Collectors Club, of approximately 70 like-minded members, was formed in 1996 by the late John Stringer. John was an internationally recognised art curator who came to Western Australia after a distinguished career in Victoria at the National Gallery and New York at the MOMA. He was initially Curator of Contemporary Art at the Art Gallery of WA then curator of the Kerry Stokes Collection.

Collectors Club was created from the Theatre Arts Trust of WA (formerly the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust) whose mandate advocated for performing arts in Western Australia. The Committee of the Club sought to refocus the work of the Theatre Arts Trust WA and following advice from John Stringer, Senior Curator at the Art Gallery of Western Australia and Curator to the Kerry Stokes Collection, on how best to define its future purpose, the Collectors Club was established.

The club has a mandate to support Western Australian Indigenous and non-Indigenous visual artists and arts practice through education, events, exhibitions, acquisitions and create career development opportunities for emerging artists and arts workers. In 1996 the Collectors Club was formed.

It is a not-for-profit organisation whose core objective is to educate and connect its membership with contemporary Western Australian art and artists whilst promoting Western Australian contemporary arts practice. The Collectors Club is managed by a committee of volunteers who govern the organisation in line with its Rules of Association. 

John was born in Melbourne in 1937 and studied Fine Arts at the University of Melbourne as well as getting a Diploma in Art from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

John was an internationally trained and experienced Curator and expert in Contemporary Art. Among his many roles John held key positions including Senior Curator at the National Gallery of Victoria, Director of the Museum of Modern Art New York, Senior Curator at the Art Gallery of Western Australia, and Curator of the Kerry Stokes Collection.

Throughout his life, John sought to develop platforms through which to impart his knowledge with the aim of educating audiences on contemporary art practice and engaging them with Australian artists, particularly Western Australian artists. In 2007, John passed away unexpectedly.

In recognition of his significant contribution, and to continue his legacy, the Collectors Club established the John Stringer Prize.