Your Support

The Royal Academy of Arts is a truly unique organisation - one that remains true to it's origins as a place where art is made, exhibited and debated. Our mission is simple: to be a clear, strong voice for art and artists.

Maintaining our independence
The Royal Academy is a self-supporting charity, which receives no revenue funding from the government. We rely on money from Friends like you to be able to continue our work and remain a centre of visual arts in Britain and the world.

Conserving the nation's artistic heritage
The RA Collection focuses on British art and artists, predominantly from the 18th century to the present day. Highlights include major works by Reynolds, Gainsborough, Turner, Constable, Millais, Leighton, Waterhouse, Sargent, Spencer and Hockney.

Nurturing the next generation of artists
The RA Schools have trained some of Britain's most famous artists and are regarded throughout the world as a centre of artistic excellence. They give students the platform to develop their ideas, and the foundation to become a professional artist.

Helping historians and scholars
The RA Library is the oldest institutional Fine Arts library in the United Kingdom, with a significant collection of books, prints, drawings and photographs relating to British art and the history of the Royal Academy.

Friends Discretionary Trust

Through the Friends Discretionary Trust, the Friends Board of Directors allocate income from Friends membership to support projects within the Royal Academy of Arts and ensure their future.

For 2012 – 2013, the selected projects are:

• RA Adult Learning Programme
• RA Schools
• Artists' Laboratory