Royal West of England Academy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Royal West of England Academy

Front view, April 2006
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Established	1844; 181 years ago (1844)
Location	Queen’s Road, Clifton, Bristol, England

The Royal West of England Academy (RWA) is Bristol's oldest art gallery. It is located in Clifton, Bristol, England. This amazing building is a special Grade II* listed building, which means it's very important. The RWA has five galleries where you can see many different art shows. They display both old and new British art.

Artists who are chosen to be part of the Royal West of England Academy can use the letters RWA after their names.

A Look at RWA's History

The Royal West of England Academy was the first art gallery to open in Bristol. It is also one of the oldest art galleries and schools in the United Kingdom. A remarkable woman named Ellen Sharples started the idea for the RWA. She found people to donate money, including famous people like Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Prince Albert. The building itself was paid for by £2,000 from her will in 1849.

At first, the Academy was mostly made up of a group of artists from Bristol. They were known as the Bristol Society of Artists. Many of them were landscape painters, like William James Müller and Francis Danby. In 1844, this group joined with the new Bristol Academy for the Promotion of Fine Arts.

In 1913, King George V gave the Academy its "Royal" title. This meant the King or Queen would always be its special patron. By 1914, a big new part was added to the front of the building. This included the famous dome and special artworks by Walter Crane.

During World War II, the RWA building was used by different groups. These included the Bristol Aeroplane Company and the U.S. Army. After the war, it took some time for the building to become an art gallery again. It was finally returned in 1950, thanks to the help of the Prime Minister, Clement Attlee.

In the 1950s, the RWA's art school became the West of England College of Art. This college later moved and became part of the University of the West of England. Today, the president of the RWA is artist Fiona Robinson. Ren Renwick is the Director.

Artworks You Can See

The RWA has its own collection of paintings. These include works by artists from different art groups, like the Newlyn, St Ives, and Bloomsbury Schools. You can also see paintings by artists such as Elizabeth Blackadder, Mary Fedden, and Carel Weight.

The RWA Building

Sharples Gallery

Marble Gallery Friezes

Walter Crane Lunettes

The RWA building is a very important listed building. It was built in 1857 to be Bristol's first public art gallery and an art school. It opened its doors in 1858. The inside of the building was designed by Charles Underwood. The outside was designed by JR Hirst, and later changed in 1912.

The first floor has three parts. The outer parts have tall columns and large shell-shaped spaces with statues of famous artists. A big carving of three female figures, called the three graces, sits on top of the building. Inside, you can see colorful marble and a copy of the Parthenon Frieze. This frieze is a famous ancient Greek sculpture.

Becoming a Member

The RWA is a Royal Academy of Art. This means it is run by professional artists. There are about 150 members, called Academicians. They are chosen by other artists who are already members.

Types of Membership

Past Presidents

Many important artists and figures have led the RWA over the years. Here are some of the people who have been President: