The first president of the society, the Earl of Plymouth, addressed the assembled aldermen, councillors, architects and other city worthies at that first meeting.

From its earliest days the society has taken a prominent role in advising on and lobbying for improvements to the physical development of the city.

In some cases, such as the refurbishment of the Chamberlain Memorial Fountain in 1978 and the creation of formal gardens in some city parks, it has provided the funding needed to bring about the developments in question.

On its recommendation, the City Council set up an Advisory Art Committee in 1922; it played a critical role in saving the Repertory Theatre from closure in 1924, and again in 1934–35.

During the Second World War the society played a pivotal role in saving Edward Burne-Jones' stained glass windows in Birmingham Cathedral from exposure to bomb damage.

Subjects that have been preserved in total or in part (the head being cast as a bust) by the action of the society are Queen Victoria's statue, which was cast in bronze and placed upon a new plinth paid for by the society for the Festival of Britain in 1951; the busts of Josiah Mason; George Dawson and John Skirrow Wright.

Currently, it runs two programmes aimed at promoting active citizenship among young people, noting in particular the growing ethnic diversity of the population.