Guild History


The Guild's Founder, Eliot McMurrough of Indialantic, 1918-1976

Eliot was a member of the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery in Melbourne, Florida. He was a well-known painter, teacher, and art lecturer, as well as a longtime Space Coast resident. McMurrough came to Brevard from Sarasota in 1959, locating his art exhibits and demonstrations at U.S. 1 and Ballard Drive in old Eau Gallie. He later moved to the old Melbourne church building at Waverly Place and Strawbridge Avenue. For a time, he shared an office with Dr. Keuper at the Brevard Engineering College (now Florida Institute of Technology), ultimately establishing the Eliot McMurrough School of Art on Fifth Avenue in Indialantic.

McMurrough's impressive biography was evidence of his respected position in the art world. He has been listed in the Who's Who in the South and Southwest and the Dictionary of International Biography. He won the coveted Governor's Award in 1961, 1965, 1966, and 1968. His paintings have been shown in national shows in the U.S. and Canada, and his works have appeared in the publication "Prize-Winning Graphics." In addition, he taught at the Ringling School of Art, Lock Haven Art Center, and was a former director of the Florida Federation of Art Summer School.

The local press is a GREAT source of historical information:

Florida Today Article - May 12, 1991, by Pam Harbaugh

Space Coast Living Magazine 2001

Space Coast Living Magazine 2005




Our Story (as published in our capital campaign brochure, January 2026)

Founded in the early 1960s, The Art Students Guild of Brevard was established to provide an art school experience in a studio setting. Through long-standing cooperation with a generous landlord, the Guild thrived, grew, and successfully self-funded up until the present time. However, after occupying the same location in Historic Downtown Melbourne for more than 60 years, the Guild was asked to relocate.

The Guild offers open studio sessions that provide artists the opportunity to work from life—an experience typically available only within formal art school programs. The Guild has been funded through memberships, session fees, and workshops, and most activities are offered free of charge to middle, high school, and college students.

To continue this tradition, a new landlord has offered to partner with the Guild. The space we hope will become our future home has never been occupied, presenting both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, it offers a “blank slate,” allowing us to design an accessible space that best meets our needs. On the other hand, the space must be built out to meet basic city occupancy requirements, requiring a significant financial investment.

For the first time in our long history, we are kindly asking the community for assistance during what will be a very positive transition.

The Art Students Guild of Brevard, Inc. is a recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization under the Internal Revenue Code.


THE ART STUDENTS GUILD OF BREVARD, INC. 

YOUR DONATION IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE

501(c)(3) TAX-EXEMPT ~ EIN: 86-3628798 ~ FL REGISTRATION: CH-81817



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