RIBA to freeze membership rates

The RIBA has announced that it will freeze its membership rates for 2010, as part a drive to support architects through the recession.

Chartered members who have been qualified for over five years will pay £370 and those who take out membership within five years of qualifying will pay £241.

Annual subscription for a UK member of the RIBA made within one year of completing Part 2 of their architectural qualification will still cost £56 to individuals based in the UK and £44 to those based abroad.

The rate freeze follows the launch of a Recession Survival Kit, an online resource with advice tailored specifically for each membership category and a monthly Future Trends Survey that tracks employment trends.

Ruth Reed, president of the RIBA, said: “There is no doubt that the architects’ profession has been severely affected by the economic downturn, and this is something that the institute fully understands; the RIBA is firmly committed to supporting the profession through this difficult time.”