How Royal Academicians are Elected
Potential new Academicians are nominated by the existing Royal Academicians. Nominees must be artists under the age of 75 and professionally active in the United Kingdom. They have to fall into one of the Royal Academy’s categories of art (painting, printmaking, sculpture and architecture).
Salix by Gillian Ayres RA Salix by Gillian Ayres RA
Oil on canvas 610 X 1840 mm Salix by Gillian Ayres RA. Diploma Work in the Royal Academy Permanent Collection.
When proposed by an RA, the nominee’s name is written in the Nominations Book. This nomination must then be supported by a further six RAs. The proposer and at least three of the supporters must be of the same category of art as the nominee. Once there is sufficient support for the nominee, they become a Candidate. All the RAs meet at a General Assembly, usually in May each year, to fill any vacancies by electing new Members, by ballot, from the list of candidates. Voting must be done in person. Vacancies for Academicianship are created either when an RA reaches the age of 75 and becomes a Senior Academician or on the death of an RA.
The newly elected Royal Academician donates a work, known as a Diploma Work, to the Royal Academy’s Collection. If a nominee has not attracted sufficient support to become a Candidate after five years, or if they have reached the age of 75, their name is removed from the Nominations Book.
