The Royal Academy of Arts

About The Royal Academy of Arts

Art institution in London, England, United Kingdom

The Royal Academy of Arts is an independent art institution housed in Burlington House, the grand courtyard mansion on Piccadilly in the heart of London. Founded by George III in 1768 with the painter Joshua Reynolds as its first president, it has ever since been led by eminent artists and architects elected as Academicians, is privately funded without government grant, and exists to promote the fine arts through exhibitions, education and debate; its art school has trained artists for more than 250 years. Rather than a conventional permanent display, the Academy stages a succession of major loan exhibitions that rank among London's biggest art events, from Monet to contemporary art and Aztec treasures. Its most famous fixture is the Summer Exhibition, held every year without a break since 1769, showing around 1,200 new works by established and emerging artists chosen by the Academy, most of them for sale. Because every member donates a work on election, the Academy has built a substantial collection over the centuries, parts of which are shown free in the building and in the Burlington Gardens wing behind. The building itself is a Piccadilly landmark, and a visit combines easily with the historic Burlington Arcade next door, Fortnum & Mason and Piccadilly Circus.

Where:

London, United Kingdom