At the 2011 Annual General Meeting members voted to add the location of ‘Australia’ to our name to avoid confusion amongst international Societies who were mistaking us for a Canadian or American Society. Hence we are now known as the Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia (PSVA).
Committee Members
President
Roz Long
Vice President
Mark Pearce
Treasurer
Elly Fowkes
Secretary
Sonya Bading
Committee Members
Committee
Helen Permezel (Membership Coordinator)
Kerrie Carter (Workshop Coordinator)
Eileen Broderick (VicPastel Magazine Coordinator)
Dianne Hill (Library)
Off-Committee Roles
Michelle Hendrie (Members' Encouragement Awards)
Nola Jones (MEA Award Certificates & MEAs on Social Media)
Pamela Pretty (en Plein Air|Paint Outs)
Regina Hona (Signature Award & Master Pastellist Award)
Kelly Grace (VicPastel Magazine Editor)
Sharon Martin (Web Admin, IT & Social Media)
Membership Information
Membership Benefits include
- monthly meetings with guest demonstrations by eminent artists from Australia and overseas
- regular eNews newsletters with events and opportunities for artists
- appraisal nights and support from members who are full-time professional artists
- monthly Members’ Encouragement Awards (MEAs) competition
- keeping up-to-date with our excellent and informative full-colour quarterly VicPastel Magazine
- an extensive library of books, magazines, CDs and DVDs
- Workshops with priority registration and discounts for members
- Paint Outs
- entry into the Annual Exhibition
- belonging to one of the largest Pastel Societies in Australia
- we are a member of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS)
- discounts at a variety of our Sponsors‘ art supply shops
- your own webpage in our Members’ Gallery on our website
- participation & promotion on our Social Media accounts – see the small icons at the bottom any webpage – in the blue right-hand section and click on the icon to be taken to our official Facebook Page, YouTube account, Instagram or Facebook Group
- recognition through our Signature Member and Master Pastelist Award programs
Events
Exhibitions
Our Annual Exhibition is a much anticipated event on our calendar.
It is open to enter by financial members of the PSVA and is usually held in the latter part of the year - September, October or November.
We are holding our 38th Annual Exhibition 'Pastel Artistry' in 2025 from 31 October to 15 November at Sherbrooke Art Gallery in Belgrave VIC.
For more information go to our Annual Exhibition webpage at https://vicpastel.com.au/annual-exhibition
Tuition
Workshops
We have a vibrant Workshop program throughout the year with amazing Tutors.
It is a great way to join other like-minded artists and indulge in 2 and 3 day art-filled days.
We hold weekend Workshops in Melbourne, usually at Ferntree Gully, as well as 2 & 3 day Paint Away Retreats.
For more information go to our Workshops webpage at https://vicpastel.com.au/workshops
Regular Art Classes
We are connected with a large number of Pastel Tutors in Victoria and throughout Australia.
For more information go to our Tutors webpage at https://vicpastel.com.au/tutors
Contact Details
- Main Contact: Roz Long
- Email Address: info@vicpastel.com.au
- Phone Number: 0418 514 001
Address
The Lounge
Mount Waverley Community Centre,
47 Miller Crescent,
Mount Waverley VIC 3149