The Collectors Club of approximately 70 like-minded members was formed in 1996 by the late John Stringer. John was an internationally recognised art curator who came to Western Australia after a distinguished career in Victoria at the National Gallery and New York at the MOMA. He was initially Curator of Contemporary Art at the Art Gallery of WA then curator of the Kerry Stokes Collection until his death in 2007.

John Stringer established The Collectors Club as a means of promoting the visual arts in WA through a club based on informed collecting. He was passionate about contemporary art and wanted others to share his enthusiasm and his knowledge by supporting Australian artists – and particularly Western Australian artists – by collecting.

The Collectors Club was founded and its success has been amazing when measured by the amount of art purchased, the support for emerging artists, the number of tours interstate and overseas and the enthusiastic promotion of art generally has more than justified John’s vision.

The Collectors Club encourages an active membership participating in such activities as gallery previews with the artists available for discussion, visits to artists studios, invitations to attend functions where visiting artists speak, visits to members’ homes to view and discuss their collected art and tours to art festivals in Australia and overseas.

There is a responsibility on each member to attend these activities whenever possible and to purchase at least one piece of art per year. The art is hung at the Annual Show and Tell Exhibition where each member speaks briefly about their purchase.

In 2010, The Collectors Club decided to sponsor an award to support an outstanding Western Australian contemporary visual artist. The John Stringer Prize pays tribute to the legacy of the late John Stringer and through his name promotes his vision for the visual arts in Western Australia.