Started in 1890 when a group of friends began meeting informally. At least one of these friends, Whistler, was dissatisfied with the club of which he was already a member, the Arts Club. They were concerned about exhibition facilities and a committee was formed in November. Their website says "James Elder Christie, offered the use of the ground floor and basement of his house at 181 Kings Road – a flat fronted Georgian House with a studio at the back, next door to the newly built {1886} Town Hall. The formal launch of the Club took place here on the 18th of March 1891 ... {Wikipedia says 21st}." Our picture of 181 comes from that website. It must be post-1906 since the town hall which can be seen at the left is the one there today.
In 1901 the club moved to 143-5 Old Church Street. The annual Chelsea Arts Balls, held in the Albert Hall from 1910, were extravagant bohemian events which, in 1958 were banished from the Albert Hall due to the nudity, rowdiness, etc.
The Library Time Machine has a charming post " The first costume balls associated with the Chelsea Arts Club were held in the artists’ studios in Manresa Road, the first in 1887..."
