RICS

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors are launching a new booklet to help inexperienced buyers and sellers at auction.

Nicholas Somers, recently re-elected as chairman of the RICS Fine Art and Antiques Faculty, will make education the focus of his third and final term.

THERE is still a chance to book tickets for the RICS conference in Leeds from October 15-17.

THIS year’s RICS art and antiques conference promises three days of tours, talks and enjoyment in and around Leeds.

IF the hallmark of the perfect evening is the correct blend of food, wine, company and entertainment, now is the time to book tickets for the the RICS Grand Summer Dinner, scheduled for June 30.

VENDORS wishing to protect their interests when an auction house becomes insolvent should use firms where at least one of the partners or directors is a member of the RICS.

THE RICS have issued detailed advice on gun safety in the saleroom. The advice follows the recent case where an auctioneer was fined after a professional musician lost part of his finger when a starting pistol was discharged in the saleroom.

THE Antiques and Fine Arts Faculty of the RICS have released details of their annual conference, which will be held in the West Midlands, from Friday, October 3 to Sunday, October 5.

The Antiques and Fine Arts Faculty at RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) have appointed a new chairman and vice chairman. Nicholas Somers, who is principal of Nicholas Somers and Company, replaces Jonathan Meyer as chairman supported by a new vice-chairman, Mark Dalrymple, managing director and proprietor of loss adjusters Tyler & Company.

UK: THE RICS Antiques and Fine Arts Faculty is working on a plan to develop a masters degree for graduates who hold a degree not accredited by the RICS.

THE RICS have announced details of their 2002 Fine Arts Conference, which will be held in Amsterdam from November 14-17. Highlights of the conference include a day at the Rijksmuseum prior to its renovation next year during which time its displays will be significantly reduced.

The mysteries of the auction process will now be much easier to understand thanks to a new publication, A Guide to Buying and Selling at Auction, from RICS.

Auctioneers’ society aims to extend its influence and admit valuers as members: THE Society of Fine Art Auctioneers, concerned over the RICS decision to derecognise the Southampton Institute training courses for the trade, is to vote on approving them itself.

The Fine Art Valuation degree course at Southampton Institute has lost almost half its teaching staff in the past year with the student intake dropping 60 per cent since 1998.

UK: ART & Antiques on the Internet is the title of a one-day conference being staged at the Royal Institution on Thursday October 26 by the Institute of Art and Law and the RICS

Following the decision earlier this year to reform the structure of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and to merge with the ISVA, the RICS will split into 16 faculties from the beginning of 2001.

UK: THE Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers will be absorbed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors following an overwhelming vote in favour of the move by ISVA members.