The Wanganui Society had its beginnings in 1901 and became a corporate body in 1919. One annual exhibition of New Zealand art is held in the autumn of each year in the Sarjeant Art Gallery. An active sketch group meets regularly in the art room of the Wanganui Technical College, and the emphasis generally is on the practice of art and craft. Loan exhibitions are organised by the Sarjeant Gallery. The society has no permanent accommodation and no art collection, though works are purchased from time to time for presentation to the art gallery. The first issue of a lively newsletter was published in 1962.