Royal Hibernian Academy facts for kids
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 5 August 1823 |
|---|---|
| Location | 15 Ely Place, Dublin, Ireland |
| Type | Art gallery, Art studios |
| Public transit access | Stephen's Green Luas stop (Green Line) |
The Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts (RHA) is a special place in Ireland for artists. It was started in Dublin in 1823. The RHA helps artists and shows their work. Even after Ireland became independent in 1922, the RHA kept the word "Royal" in its name. Many other old Irish groups did the same.
Contents
How the RHA Began
.jpg)
The RHA started because 30 Irish artists asked the government for permission. On August 5, 1823, the Royal Hibernian Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture was officially created. It also included a National School of Art.
The first president was William Ashford, a landscape painter. In 1824, Francis Johnston, an architect, became president. He even paid for the RHA's first home, Academy House, on Lower Abbey Street.
The first art shows happened in May 1825. They were held every year after that. To make art more popular, some artworks were given as prizes. People who supported the RHA could win pieces by famous artists like J. M. W. Turner. By the late 1800s, the RHA was the top group in Ireland for promoting visual arts.
Sadly, Academy House was destroyed by fire in 1916. This happened during the Easter Rising. Over 500 artworks were lost, including pieces by Jack Butler Yeats.
RHA's Modern Approach
In the mid-1900s, some people thought the RHA was old-fashioned. They felt it stopped new art styles from growing in Ireland. Because of this, the Irish Exhibition of Living Art was started in 1943. It aimed to show more modern art.
However, things have changed a lot since the 1990s. The RHA now wants to help people understand all kinds of art. This includes both traditional and new art forms. Today, the RHA gallery is one of the best places in Ireland for contemporary art. It shows many different modern art styles.
A New Home for Art
In the 1970s, the RHA built a new home in Ely Place in Dublin. This new building replaced an older house. A property developer agreed to build a modern gallery for the RHA.
However, the developer passed away suddenly, and the building was left unfinished. It stayed that way for several years before it was finally completed. The building was closed for updates between 2007 and 2009.
The current RHA building has six galleries. This is where the big annual art show takes place. The Academy also holds many other art shows. They often feature major collections of work by Irish artists. The RHA has a large collection of Irish art, but it is not usually on display.
Learning Art at the RHA
In 2009, the RHA reopened its art school, called the RHA Drawing School. It has a big drawing studio in Ely Place. There are also six studios that artists can use. The school also manages other studios, like the Tony O'Malley residency in Kilkenny.
The school offers courses in painting and drawing. These courses are taught by members of the Academy and other artists. Students can also attend workshops with international teachers. They can also join self-guided life-drawing sessions.
The RHA gets its money from different sources. These include the Arts Council of Ireland, money from its annual art show, and donations from supporters.
Exhibitions to See
The RHA has held an annual art show since 1826. Artists can submit their work to be shown. It is the biggest and longest-running art show in Ireland.
FUTURES is another important series of shows. It features new and upcoming artists from Ireland. This series started in 2001. It has had three main parts, each with annual shows. There have also been special "anthology" shows that bring together all the artists from a series.
Becoming a Member
The RHA has different types of members. Full members can use "RHA" after their name. There are also "ARHA" for associate members and "HRHA" for Honorary Council members.
See also
In Spanish: Royal Hibernian Academy para niños
- Irish art
- Current RHA members and membership procedures [1]
