What ever happened to the guild?

In past history, art - in particular artist, have been centred around
artist guilds. Guilds would be small pockets of artists who had
particular interests in common. Things such as location in the case
of Vermeer and the Delft Art Guild, or be it the style of painting
you preferred or painted, in the case of Surrealism. These, not only
added to the development of the guild, but of the artists belonging
to it aswell. Having never belonged to one, I can only but imagine
what they would have been like. Artists of different ages, all with a
common goal to aim for, offering support, critique and suggestions
for each other. It would have been extremely faluable for the up and
coming artist.
So what happened to them? Is it merely the individualistic nature of
the world today which has spawned this decline of the guild. Even in
New Zelaand's art history you have a miniature guild of Canterbury,
with the likes of Rita Angus, Toss Woollastone, Colin McCahon and
Doris Lusk establishing New Zealand's own artistic style - all out of
the same generic centre. We as artists have become so self obsessed
that we no longer care for the opinions of others, even others who
have valid opinion such as ones own peers. Is it because we are self
sufficient, that the information is there for all to gather, and
individual thought and inspiration is encouraged with expressionism
that we see the demise of the guild?
But why would all this mean that the guild could not exist? As an
student artist there were times when outside opinion was not
required; even becoming a hinderance with someone who you didn't even
know offering their two cents worth, even if it were positive. Yet
most of the time I found that I needed the opinions of those who I
myself respected as artists, and who's ideas and contribuions were
rational and informative - to add more ideas to my work other than
just my own. These opinions of the ones I respected and built
friendship were even more important to me than that of my tutor.
Now as an independant artist, the one thing I miss is the
companionship and the option of asking for advice or opinions of your
work from my peers. While the communication age makes this easier
than it was in the days of Vermeer, there is still necessity in being
able to view and take in other people's work in the flesh to be able
to offer accurate opinions. It keeps you in touch with what is going
around, what works, how to do things differently and many other
artistic ideas which are important in developing your work - else it
becomes stale. While I don't like painting in others company, even to
the point where I don't want people seeing a work while I'm working
on it or even before I finish it, I do see the need in other people
to offer opinions on it while it is being produced - but only to a
minimum. Solitude is the sapce I need to be able to create. Without
it, I find myself hesitant, lacking confidence in creating, afraid
that I will produce something which might not get the praise or
interest I would like all my paintings to have.
Bring back the guilds. Even if it is 3 or 4 people. Even if there are
many separate guilds within your city. Even if all those guilds are
focussed on the same thing. One thing that causes groups of people to
loose interest is when there is someone in the group who you don't
get along with. By keeping guilds small, there is chance that not
liking someone is minimized. The guilds should be of people who you'd
get along with regardless of their artist intentions or abilities.
Bring back the guilds.