Welcome to Paisley Art Institute
Supporting Artists since 1876
News articles
Clare Henry, as Art Critic for the Herald, has been a long-time supporter, writing about our annual exhibitions for years. More recently though she wrote a powerful piece, on our plight, for the Art Lyst, about the ‘fiasco taking place in Paisley’. For her tireless support of artists and recent help she is welcomed to our Honorary committee and awarded post nominal HPAI. Awards were presented this year by Anita Manning, her good friend.
Call for lay members!
Remember PAI is member led and part of the fun is meeting other art loving members! Why not join the what’s app group of invigilators and make new friends, while you can check out the show.
This is a chance for lay members to join in the fun. Currently, our Treasurer, Colin MacKean is in the lead as champion helper putting in most days! You just can’t keep a good man down!
11-5pm at Glasgow Art Club, Tuesday -Saturday till 8th June. See the over 400 paintings and sculptures and have a light lunch on us!
Contact us by email at
Paisley artists are facing biggest challenge in 150 years
There has always been a close relationship between the Glasgow Art Club and the Paisley Art Institute.They’re both membership organisations which date back to the 19th century. They share many of the same members and a passion for the promotion of art and artists. But the connection has become even more vital as Paisley Art Institute (PAI) faces the biggest challenge in its 148 year history. The institute and Paisley Museum and Art Gallery were both founded in the same year and have been closely intertwined since. PAI has gathered a collection of more than 400 works including pieces by Sir John Lavery, Francis Cadell and Eugene Boudin. Read more about this article on the BBC news website here
Why are we waiting
Last summer, One Ren at last replied to our Lawyers letter dated (March 2021) asking for talks. It contained no date of any meeting nor any offer of a suitable place for our large exhibition in Paisley.
Instead it was a unaffordable proposal which required immediate action from us. We have been evicted from the galleries and now also put in the perverse position of having to ‘disperse’ what we cherish and have collected over the years.
We have to Pay to stay!! Without having a venue to raise any money through our exhibitions.
Other groups have been asked to work on projects, called ‘Stories’, some from Syria or New Zealand but the ‘bird in hand’, embedded in Paisley for 150 years, is still waiting to be included in this history.