Legend has it that the British Society of Aesthetics (BSA)
was founded in 1960 so that Herbert Read could lead a delegation of British
Aestheticians to the International Congress on Aesthetics being held in Athens
that year. Its declared foundational aim is to promote study, research and
discussion of the fine arts and related types of experience from a
philosophical, psychological, sociological, historical, critical and
educational standpoint.
The Society's activities include publication of the British Journal of Aesthetics,
a newsletter, an annual conference, regional conferences, lecture series,
grants to support research in aesthetics, and an essay prize.