London Group

Still active, and with its largest membership numbers, The London Group, created in 1913, continues to be the only democratically run artists' group to have spanned two centuries. Formed from members of The Camden Town Group and The Vorticists movement, the group was a reaction to The Royal Academy's dominance over the London art world, restricting artists in their ability to choose what they learnt in their classes, made and exhibited. The young original members in 1913 set out to radicalise the art scene, by giving artists access to affordable exhibition venues, where they could curate their own shows. The group flourished, and the 1960s-70s marked a golden era in their bid to revitalise the art world, as they became the group of choice for all new emerging artists, continuing to host affordable and popular shows.