President’s Report July 2026
Hello Members, and a warm welcome to our new members, some of whom we had the pleasure of meeting at our recent Winter Luncheon.
I believe that every MSWPS member is of equal standing, and that our Society is strengthened by its spirit of inclusiveness rather than elitism. For that reason, apart from introducing our newest members, I rarely single out individuals.
Over the past month, many of you have participated in solo exhibitions, group exhibitions and art competitions, with a number of you achieving well-deserved success. Congratulations to you all.
I have also enjoyed attending several group exhibitions recently and was delighted to see so many MSWPS artists actively involved with other art societies and organisations. Participating beyond our own Society is a wonderful way to broaden our artistic knowledge, build connections and promote both ourselves and MSWPS within the wider arts community.
The Winter Luncheon on Thursday 2 July was attended by more than 45 members and was a wonderful celebration of the friendship and camaraderie that exists within our Society. Thank you to the dedicated team who organised the event, and thank you to everyone who has shared such generous and positive feedback. And thank you for a splendid display of your favourite hats.
At Ola Cohn House, progress continues. Work is steadily being carried out to create more usable space for our activities. Communication with Box Hill Institute remains positive and constructive, and we continue to build a strong working relationship. Through ongoing conversations and many small but meaningful steps, we are gradually improving both the presentation and security of the property.
Our first Open Session, held on Thursday 18 June, attracted around nine members. It was a pleasure to see artists sketching and painting in the front garden, while others explored the grounds for photographic references to use later in their studios. Some members spent time browsing the archives, discovering fascinating pieces of our Society's history, while I enjoyed a little printmaking.
Three more Open Sessions are planned on 16 July, in August, and in September. I will be hosting the July session and would love to see you there. Please email info@mswps.com.au to let me know if you will be attending.
Please also remember to check the Events page on our website for upcoming Life Drawing sessions. Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience.
My property greeted me with its first frost this morning, and at just one degree it certainly felt like winter had arrived. I hope you are all keeping warm, staying inspired, and finding plenty of time to enjoy your creativity.
Finally, very happy birthday to all our members celebrating during July. I hope you have a wonderful month.
