Flag Institute membership

The Flag Institute has members in about 40 countries and an extensive exchange programme with other nations’ flag associations. We hope that you join us. We have a wide membership from those who are just enthusiastic to those who are international experts in the field of flags.

Join online today!

You can also join online using our new Online Payments System. Just choose the category of membership you want from the popup menu and click the ‘Join Now’ button.

Our Payments System is located on a secure server (the small padlock symbol will appear on your browser), so you can make a payment safely. You can pay with Paypal, MasterCard, Maestro/Switch, Visa, Visa Electron, Solo or Discover. You don’t need a PayPal account to make a payment.

Membership information pack

You can download an Adobe PDF file of our Flag Institute membership information pack (2Mb). You will need Adobe Reader version 6 or better which can be downloaded for free from Adobe’s website.

Alternatively If you would like an information pack, including a recent issue of Flagmaster, posted to you please email our membership secretary. Don’t forget to include your postal address in the email.

Membership categories

The Flag Institute offers a total of five types of membership. All members will receive Flagmaster four times a year and can attend the meetings of the Institute.

Individual membership for UK residents

This is the normal membership type if you live in the UK. Flagmaster will sent to you by second-class post. Membership fees are £25 per year.

Individual membership for non-UK residents

If you live outside the UK you should select this category as it includes airmail postage of Flagmaster. You are always welcome to attend and vote at Institute meetings if you happen to be in the UK at the time, use the library in Hull, and use the facilities of the Naval Club in London. The club offers very reasonably priced accomodation in the heart of London’s Mayfair. Membership fees are £30 per year.

Group membership

This category is aimed at groups such as schools, libraries, museum, councils, government departments, etc. The groups can send one or more representative to the Institute's meetings, but only have one vote. Membership fees are £40 per year.

Trade membership

If you are in the flag trade, a publisher or other commercial organization then this is the category for you. You can find out more about trade membership further down this page. Membership fees are £60 per year.

Life membership

Life membership is only available to private individuals. You will receive all the benefits of individual membership every year for a one-off fee of £400.

Publications

Flagmaster

The Flag Institute publishes its full-colour 24-page journal four times a year. It’s full of interesting articles on a wide range of flag-related subjects, and news of new flags and developments.

Read more...

Example Flagmaster covers

Flagmaster

eFlags

The electronic newsletter is sent four times a year, to members who have supplied an email address.

Members have the opportunity to contribute to these publications, by writing articles, supplying news stories or photographs of flags.

Meetings

The Flag Institute holds meetings twice a year. The Annual General Meeting is in November with another meeting in Spring. Each meeting has talks on flags and an opportunity for members to show items from their own collections. Each meeting is followed by a dinner, informal in the Spring and the President’s Dinner in Autumn. All members are welcome to attend. Members from other countries attending a meeting have full speaking and voting rights, but membership of the Council of the Flag Institute is only open to UK members for practical reasons.

Read more...

Flag Institute library

Members may make use of the archives and library of the Flag Institute and consult the books and documentation. Located in Hull, it is the largest archive and library of flag-related documentation, books and magazines in the UK, probably the largest in Europe. Appointments are necessary.

Read more...

Advice

Members are entitled to advice and information from the Flag Institute on any matter concerning flags, including design, usage and protocol.

The Flag Institute provides advice and assistance to many organizations, both private and governmental, including the MoD, DCMS, DCLG, FCO, BBC, ITN, Statesman's Yearbook, Jane’s Fighting Ships, Reader’s Digest and many publishers, museums and libraries.

The Naval Club

The Flag Institute is affiliated with the Naval Club, in Mayfair, London. Members may make use of the club’s facilities and those of all the clubs and yacht clubs that are linked with it worldwide. The club offers accommodation in central London at special rates.

The Naval Club is our administrative headquarters, but the Institute’s library and flag collection is located at the William Crampton Library in Hull. There are no public facilities at the Club.

Trade members

In relation to flag matters, the Flag Institute is the largest documentation and resource centre in Europe. Its material is constantly being updated and expanded. By joining the Flag Institute you will have access to this store of information. Trade members are entitled to:

  • An information service by phone and email
  • Up-to-date changes to flags
  • Free use of high quality flag images
  • Links from the Institute’s website
  • The opportunity to present at meetings
  • Use of the Naval Club’s facilities
  • Advice on planning matters
  • Introductions to overseas flag makers
  • The opportunity to attend meetings and events

Trade members also have a unique opportunity to help shape the development of flag production and usage, and to meet other representatives of the flag trade to examine current and on-going issues.

Flag Protocol

'Flying Flags in the United Kingdom', the Institute's guide to British flag protocol, is available online.

Flying Flags Cover (large)

Read more