MEMBERSHIP
Any artist or craftsperson whose work includes a substantial body of heraldry is eligible to apply for Craft Membership.
Prospective Craft Members are invited to submit a selection of at least 6 samples of their work for consideration by the Society’s Appointments Board. This may be in photographic form. Dependent upon the quality of images received and/or the type of artwork (heraldic achievement, illumination, etc), a physical sample may be requested of the applicant.
An applicant whose work is deemed to be of a sufficiently high standard is then invited to become a Craft Member of the Society of Heraldic Arts and may describe himself or herself as such and use the postnominals SHA.
Prospective applicants should contact the Chairman of the Appointments Board:
Kevin Arkinstall, FSHA
8 Abbot Close
Ottery St. Mary
Devon EX11 1FH
United Kingdom
Email: membership@heraldic-arts.com
TO APPLY FOR CRAFT MEMBERSHIP CLICK HERE
In a small number of cases, applicants may be awarded Associate Craft Membership (ASHA) in recognition of their potential. This may later be translated into full Craft Membership upon application.
A Faculty of Fellows was created in 2013. Fellowship (FSHA) is granted by the Society’s Appointments Board to Craft Members whose work is considered to be pre-eminent by their peers.
The cost of maintaining the Society’s website is met purely by donations (see Payment Details).
TO ALL CRAFT MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF HERALDIC ARTS
Dear Craft Members:
The Society of Heraldic Arts was founded to serve the interests of distinguished heraldic artists and craftspeople.
To this end, the Society’s Constitution requires that applications for Craft Membership should be assessed by an Appointments Board comprising four preeminent Craft Members of the Society, those in whose judgment both applicants and Craft Members may have absolute confidence.
Perhaps the most valuable service the Society has to offer its membership is the website: described by some as “a shop window” for Craft Members. If standards are to be maintained it is essential that only those who have been formally admitted as Craft Members by the Appointments Board should be represented on the Society’s website.
Of course, like all societies, we need to attract new members and it is incumbent on all of us to persuade those fellow artists and craftspeople who have not joined us to apply for Craft Membership. Of course, their work must be of a very high standard but the rewards of a successful application can be considerable.
Very best wishes to you all,
Stephen Friar, MPhil, FHS, FSHA, President and Founder Member of the Society of Heraldic Arts