Launceston Art Society (LAS) started as the Launceston Drawing Club, which held its first exhibition on 19th November 1891 in the offices of Ritchie and Parkers’ in St John Street, Launceston. There were a number of art societies  in the 1880s and the 1890s, but only LAS survived. When art education was still in its infancy, the Society played an important role in broadening the spectrum of art available to the local community.

Many of Australia's celebrated artists have exhibited with the Society since its foundation and many of Tasmania's foremost teachers have been great supporters of the Society by exhibiting, judging and working on the LAS committee. Among them are Mary Greig our first president, Louisa Swan, Lucien Dechaineaux, Laura Dean, Jack Carrington Smith, Dorothy Stoner, Robert Campbell, Mildred Lovett, Vern Hodgman, Hope Evershed, Geoff Tyson and Alan McIntyre. 

When the Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery (QVMAG) decided to purchase a selection of Tasmanian art with funds from the Mary Nichol's Bequest in 1932, it was from a special exhibition of LAS members that the works were chosen. From 1927 to 1929 LAS raised sufficient funds to restore John Glover’s grave at Deddington. In 1927 Madame Nellie Melba visited Launceston to give a concert and to open a loan exhibition of early Tasmanian Art organized by the LAS. In 1991, a highly successful LAS Centenary Exhibition was held at the Chalmer’s Church in St John Street, with over 300 exhibits. A history of our society was written by Jill Ferrall in 1976 (Northern Regional Library- Reference Section) and QVMAG published "The Launceston Art Society in Retrospect 1891 - 1983" for an exhibition of the same title. This was researched by Barbara Chapman and assistants.

Many current members have formal art degrees, diplomas and certificates, with many also holding solo exhibitions and exhibiting in venues around the State. Over the years many members have won prizes at the Tasmanian Art Awards at Eskleigh, the Royal Launceston Show, Max Fry Rotary Exhibition, the Trust Bank, Wrest Point, Burnie and other art awards, as well as being finalists in the prestigious Glover Prize . While the LAS has always had a large membership of amateur painters, over the years it has been able to maintain a balance between professional members and aspiring young artists.

LAS has operated from a number of venues, including Ritchie's Mill, Eskleigh and the Launceston RSL, where we currently have our studio.

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