Royal Academy of Arts facts for kids
 |
|
.jpg)
Front view, October 2010
|
|
| Established | 1768 |
|---|---|
| Location | Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, United Kingdom |
| Visitors | 1,285,595 (as of 2016) |
| Public transit access |  Green Park; Piccadilly Circus |
The Royal Academy of Arts (often called the RA) is a famous art place in London, England. It is located at Burlington House in Piccadilly. It started in 1768. The RA is special because it is independent. It gets its money from private sources, not the government. Famous artists and architects lead it. Its main goal is to help people create, enjoy, and understand visual arts. It does this through art shows, teaching, and discussions.
Contents
How the Royal Academy Started
The idea for the Royal Academy began in 1755. Some members of the Royal Society of Arts wanted to create an art academy. One key person was the sculptor Henry Cheere. Before this, artists like Cheere and William Hogarth were part of smaller art groups. These groups included the St Martin's Lane Academy. Cheere's first try did not work. But the rules for the Royal Academy, set up later, were very similar to his 1755 plan.
The St Martin's Lane Academy was successful. This led to other groups forming, like the Society of Artists of Great Britain. Sir William Chambers, a well-known architect, helped a lot. He worked for the British government's building department. He used his connections with King George III to get royal support. The King also gave money to start the Academy.
King George III officially started the Royal Academy of Arts on December 10, 1768. Its goal was to "establish a school or academy of design for students." It also aimed to hold an art show every year. The painter Joshua Reynolds became its first president. Francis Milner Newton was chosen as the first secretary. He held this job for 20 years.
The King signed the founding document in 1768. It named 34 artists as founding members. It also allowed for a total of 40 members. Famous artists like Thomas Gainsborough and Angelica Kauffman were among them. The King added William Hoare and Johann Zoffany in 1769.
The Royal Academy first used small rooms in Pall Mall. In 1771, it got temporary space for its library and schools. This was in Old Somerset House, a royal palace. In 1780, it moved into new, specially built rooms. These were in New Somerset House, designed by William Chambers.
Later, in 1837, the Academy moved to Trafalgar Square. It shared a building with the National Gallery. But the space was too small for both. So, in 1868, 100 years after it started, the Academy moved again. It found its current home at Burlington House in Piccadilly.
The first Royal Academy art show for all artists opened on April 25, 1769. It showed 136 artworks. This show, now called the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, has happened every year since then. It has never stopped. In 1870, the Academy also started showing old master artworks.
The Royal Academy also held Britain's first public art lectures. Joshua Reynolds, the first president, led the first program.
In 2018, the Academy celebrated its 250th birthday. It showed off a big renovation project. This project started in 2008. It got support from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2012. The "New RA" opened to the public on May 19, 2018. The project cost £56 million. It added new galleries, a lecture hall, and a space for students. It also built a bridge connecting two parts of the building. As part of this, 10,000 artworks from the RA's collection were put online.
What the Royal Academy Does
How the Royal Academy is Funded
The Royal Academy does not get money from the government or the King or Queen. It works as a charity. The UK government owns its home in Burlington House. The Academy rents it for a very low price for 999 years.
Art Collection and Shows
One main way the RA earns money is by hosting temporary art shows. These shows often feature art borrowed from other places. They are like the shows at the National Gallery or the Tate Gallery. In 2004, the best parts of the Academy's own art collection were put on display. They are in the newly fixed rooms of Burlington House. These rooms are now called the John Madejski Fine Rooms.
Special Exhibitions
The Academy has hosted many exciting art shows. In 1997, it had the "Sensation" show. This show displayed art by Young British Artists. It included a controversial portrait of a convicted murderer. The painting was damaged while it was on display.
In 2004, the Academy had some financial problems. There were also reports of disagreements among staff. These issues caused some profitable shows to be cancelled. In 2006, the Academy accidentally displayed only the support for a sculpture. They then decided to keep it on display.
From February to April 2024, the RA is showing "Entangled Pasts, 1768-now." This show looks at how the Royal Academy's art connects to Britain's colonial past.
The Summer Exhibition
The Academy holds the Summer Exhibition every year. This is an open art exhibition. This means anyone can send in their artwork to be shown. It started in 1769. It is the oldest and largest open art show in the world. It is a big part of London's social calendar. Members of the Academy, called Royal Academicians, choose and arrange the artworks. The show includes paintings, sculptures, films, and photos.
Tracey Emin showed her work in the 2005 exhibition. In 2007, she became a Royal Academician. She said it meant the Royal Academy was becoming more open.
Friends of the Royal Academy
In 1977, Sir Hugh Casson started the Friends of the Royal Academy. This charity helps raise money for the institution.
Storytelling Events
Pin Drop Studio hosts live events at the RA. Famous authors, actors, and thinkers read short stories. These stories are chosen to go with the main art shows. Simon Oldfield, who started Pin Drop Studio, hosts these evenings. Many well-known people have been guests.
The RA and Pin Drop Short Story Award is a writing competition. Anyone can enter, like the Summer Exhibition. The winning story is read aloud by a special guest at an award ceremony. Past guests include Stephen Fry and Juliet Stevenson.
Leaders of the Royal Academy
On December 10, 2019, Rebecca Salter became the first female President of the Royal Academy. She took over from Sir Christopher Le Brun.
In 2007, Sir Charles Saumarez Smith became the Secretary and Chief Executive. This was a new job. He left in 2018. Axel Rüger, from the Van Gogh Museum, took over in 2019.
Royal Academy Schools
The Royal Academy Schools are the oldest art school in Britain. They have been part of the Royal Academy since it started in 1768. A key rule is that their three-year art program is free. Students do not pay tuition if they are accepted.
The Royal Academy Schools were the first to offer professional art training in Britain. The school's teaching style was based on a French art academy. Sir Joshua Reynolds set many of the rules. He gave 15 talks to students between 1769 and 1790. Reynolds said it was important to copy old master artworks. He also stressed drawing from ancient statues and live models. He believed this training would help artists create great works. The school also had professors for Chemistry, Anatomy, and History.
In 1769, the first year, 77 students joined the Schools. By 1830, over 1,500 students had enrolled. This was about 25 new students each year. Famous students included J. M. W. Turner, John Constable, and William Blake. In 1860, Laura Herford was the first woman to enroll as a student.
In 2011, Tracey Emin became Professor of Drawing. Fiona Rae became Professor of Painting. They were the first women professors in the Academy's history.
Library, Archives, and Collections
The first president, Sir Joshua Reynolds, gave his self-portrait to the Royal Academy. This started the Academy's art collection. Other founding members, like Gainsborough, also gave gifts. Now, every new member must donate an artwork. This artwork is called a "Diploma Work." It shows their artistic style. This tradition continues today.
Because of these gifts and purchases, the Academy has a large collection. It includes about a thousand paintings and a thousand sculptures. These show how British art has grown over time. The Academy also has many drawings and sketchbooks. These are by artists who worked in Britain from the mid-1700s onwards.
The photo collection has pictures of Academicians, landscapes, and buildings. It includes early photos from the 1850s.
Paintings on Walls and Ceilings
The building has many paintings on its walls and ceilings. Some are by Benjamin West and Angelica Kauffman. They were moved from the old building at Somerset House. In the middle is West's round painting, The Graces Unveiling Nature. It is surrounded by paintings of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. At each end are two round paintings by Kauffman.
Michelangelo's Taddei Tondo
The most valuable item in the Academy's collection is Michelangelo's Taddei Tondo. Sir George Beaumont left it to the Academy. The Tondo is usually on display in the Collection Gallery. It was carved in Florence between 1504 and 1506. It is the only marble sculpture by Michelangelo in the United Kingdom. It shows the Virgin Mary and child with the young St John the Baptist.
War Memorials
In the entrance area, there are two war memorials. One remembers students from the Royal Academy Schools who died in World War I. The second remembers the 2,003 men from the Artists Rifles who died in that war. There is also a plaque for those who died in World War II.
Becoming a Member
.jpg)
The Royal Academy can have up to 80 working artists as members. They are called Royal Academicians (RA). Other members of the Academy vote to choose them. These Royal Academicians run the Royal Academy. When it started in 1768, it could only have 40 members. At first, engravers were not allowed to be full members. But in 1769, a new category was made for them. In 1853, the number of members grew to 42, and engravers could become full members. In 1922, Annie Swynnerton became the first woman to be an Associate of the Royal Academy.
See also
In Spanish: Real Academia de Arte para niños
- 6 Burlington Gardens
- Cork Street, a street behind the Royal Academy with many art galleries
- Royal West of England Academy
