Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
{{Short description|Annual open art exhibition in England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
File:Royal academy summer exhibition varnishing day 2015 room scene.jpg
File:Frith A Private View.jpg by William Powell Frith, depicting Oscar Wilde and other Victorian worthies at a private view of the 1881 exhibition]]
The Summer Exhibition is an open art exhibition held annually by the Royal Academy in Burlington House, Piccadilly in central London, England, during the months of June, July, and August. The exhibition includes paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, architectural designs and models, and is the largest and most popular open exhibition in the United Kingdom.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/8552485/The-Royal-Academy-of-Arts-Summer-Exhibition-2011.html| title=The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition 2011 | work=Culture, The Telegraph | access-date=4 July 2011 | location=UK | date=2 June 2011}} It is also "the longest continuously staged exhibition of contemporary art in the world".{{cite journal |title=The Royal Academy remains a great asset that must never be squandered |journal=Apollo |date=15 May 2018 |url=https://www.apollo-magazine.com/royal-academy-anniversary-celebrations |access-date=8 June 2019}}
When the Royal Academy was founded in 1768 one of its key objectives was to establish an annual exhibition, open to all artists of merit, which could be visited by the public. The first Summer Exhibition took place in 1769; it has been held every year since without exception.
History
File:The Council of the Royal Academy Selecting Pictures for the Exhibition, 1875.png by Charles West Cope]]
In 1768, a group of artists visited King George III and sought his permission to establish a society for Arts and Design. They proposed the idea of an annual exhibition and a school design. King George III approved of the idea and the first exhibition, in 1769, included 136 works. The name Summer Exhibition dates from 1870.
Selection process
Today, around 1,000 works are selected each year from as many as 32,000 entries representing some 16,000 artists.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} Any artist (living, known or unknown) may submit up to two works at a fee of £40 per piece for selection by The Summer Exhibition Selection and Hanging Committee.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} Due to the significant increase in the volume of entries over recent years, the number of entries per artist was reduced to 2 (from 3) and the fee was increased per piece. The committee is formed from the Council of Academicians (the governing body of the RA) and is traditionally chaired by the President of the Royal Academy. In addition to those works selected by the committee, all 80 Academicians are entitled to have six of their own pieces in the exhibition.
For the 2006 exhibition, the academy received a statue and a plinth from David Hensel. By mistake, the two parts were judged independently, with the result that the statue was rejected and the plinth put on display.{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1521330/Artist-laughs-his-head-off-at-the-RA.html | title=Artist laughs his head off at the RA | author=Sally Pook | date=15 June 2006 | publisher=The Telegraph}} Some artists apply repeatedly before being selected: in 2024 Alison Aye's accepted piece Shifting to the Moon was her 31st submission.{{cite news |last1=Fisher |first1=Alice |title=‘I don’t know if I like it’: artist finally shown at Royal Academy after 31 attempts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/article/2024/jun/08/i-dont-know-if-i-like-it-artist-finally-shown-at-royal-academy-after-31-attempts |access-date=10 June 2024 |work=The Observer |date=8 June 2024}}
Exhibition
File:Royal academy summer exhibition varnishing day 2015 arrival at St James's edited.jpg
The RA Summer Exhibition usually opens to the public in early June, preceded by a series of private viewings. The main event is called "Varnishing Day", the day that, according to popular legend, artists would come to add a final coat of varnish to their paintings (compare: vernissage). Traditionally, artists walk in procession from Burlington House to St James's Church, Piccadilly, where a service is held. At the opening reception the shortlists for various prizes are announced.
Some years have particular themes. The 2005 exhibition theme was "Printmaking and the multiple". In 2006, the theme was "From Life." In 2008, the theme was "Man Made". The theme for 2010 was "Raw".{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/summer-exhibition/ |title=Summer Exhibition 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808114045/http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/summer-exhibition |archive-date=8 August 2008 |website=Royal Academy of Arts |date=2010}} In 2011, the selection committee agreed to have no specific theme.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}}
Almost all exhibited works are for sale; the Academy receives 30% of the purchase price. In 2003, this amounted to a sum of some £2,000,000 for the institution, which receives no financial support from the state or crown.{{citation needed|date=July 2011}}
=Coordinators=
- 2005 Stephen Farthing and Christopher Orr{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2005/jun/05/art1 | date = 5 June 2005 | access-date = 14 March 2018 | first = Caroline | last = Boucher | newspaper = The Observer | location = London | title = No longer a hanging offence }}
- 2010 Stephen Chambers{{Cite web |last=Davey |first=Richard |title=2010 Rawness and Artists' Books |url=https://chronicle250.com/2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617115837/https://chronicle250.com/2010 |archive-date=17 June 2024 |access-date=17 June 2024 |website=Royal Academy Chronicle}}
- 2011 Christopher Le Brun{{Cite web |title=2011 Christopher Le Brun on Coordinating the Show |url=https://chronicle250.com/2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528191019/https://chronicle250.com/2011 |archive-date=28 May 2023 |access-date=17 June 2024 |website=Royal Academy Chronicle}}
- 2012 Tess Jaray{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/may/30/royal-academy-summer-exhibition-2012 | date = 30 May 2012 | access-date = 14 March 2018 | first = Maev | last = Kennedy | newspaper = The Guardian | location = London | title = Royal Academy summer exhibition rolls into town }}
- 2013 Eva Jiřičná and Norman Ackroyd{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/jun/05/royal-academy-summer-exhibition | date = 5 June 2013 | access-date = 14 March 2018 | first = Marc | last = Brown | newspaper = The Guardian | location = London | title = Nonagenarians make mark at 2013 Royal Academy summer exhibition}}
- 2014 Hughie O'Donoghue{{Cite web |title=Summer Exhibition 2014 {{!}} Exhibition {{!}} Royal Academy of Arts |url=https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617115025/https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2014 |archive-date=17 June 2024 |access-date=17 June 2024 |website=Royal Academy of Arts}}
- 2015 Michael Craig-Martin{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jun/05/royal-academy-summer-exhibition-michael-craig-martin| date = 5 June 2015 | access-date = 14 March 2018 | first = Hannah | last = Ellis-Petersen | newspaper = The Guardian | location = London | title = Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition goes on a candy cavalcade}}
- 2016 Yinka Shonibare{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2016/may/18/yinka-shonibare-mural-royal-academy | date = 18 May 2016 | access-date = 14 March 2018 | first = Jonathan | last = Jones | author-link = Jonathan Jones (journalist) | newspaper = The Guardian | location = London | title = Radical or retrogade? Yinka Shonibare can't redeem the Royal Academy}}
- 2017 Eileen Cooper{{cite news | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/what-to-see/summer-exhibition-royal-academy-arts-review-dependably-reassuring/ | date = 2 June 2017 | access-date = 14 March 2018 | first = Alastair | last = Sooke | newspaper = The Daily Telegraph | location = London | title = Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, review: The dependably reassuring last word in déjà-vu}}
- 2018 Grayson Perry{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42351627 | date = 14 December 2017 | access-date = 14 March 2018 | publisher = BBC News | title = Grayson Perry to chair Summer Exhibition art show}}{{cite news | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/grayson-perry-claire-turner-prize-grayson-perry-royal-academy-making-meaning-donald-trump-toby-young-a8162271.html | date = 16 January 2018 | access-date = 14 March 2018 | first = Alison | last = Cole | newspaper = The Independent | location = London | title = How Grayson Perry is taking on America: 'People want to be provoked, but not catastrophically'}}
- 2019 Jock McFadyen{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Jonathan |title=Summer Exhibition review – a moronic monument to British mediocrity |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/jun/06/summer-exhibition-review-royal-academy |access-date=8 June 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=6 June 2019}}
- 2020 Jane and Louise Wilson{{Cite web |title=Summer Exhibition 2020 {{!}} Exhibition {{!}} Royal Academy of Arts |url=https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617114701/https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2020 |archive-date=17 June 2024 |access-date=17 June 2024 |website=Royal Academy of Arts}}
- 2021 Yinka Shonibare{{Cite web |title=Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2021 |url=https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2021 |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=Royal Academy}}
- 2022 Alison Wilding{{Cite web |title=Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2022 |url=https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2022 |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=Royal Academy}}
- 2023 David Remfry{{Cite web |title=Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2023 |url=https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2023 |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=Royal Academy}}
- 2024 Ann Christopher{{cite web |title=Summer Exhibition 2024 |url=https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2024 |website=www.royalacademy.org.uk |publisher=Royal Academy of Arts |access-date=10 June 2024 |language=en}}
Awards
Over £70,000 prize money, including the £25,000 Charles Wollaston Award, is awarded each year at the Summer Exhibition. In addition, a £10,000 architectural prize is awarded.R. Waite, [http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/cash-prizes-return-for-royal-academy-summer-exhibition/8678840.article "Cash prizes return for Royal Academy Summer Exhibition"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120193057/https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/cash-prizes-return-for-royal-academy-summer-exhibition/8678840.article |date=20 January 2019 }}, architectsjournal.co.uk, 22 February 2015.
=Winners of Charles Wollaston Award=
Reception
The exhibition has received both admiration and criticism. Jonathan Jones described it in 2019 as the "bloated corpse of a tradition ... [with] a tired, inward looking, end-of-the-road quality".
An exhibition about the history of the Summer Exhibition, The Great Spectacle, was held in 2018.{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Jonathan |title=Summer Exhibition/The Great Spectacle review – a Grayson revolution |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/jun/05/summer-exhibition-the-great-spectacle-review-grayson-perry-royal-academy |access-date=8 June 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=5 June 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category|Royal Academy summer exhibition}}
Further reading
- {{cite book |editor=Staley, A. |url=http://cdm16028.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15324coll10/id/202802 |title=The Royal Academy (1837–1901) revisited: Victorian paintings from the Forbes magazine Collection |location=New York |publisher=The Metropolitan Museum of Art |year=1975}} (see index)
- The Great Spectacle: 250 Years of the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (2018), by Mark Hallett and Sarah Victoria Turner
- Posters: A Century of Summer Exhibitions at the Royal Academy (2015), by Mark Pomeroy
External links
- [http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/summerexhibition/ Summer Exhibition website]
- [https://chronicle250.com The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition: A Chronicle, 1769–2018]
- [https://www.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk/about/ra250 About the Researching the Summer Exhibition project] (Paul Mellon Centre)
- [http://royal-academy-production-asset.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/37fe720e-21f1-4135-814a-490e967b7ec1/Researching%20the%20Summer%20Exhibition.pdf RESEARCHING THE SUMMER EXHIBITION] (The Royal Academy)
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cSxb9rTYG2JCktjJ86r88y/ra-summer-exhibition-the-promotional-power-of-the-poster RA Summer Exhibition: The promotional power of the poster] (BBC)
- {{cite web |title=The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, a Chronicle 1769–2018. Index |url=https://chronicle250.com/index/exhibitors/a |website=Chronicle 250 |publisher=Royal Academy 250 |access-date=13 September 2019 |date=2018}} (Search facility by artist)
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Category:Recurring events established in 1769