A brief History

The Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Society of Miniature Art (ASMA Tasmania Inc) was established in April 1992 by Hibiscus Gallery owner Mrs Bernadette Connor OAM.  Bernadette became the first President of the Tasmanian Society and held the position until she stepped down after the 2^nd World Federation of Miniaturists Conference in Hobart in September 2000.   Mrs Joan Kelly (a member of the Society since 1992) was elected to the position of President.  

 

Since 2000 the Society has continued to develop and currently has 90 members including several from South Australia, Queensland and Victoria.    Friend members assist with the administration of Society affairs such as finance and Newsletters.   Members exhibit throughout the State and overseas and attend regular painting days and workshops.   The Society has also created a desk calendar featuring miniatures by members which has been produced each year since 2005.  These have been purchased by members and friends and have been sent throughout Australia and overseas.    In 2006 the Society printed a series of cards which were for sale during the tourist season at the Emu Valley Rhododendron Gardens.   ASMA Tasmania takes part in Living Artists’ Week every August with an exhibition of miniatures painted to a theme.   In 2006 the theme focused on writers.  Members rose to the challenge and contributed miniature paintings accompanied by poetry for the exhibition.    In 2007 the Society will showcase all entries for the 2008 calendar.   Completed calendars will be included in the exhibition.   Individual members exhibit their miniature paintings in many exhibitions throughout the State.  Three of our members teach art in miniature at Adult Education Centres in Hobart, Devonport and Burnie.

 

The Society is managed by a committee of 10 members who meet four times per year at Launceston or Campbell Town.  Members of the Committee are from Hobart, Launceston, Forth and Burnie.  ASMA Tasmania Inc is a member Society of the World Federation of Miniaturists (WFM).   

 

Members exhibit in National and International Miniature Art Society Exhibitions and have continued to exhibit at WFM Exhibitions which are held every four years.  Members took part in the 3^rd World Wide Exhibition at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC in 2004.  It was at this Exhibition and Conference that President of the Tasmanian Society Mrs Joan Kelly was elected to the position of President of the World Federation of Miniaturists.  The position is for four years.   ASMA Tasmania successfully bid for the 4^th WFM Exhibition and Conference and will host the event in Burnie in March 2008.   Further information regarding this event is available on the WFM website  www.worldfm.org