Royal Academy of Arts

The Royal Academy is a place for art. It is in a big house in London.

Artists started this group in 1768. They wanted to teach art to students.

They even have a school for art.

Every year, they have a Summer Exhibition. Anyone can try to show their art there. This show is very old and very big.

People go there to see many things. They see paintings and stone statues. They also see films and photos.

It is a special place to learn. It helps people love art even more.

The Royal Academy of Arts is a special place for art.

It sits in a large building called Burlington House. This building is in London, England. The Academy was founded in 1768.

King George III helped start it. He wanted to build a school for art students.

Artists lead the Academy. They help people enjoy and learn about fine arts. One famous way they do this is through the Summer Exhibition. This show started in 1769. It is the oldest and largest open show in the world.

Anyone can send in their work to be seen. People show many things, like paintings, films, and photos.

The Academy also has an art school. It is the oldest art school in Britain. The school offers a three-year program for students. This program is free for those who are accepted.

This helps students learn to be professional artists. The Academy is a charity. It does not get money from the government. Instead, it relies on its own work and kind supporters.

The Royal Academy of Arts is a very special place for people who love fine arts.

It is located in a grand building called Burlington House in London, England. The Academy is not run by the government or the King. Instead, it is an independent charity led by famous artists and architects. Its main goal is to help people create, enjoy, and learn about art. They do this through big shows, classes, and lively debates.

By sharing art, they help everyone appreciate its beauty and meaning.

One of the most exciting things the Academy does is host the Summer Exhibition. This show is the oldest and largest open exhibition in the whole world. It is "open," which means any artist can send in their work to be considered. Artists show all kinds of things, like paintings, sculptures, films, and even photography.

Members of the Academy, called Royal Academicians, choose which pieces to hang on the walls. This tradition has happened every single year without stopping since it began in 1769.

Learning how to make art is also a big part of the Academy's history.

The Royal Academy Schools are the oldest art school in Britain. They were started at the same time as the Academy in 1768. The school helps students become professional artists through a three-year program. A wonderful rule of this school is that the program is free for students who are accepted. In the early days, teachers like Joshua Reynolds taught students to draw from life. They also taught them to study the work of great masters from the past.

The Academy has lived in many different places over the years. It first started in small rooms in Pall Mall. Later, it moved to Somerset House, which used to be a royal palace. In 1837, it moved to Trafalgar Square for a short time. Finally, in 1868, it moved to its current home at Burlington House.

Recently, the Academy finished a huge £56 million project to fix up the buildings. This work added new galleries and a bridge to connect different parts of the site.

Today, the Royal Academy connects art to many other parts of life. They host special events called Pin Drop Studio, where famous authors read stories. They even have a writing prize for short stories.

The Academy also uses technology to share art with the world. They have turned 10,000 works from their collection into digital files that anyone can see online. Whether through a painting or a digital image, the Academy keeps the spirit of art alive for everyone.

The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is a unique institution dedicated to the fine arts.

It is located in Burlington House in Piccadilly, London, England. Unlike many large museums, the RA is an independent, privately funded charity. It does not receive funding from the State or the Crown. Instead, it is led by eminent artists and architects. The Academy's mission is to promote the creation, enjoyment, and appreciation of fine arts. It achieves this through public exhibitions, formal education, and intellectual debate.

The Academy operates through a specific structure of membership and leadership. It is led by a President and various officers. In 2019, Rebecca Salter became the first female President of the institution. The membership consists of Royal Academicians, who are professional artists and architects. The foundation of the Academy was established by a charter known as an 'Instrument.' This document was signed by King George III on 10 December 1768. The original instrument named 34 founder members and allowed for a total of 40 members. These founders included famous figures like the painter Joshua Reynolds and the architect William Chambers.

A major part of the Academy's work is the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. This is the oldest and largest open submission exhibition in the world. It began on 25 April 1769 with 136 works of art. Since then, it has been staged annually without interruption. The exhibition is 'open,' meaning any artist can submit their work for consideration. Royal Academicians select and hang the works in the gallery. The pieces include diverse media such as painting, sculpture, film, architecture, photography, and printmaking.

The Royal Academy Schools represent the educational pillar of the institution. They are the oldest art school in Britain, founded in 1768. The schools provide professional training through a three-year post-graduate programme. A key principle of these schools is that the programme is free of charge for every student offered a place. Historically, the curriculum was shaped by the precepts of Sir Joshua Reynolds. He emphasized the importance of copying Old Masters and drawing from life models. The schools even established professorial chairs in subjects like Chemistry, Anatomy, Ancient History, and Ancient Literature.

The history of the Academy is marked by many different locations. It began in cramped quarters in Pall Mall. In 1771, it moved to Old Somerset House, which was once a royal palace. By 1780, it occupied purpose-built apartments in New Somerset House. In 1837, the Academy moved to the east wing of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. However, these premises were eventually too small for both institutions. In 1868, exactly 100 years after its founding, the Academy moved to Burlington House.

This remains its home today.

To maintain its facilities, the Academy undergoes significant periods of development. Between 2008 and 2018, a major refurbishment project was completed. This £56 million development was designed by David Chipperfield Architects. The project included the restoration of 150 sash windows and the installation of two large roof lights. It also created new galleries, a lecture theatre, and a bridge between Burlington House and Burlington Gardens. As part of this modernization, 10,000 works from the collection were digitised for online access. Another major redevelopment of the Collections Gallery at 6 Burlington Gardens began in 2026. This project aims to double the floor space to increase public access.

The Academy also connects art to literature and history through special programmes.

The Pin Drop Studio hosts live events where authors and actors read stories in response to exhibitions. The RA and Pin Drop Short Story Award is an annual writing prize. Furthermore, the Academy engages with complex historical topics. For example, the 2024 exhibition 'Entangled Pasts, 1768-now' explored connections between the Academy and Britain's colonial histories. Through these diverse activities, the Royal Academy continues to serve as a central hub for artistic and cultural discourse.