The Royal Academy of Arts

About the RA (Royal Academy of Arts)

Founded in 1768 by a group of 40 artists and architects, the RA is like a national museum or gallery in that they collect, curate and present artworks and artistic treasures, but they also have a broader role which is to promote the appreciation and understanding of art and its practice.

The RA, based in London Picadilly, is home to world-class exhibitions of art from around the world, including an annual Summer Exhibition that is the world’s largest open-submission exhibition, as well as the RA Schools, Britain’s longest established school of contemporary fine art.

To celebrate their 250th anniversary, the RA unveiled a newly expanded campus with more space than ever before to make, debate and exhibit art.

Just as our founders intended, the RA is run by the Royal Academicians, practising artists and architects from many different perspectives, each elected by their peers in recognition of their exceptional work.

Access to the Royal Academy is via Piccadilly or Burlington Gardens

Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD
6 Burlington Gardens, London, W1S 3ET