At our AGM on 2 July 2023, Patrick Cullen was elected the new NEAC President, taking over from Peter Brown (President) and Sarah Spencer (Vice President) at the end of their five-year tenure.
For the first time, there was a contested election with two candidates - James Bland and Patrick Cullen. After a closely fought election, Patrick received 36 votes, with James receiving 28 votes, so Patrick was elected President.
Patrick commented, "I am delighted to have been elected President of the New English Art Club. It is an honour to follow in the footsteps of so many exceptional British figurative painters whose legacy is a big part of what makes this Society such an outstanding one today.
"I thank my immediate predecessors Peter 'Pete the Street' Brown and Sarah Spencer for leading the NEAC through the difficult COVID years with both wisdom and passion. They will be a hard act to follow but I look forward to the challenge."
Pete & Sarah added, "It has been an honour and a pleasure to serve the Club for these last five years. Thank you to all the Members, the Executive Committee, our followers, and all those who have engaged with the Club during that time.
"We wish Patrick and the Committee the very best of luck, and we look forward to the continued progress of the NEAC as a champion for figurative painting."
