Artists' International Association

The Artists International Association or AIA was an organization founded in London in 1933.

Originally it was called Artists International, but it added the word "Association" to its name when it was reconstituted in 1935. It continued until 1971, but abandoned its originally objectives in 1953, thereafter existing as an exhibiting society.

Essentially set up as a left-of-centre political organisation, the AIA embraced all styles of art both modernist and traditional. Its aim was to promote the 'Unity of Artists for Peace, Democracy and Cultural Development'. It held a series of large group exhibitions on political and social themes beginning in 1935 with an exhibition entitled "Artists Against Fascism and War".

The AIA supported the left-wing Republican side in the Spanish Civil War through exhibitions and other fund-raising activities. The Association was also involved in the settling of artists displaced by the Nazi regime in Germany. Many of those linked with the Association, such as Duncan Grant were also pacifists.

Another of the AIA's aims was to promote wider access to art through travelling exhibitions and public mural paintings.

References

*Robert Radford, "Art for a purpose. The Artist's International Association 1933-1953", Winchester School of Art Press, Winchester (1987)

*Robert Radford & Lynda Morris, "A.I.A.: Story of the Artists' International Association,1933-53", Modern Art Oxford (1983)