Royal West of England Academy facts for kids
Front view, April 2006
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| Established | 1844 |
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| Location | Queen’s Road, Clifton, Bristol, England |
The Royal West of England Academy (RWA) is Bristol's oldest art gallery. You can find it in Clifton, Bristol, close to Queens Road and Whiteladies Road. The RWA is in a special building called a Grade II* listed building. It has five galleries that show amazing art from the past and present, all made by British artists.
Artists who are chosen as Royal West of England Academicians can use the letters RWA after their names.
Contents
History of the RWA
The Royal West of England Academy was the very first art gallery in Bristol. It is also one of the oldest art galleries and schools in the UK. A remarkable woman named Ellen Sharples started the idea for the RWA. She got money from important people like Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Prince Albert. The building itself was paid for with £2,000 from her will in 1849.
At first, the RWA was mainly a group of artists from Bristol. They were known as the Bristol Society of Artists. Many of them painted landscapes and were quite famous, 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 supporter. By 1914, a big new part was added to the front of the building. This included the dome and beautiful artworks called lunettes by Walter Crane.
During World War II, other groups used the academy building. These included the Bristol Aeroplane Company and the U.S. Army. After the war, it took a long time for the building to become an art gallery again. It finally reopened in 1950, thanks to the help of the prime minister, Clement Attlee. In the 1950s, the RWA art schools became the West of England College of Art. This college later joined the University of the West of England.
Today, the president of the RWA is an artist named Fiona Robinson. The director is Alison Bevan.
Art Collections at the RWA
The RWA has a permanent collection of paintings. These include works by artists from famous 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
The RWA building is a special Grade II* 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 was designed by Charles Underwood, and the front was designed by JR Hirst. Later, in 1912, SS Reay and H Dare Bryan made some changes.
The first floor has three parts. The outer parts have tall columns called Corinthian pilasters. These stand next to large shell-shaped spaces with statues of famous artists like Flaxman and Reynolds. A big carving of three female figures, known as the three graces, sits on top of the building. Inside, you can see colorful marble and a copy of the famous Parthenon Frieze.
RWA Membership
The RWA is a Royal Academy of Art. This means it is run by professional artists. There are about 150 Academicians who are chosen by other artists.
Types of Membership
| Post-nominal | Membership Type | Maximum No. Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| RWA | Royal West of England Academician | 150 |
| PRWA | President of the Royal West of England Academy | 1 |
| VPRWA | Vice-President of the Royal West of England Academy | 1 |
