It held its first exhibition in 1895, opening on 7 November in the Royal University Buildings, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin.
It was broadly modelled on its British counterpart, the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society.
[1] In 1907, the ASCI founded the Guild of Irish Art Workers for professional craftspeople.
[4] Amongst the member of the society were Harry Clarke, Richard Orpen, Robert Arthur Dawson, Rosamond Praeger, Oswald Reeves, Evelyn Gleeson, Alice Brittain and Alice Shaw.
[3] The members worked in varying media including leather, lace, metal, wood, stone, marble, stained glass and porcelain.