The history of the club began in 1971, when an association of amateur artists of the Alma-Ata region appeared. The organization, which united more than 400 artists, later turned out to be one of the largest creative teams in the USSR. "Samotsvet" became a participant in all All-Union, republican, international exhibitions, festivals, and many of its members became laureates of these exhibitions. In the summer of 1974, the Samotsvet delegation participated in a large festival of arts of the peoples of the USSR, where it was awarded the gold diploma of the USSR Exhibition of Economic Achievements.

The main task of the association was to promote creativity among the general public and further develop amateur art. The Union of Artists of Kazakhstan provided great assistance in this, sending there wonderful artists such as V. Antoshchenko-Olenev, Uke Azhiev, Sakhi Romanov, A. Dyachkin, I. Kvachko, B. Chuvylko, N. Polonskaya, M. Meller and others. For many years, in his workshop, the famous artist, member of the Union of Artists of the USSR I.Ya. Stadnichuk gratuitously conducted the watercolor studio "Friday". Member of the Union of Artists, watercolorist Yuri Samuilovich Shneiderman took a great part in the formation and development of the club, for many years he was its chairman and curator.

The club now includes artists from different cities and regions. Each of them tries to open the viewer's vision of the surrounding world. The organization is supported by museums of the city, providing their halls for exhibitions. Among them are the Central Exhibition Hall of the Kasteev State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Vernissage Gallery and the Almaty State Archive.