These Terms and Conditions (“the Terms”) apply to your entry of one or more artworks (“the Work(s)”) in the Royal Academy of Arts’ (“the RA”) Summer Exhibition (“the Exhibition”) and the facilitation of the sale of your Work(s) by the RA either during or after the Exhibition.
The Exhibition will take place at the RA.
“You” and “Your” shall refer to the person submitting the Work(s) and potentially selling the submitted Work(s). Please read these Terms carefully before completing Your entry form (“the Entry Form”) as, together with the Instructions for Entering Work(s) to the Summer Exhibition (“the Instructions”), they will form the contract between You and the RA.
1.1 The RA is a charity registered in England and Wales number 1125383 and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with number 6298947, whose registered office is at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD. The RA’s VAT number is GB 100 1935 71.
For information requests, please contact us at: summerexhibition@royalacademy.org.uk.
2.1 The price per entry is displayed on the RA’s website (“the Website”) and is inclusive of VAT. When you register to enter the Exhibition and pay Your entry fee, you will be supplied with Your online Entry Form. Please select and pay for the correct Entry Form (for submitting either one or two Works) as You may only submit one Entry Form for the Exhibition.
2.2 Your Entry Form is non-transferable so that only You will be able to use it. In the event of misuse of Your Entry Form, where it transpires that You have used more than one Entry Form, the RA reserves the right to ban You from entering the forthcoming Exhibition and any Exhibition in the future.
2.3 Your Entry Form must be completed and submitted by You strictly in accordance with the Instructions, which can be found below. Failure to do this will mean that any Work submitted under the Entry Form is inadmissible and will be withdrawn from the selection process for the Exhibition.
2.4 You will not receive a refund if You register for an Entry Form for one or two Works and later withdraw Your application. The entry fee is non-refundable.
2.5 The RA does not retain Your card details after processing Your payment.
You may submit Work(s) to the Exhibition if:
3.1 You are the Artist or creator of the Work(s), or You are expressly authorised as a gallery, agent or other representative to submit the Work(s) on behalf of the Artist or are expressly authorised by the estate of a deceased Artist to do so. If you are so authorised, You agree to be bound by these Terms and assume the liabilities set out in these Terms.
4.1 You must ensure that each submitted Work conforms to all applicable health and safety standards and regulations. You agree to indemnify the RA, its staff and visitors to the Exhibition for any loss, damage, cost or expense which results or arises from a breach of such standards and regulations.
4.2 By submitting Your Work(s), You confirm that each Work is in a condition to withstand normal rigours of handling and display at the RA.
4.3 By submitting Your Work(s), You confirm that each Work is free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances or restrictions, that the use of the Work under these Terms will not infringe upon or violate the rights of any person or entity, and that to the best of Your knowledge and belief the Work has not been exported from any country and shall not be imported into the United Kingdom in violation of any applicable laws or regulations.
4.4 If You do not own all of the rights, title and interest in and to a Work, You must expressly inform the RA in writing of all relevant details concerning all other third parties’ rights to that Work. You shall indemnify the RA against all losses, liabilities, costs and expenses in respect of claims made by third parties alleging partial or total ownership of the Work or any rights in the Work, including intellectual property rights.
4.5 If You are submitting Work(s) from abroad then taxes may be levied at the port of entry into the UK. You will not list the RA as the importer of the Work(s). You agree to indemnify the RA for any charges or taxes incurred by it as a result of (1) the importing of the Work(s) for the purposes of display in the Exhibition and (2) for any back taxes due from You to HMRC on or arising from any sale of the Work(s).
5.1 The RA may accept or decline any Work submitted for the Exhibition entirely at its own discretion. The RA’s decision is final.
5.2 The RA reserves the right to deny admission or withdraw a Work from the Exhibition if for any reason the Work, or any circumstances surrounding the display of the Work, appear to the RA to expose it to potential or actual damage to its reputation, risk of legal proceedings or enforcement including, without limitation, the alleged breach of third party intellectual property rights.
6.1 The sale of any Work exhibited in the Exhibition by You (including all prints or cast sculptures from an edition allocated for sale) will be subject to a payment of 30% commission (“the Commission”) (plus any applicable VAT) to the RA. The Commission will be charged on the VAT exclusive sales price of such Work, including UK postage and packing costs for sending unframed prints from editions to the purchaser (“the Purchaser”), for which You are responsible.
6.2 The Commission will also be payable to the RA where the sale of any Work takes place within twelve months after the close of the Exhibition, or where that sale is made as a direct or indirect result of its display in the Exhibition. All substantive enquiries and negotiations between a potential purchaser and You regarding the sale of any Work, along with any sale once concluded, shall be immediately notified to the RA.
6.3 Commission payments received by the RA will be used to support the RA’s general charitable activities (which may include the work of the RA Schools). The Commission will be taken by the RA in the form of a deposit (“the Deposit”) equal to the Commission (inclusive of any VAT) from the intending Purchaser at the time the Purchaser offers to buy the Work.
6.4 For the purposes of any sale of Your Work(s), the RA’s role is strictly limited to introducing the Purchaser to You. The RA does not have any authority to negotiate or conclude the sale of Your Work(s). All sales of Work shall be subject to the terms of sale You put in place between You and the Purchaser.
6.5 When a Purchaser pays their Deposit to the RA in respect of any Work for sale, this Deposit constitutes an offer by the Purchaser, to you, to purchase the Work in question (“the Offer to Purchase”). If for any reason You do not accept the Offer to Purchase, please inform the RA immediately and the Deposit will be refunded to the Purchaser by the RA. You confirm that you have read the terms of the Offer to Purchase, which the Purchaser agrees to (appended), and will comply with all requirements stated explicitly or implied by those terms, including (but not limited to) fulfilling all orders promptly and professionally, and communicating effectively with the Purchaser, the RA and others. If You fail to do so and the RA is required to deal with any Purchaser as a result, You agree that the RA may recover directly from You for any liability or additional costs it may incur as a result.
6.6 If the sale is not concluded for any reason as a result of a default under the contract between You and the Purchaser, You shall have no claim to the Deposit. The RA reserves the right to retain the Deposit as its Commission.
6.7 Any disputes relating to a sale of Your Work(s) shall be resolved directly between You and the respective Purchaser without the RA’s involvement.
6.8 The RA will provide the Purchaser’s details to You for the purposes of completing and fulfilling the purchase (“Purpose”). This will include the following personal data (“Personal Data”) belonging to the Purchaser: Name; Telephone number; email address; postal address. You hereby agree to comply with all relevant data protection legislation in respect of such personal data. Specifically, You will:
• Process the Personal Data only for the Purpose;
• Comply with all reasonable instructions given to You by the RA relating to the processing of the Personal Data;
• Keep the Personal Data confidential and only provide access to it in order to achieve the Purpose;
• Have appropriate measures in place to protect the security of the Personal Data;
• Not engage any third party to process the Personal Data without: (i) written permission from the RA; and (ii) ensuring such third party commits to these same obligations;
• Notify us immediately if you: (i) become aware that the Personal Data has become subject to breach or unauthorised access; or (ii) receive any formal request from the Purchaser in relation to the Personal Data specifically (such as to access it, or have it deleted).
Please note that the RA will not have obtained any consent for You to send marketing or other material, whether electronic or otherwise to the Purchaser and you should obtain such consent if You wish to contact the Purchaser in the future.
6.9 In accordance with anti-money laundering legislation, the RA (and You) may be required to make identification and screening checks on Purchasers. All sales are subject to satisfactory completion of these checks, which must be carried out before any Work is released to Purchasers. The RA shall have no liability for any delay caused to, or cancellation of, purchases where these checks cannot be completed satisfactorily.
7.1 If You are registered for UK VAT You will be required to provide the Purchaser with a VAT invoice for the full sale price of the Work(s). All arrangements regarding the sale of the Work(s) shall be made in writing.
7.2 If You do not have a UK residence You will have to register for UK VAT and supply a UK VAT number to us if You wish to sell Your Work(s) in the Exhibition. Failure to do this will entitle the RA to withdraw Your Work(s) from sale in the Exhibition. (Please see the VAT Information – International Artists document, listed under Helpful Links on the Home page).
7.3 Owing to new European Union legislation, You will not be able to make any Work with a total value of £150 or less available for sale through the RA to EU buyers.
7.4 If you live outside the UK or intend to supply unframed prints or sculpture casts from outside the UK, You will not be able to make any Work with a net value of £135 or less available for sale in the Summer Exhibition.
8.1 Your Work(s) may be made available for purchase by means of distance selling (i.e. online through the RA’s website or by telephone) and if so, You agree to comply with the distance selling rules contained in the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (“the Regulations”).
8.2 Unless You tell us that You do not want Your Work(s) to be sold by telephone or online, the intending Purchaser will be able to pay the Deposit through these channels.
8.3 In order to comply with the Regulations, the following procedure will take place:
8.3.1 Shortly after the Deposit has been processed by the RA, the RA will notify You that an Offer to Purchase Your Work has been made. If You accept the Offer to Purchase You agree to include the following information (“Key Information”) in Your terms of sale with the Purchaser. The Key Information shall be given to the Purchaser on paper or on some other ‘durable medium’ such as an email. The Key Information must include:
• a description of the Work;
• the total price of the Work;
• details of any right to cancel the purchase as described below;
• the cost of delivery and details of who pays for the cost of returning the Work in the event of a cancellation as described below; and
• Your details, including geographical address and phone number.
8.4 You agree that every Purchaser is entitled to cancel the purchase of Your Work(s) purchased by a distance sale from the moment You agree to accept the Offer to Purchase until the expiry of 14 days from the day the Purchaser receives the Work(s). If the Purchaser buys multiple Works from You, the 14 days runs from when the Purchaser receives the last of the Works. This 14 day period is the time that is given to the Purchaser to decide whether to cancel and then the Purchaser has a further 14 days to send the Work(s) back to You. Failure to provide the required information about this right to cancel could result in such rights being extended by a further year.
8.5 In the event of a cancellation, You agree to the Purchaser’s right to a refund which means that You must refund the Purchaser within 14 days of either Your receiving the Work back or the Purchaser’s providing evidence of having returned the Work, whichever is sooner. You agree to refund any payment received from the Purchaser in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations. You will notify the RA of a cancellation straight away and the RA will then return the Deposit to the Purchaser.
8.6 If You have informed the Purchaser that You will arrange delivery of a Work to the Purchaser, You will ensure the following:
8.6.1 You agree to be responsible for the condition of the Work until it is received by the Purchaser.
8.6.2 In respect of unframed prints and all other editioned Works, excluding those Works from an edition that are displayed in the Exhibition, You will deliver the Work within 30 days from the date on which You accept the Offer to Purchase and the Key Information is provided unless a longer period has been agreed. In respect of any Work exhibited in the Exhibition which is sold by distance sale, You will inform the Purchaser on accepting the Offer to Purchase that he/she will not receive the Work or be able to collect the Work until a specified period after the Exhibition has closed.
8.6.3 You acknowledge that if delivery is later than agreed, the Purchaser may have the right to terminate the purchase and receive a full refund.
8.7 You will immediately notify the RA should a refund be made to the Purchaser.
8.8 You hereby indemnify the RA for any claims from third parties resulting from the breach of Your obligations under Clause 8.
9.1 If Your Work is/are not accepted for the Exhibition, You must either collect Your Work(s) in person from the RA or arrange for it/them to be collected. The RA will inform You by email when Your Work(s) must be collected.
9.2 If any Work has not been collected by the final collection date, the RA will charge a fee of £15 per week or part week, per Work. The charge will be payable by the person collecting the Work.
9.3 Notwithstanding the provision in Clause 9.2, if any Work has not been collected within three months of the final collection date for non-exhibited Works the Work will be deemed to have been abandoned by You such that title to the work will pass to the RA and the RA shall be entitled, without notifying You, to sell or otherwise dispose of such Work and to use the proceeds of any such sale to cover any outstanding charges under Clause 9.2 or for the RA’s general charitable objects.
10.1 No Work that has been accepted and displayed at the Exhibition may be removed prior to the close of the Exhibition.
10.2 If Your Work(s) has/have been accepted for the Exhibition, before the close of the Exhibition You will be informed of the specified period in which Your Work(s) must be collected. You will receive a separate removal order (“Removal Order”) for each exhibited Work. This Removal Order must be completed and signed by You. If the Work has been sold, You will send the Removal Order to the Purchaser as soon as full payment has been received. In the event that You sign and release the Removal Order to the Purchaser before You have received full payment, this will be strictly at Your own risk. The RA may at its discretion issue an updated Removal Order, including changes to the specified period for collection of Works, where circumstances make this necessary.
10.3 If any Work has not been removed by the final collection date specified on the Removal Order (including any adjusted date as notified by the RA), the RA will charge a fee of £15 per week or part week per Work. The charge shall be payable by the person presenting the Removal Order.
10.4 No Work will be released by the RA without the presentation of a correctly completed Removal Order.
10.5 Notwithstanding the provision in Clause 10.3, if any unsold Work has not been removed within three months of the final collection date for exhibited Works (including any adjusted date as notified by the RA), the Work will be deemed to have been abandoned by You such that title to the work will pass to the RA and the RA shall be entitled at its discretion, and without notifying You, to sell, keep, or otherwise dispose of such Work and to use the proceeds of the sale to cover any outstanding charges under Clause 10.3 or for the RA’s general charitable objects.
10.6 Notwithstanding Clause 10.3, if any Work that has been sold has not been removed by the Purchaser within three months of the final collection date for exhibited Works (including any adjusted date as notified by the RA), You will arrange for the Work to be collected from the RA and You will be responsible for any transportation costs.
10.7 Notwithstanding the above, if any Work that has been sold has not been collected within six months of the final collection date, the Work will be deemed to have been abandoned by the Purchaser and/or by You (as the case may be) such that title to the work will pass to the RA. The RA shall be entitled, without notifying You, to sell or otherwise dispose of such Work and to use the proceeds of any such sale to cover any outstanding charges under Clause 10.3 or for the RA’s general charitable objects.
10.8 If as part of a distance sale, you have agreed to deliver the Work to the Purchaser, please see Clause 8.6 above.
11.1 While the RA endeavours to ensure that the Website (“the Website”) is available 24 hours a day, the RA will not be liable if for any reason the Website is unavailable in part or whole at any time or for any period including, without limitation, during the last 24 hours before the submission deadline. Access to the Website may be suspended temporarily and without notice in the case of system failure, maintenance, repair or for reasons beyond the RA’s control.
12.1 By submitting a Work, You confirm that either You or the Artist hold all intellectual property rights in the Work and that You or the Artist have obtained any third party consents required for the use of third party owned material contained in the Work.
12.2 By submitting a Work, You consent to the RA and/or R.A. Enterprises Limited (company no. 1666333) (“RAE”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the RA and/or any other third party permitted by the RA or RAE for the following purposes:
12.2.1 taking an image of, filming or making available the whole or any part of the Work, including but not limited to the right to include the Work in any broadcast (and rebroadcast) by any broadcaster (including but not limited to the BBC) and any licensees of any broadcaster;
12.2.2 filming, broadcasting and/or reproducing the whole or any part of the Work for archival, educational, publicity and marketing (including without limitation on the Website, Exhibition posters, leaflets, private view cards, postcards and all forms of social media), press, signage, gallery guide and for catalogue purposes;
12.2.3 rephotographing the Work, if required, for the Summer Exhibition Explorer, the online list of works and sales platform, and uses mentioned in clause 12.2.2;
12.2.4 and reproducing the whole or any part of the image(s) which You have supplied to the RA for the purposes set out above.
12.3 The consent set out in Clause 12.2 is irrevocable and given without payment of any fee or royalty and includes consent to make available the Work in all media (including without limitation all forms of electronic and social media) for perpetuity and on a world-wide basis.
12.4 By submitting a Work, You agree that members of the public will be allowed to take photographs of the Work (alone or in combination with other works) for personal and non-commercial use during the Exhibition period. The RA will install notices in the Exhibition indicating that photography is permitted provided it is for personal and non-commercial use. The RA will not be responsible for any use by visitors of images of the Work, including where such images are exploited commercially in violation of the permission given, or in any other way, and in such circumstances it is up to the Artist and/or You to defend Your intellectual property rights in the Work and any other applicable rights.
13.1 Except as provided in this Clause 13, the RA shall have no liability to You or the Artist whatsoever for any loss of business or profits, loss or damage to reputation, or for any indirect or consequential loss or damage of whatever nature, howsoever caused, whether occurring in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise arising out of or in connection with the Exhibition.
13.2 The Summer Exhibition handles an unusually large number of artworks, and has a large number of visitors. The RA will take appropriate measures to guard against any damage. However, the RA will only be liable for damage to a Work to the extent that such damage arises while the Work is in the care, custody and control of the RA, at the RA. If You suspect any such damage, You must notify the RA before the Work is collected, otherwise the RA will not be liable for any such damage.
13.3 Specifically, the RA shall not be liable for any deterioration or wear and tear to the Work, or any loss, damage or destruction (including damage to frames) which arises:
13.3.1 through the ordinary course of handling the Work whether included in the Exhibition or not;
13.3.2 as a result of the way the Work is made (including Your choice of materials) or assembled (including in accordance with any instructions You have given to the RA for assembly/display);
13.3.3 if the Work contravenes the Instructions for Entering Work to the Summer Exhibition.
13.4 Nothing in these Terms shall have the effect of limiting or excluding either party’s liability to the other for death or personal injury caused by its own negligence or caused by its fraud (including fraudulent misrepresentation).
13.5 Subject to Clause 13.4, the entire liability of the RA arising out of or in connection with the Exhibition, whether in contract, tort (including negligence or breach of statutory duty) or otherwise, shall not exceed:
13.5.1 the value of the Work as stated on the Entry Form; or
13.5.2 the value of the Work determined in accordance with the valuation process set out in Clause 13.6, and in either case, if the Work is for sale, less the amount representing the RA’s commission and any posting and packaging costs.
13.6 If the RA disputes the value of the Work or the amount of the damage to the Work, the dispute as to the value or the amount shall be referred, independently of any issue as to liability, to an expert independent valuer to be chosen by the RA provided that the valuer’s determination shall not exceed the RA’s maximum liability in accordance with Clause 13.5. The valuer shall act as an expert and not an arbitrator. The valuer’s decision shall be final and shall be conclusive evidence of the value of the Work or the amount of the damage to the Work. The valuer’s costs will be borne equally between the RA and You. You shall not be entitled to begin or maintain any action in respect of any damage until the valuer has made a decision in accordance with this clause as to the value of the damage and such action shall then be only for the amount determined by the valuer, again subject to the RA’s maximum liability.
14.1 No third party shall have any rights under or in relation to the Terms.
15.1 For the purposes of these Terms, a Force Majeure Event means an event beyond the reasonable control of the RA including but not limited to strikes, failure of a utility service or transport network, act of God, terrorism, war, riot, civil commotion, malicious damage, compliance with any law or governmental order, rule, regulation or direction, pandemic or epidemic or any significant resurgence thereof, accident, breakdown of plant or machinery, fire, flood, storm or default of suppliers or subcontractors. The RA shall not be liable to You under these Terms as a result of a Force Majeure Event.
16.1 If a court or any other competent authority finds that any provision of the Terms (or part of any provision) is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that provision or part-provision shall, to the extent required, be deemed deleted, and the validity and enforceability of the other Terms shall not be affected.
17.1 These Terms contain the whole agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter of this agreement at the date hereof to the exclusion of any terms implied by law which may be excluded by contract. Each of the parties agrees that it has not entered into these Terms in reliance on any representation, warranty, undertaking or other statement, expressed or implied, orally or in writing, given or made by or on behalf of the other party except in so far as contained in these Terms. This clause shall not apply to any representation, warranty, undertaking or statement made fraudulently or which was induced by fraud.
18.1 These Terms and the contract of which they form part shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law. Any disputes arising in relation to these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
These Instructions for Entering Work(s) to the Summer Exhibition (“the Instructions”) apply to your entry of one or more artworks (“the Work(s)”) in the Royal Academy of Arts’ (“the RA”) Summer Exhibition (“the Exhibition”) and the facilitation of the sale of your Work(s) by the RA either during or after the Exhibition.
“You” and “Your” shall refer to the person submitting the Work(s) and potentially selling the submitted Work(s). Please read these Instructions carefully before completing Your entry form (“the Entry Form”) as, together with the Terms and Conditions of Entry to the Summer Exhibition and Sale of Your Work(s) (“Terms”), they will form the contract between You and the RA.
1.1 You must first register to enter the Summer Exhibition: to do this, please select and pay for an Entry Form online through the RA’s website.
1.2 You should complete the Entry Form and submit Your Work(s) online using digital photographs for the first round of the selection process.
1.3 Entries are limited to 16,500 places. Once this number is reached, You will no longer be able to purchase an Entry Form.
1.4 Once You have purchased an Entry Form, You must submit the details and digital photographs of Your Work(s) online by the deadline given in the exhibition schedule. Entries cannot be submitted after the deadline.
1.5 The Summer Exhibition Committee will then shortlist up to 4,000 entries to be delivered to the Academy for the final round of selection.
1.6 Shortlisted works from the first round of selection will be announced on the date given in the exhibition schedule.
1.7 If any of Your Work(s) is/are shortlisted, You will receive an entry pack containing labels and barcodes to affix to it/them.
1.8 The final list of exhibitors for the Summer Exhibition will be announced on the date given in the exhibition schedule.
Works should only be delivered to the RA if they have been shortlisted in the first round of selection and after You have received specific instruction to do so from the RA. Notification will be sent by email requesting that Your Work(s) be delivered on specified days. The date on which You deliver Your shortlisted Work(s) will depend on the type of work You have submitted. Delivery dates are given in the exhibition schedule.
Any Work delivered outside of the times given in the exhibition schedule will not be accepted.
All Works must be unpacked before they are handed over to the RA’s art handlers. Crates cannot be stored by the RA. We cannot accept Works that are wrapped and delivered by a commercial courier, such as DHL/UPS. However, we can accept Works delivered by third parties such as art transport agents as long as they are prepared to unwrap the Works before the Works are handed to us.
Transportation will not be organised by the RA and expenses associated with transportation will not be borne by the RA.
For sculpture and architecture models You should not deliver display plinths for Your Work(s). Plinths will be provided by the RA for exhibited Works. If Your sculpture or architecture model has specific requirements for display, please contact us if it is shortlisted for the final round of judging.
All submitted digital images of Works, and shortlisted Works, will be placed before the Summer Exhibition Committee for judging.
The RA reserves the right to replace any member of the Summer Exhibition Committee at its discretion.
4.1 All two-dimensional Works submitted must be framed. The use of simple, neutral coloured frames is strongly encouraged. Metal, glass and Perspex clip frames are not acceptable.
4.2 In the event that You choose to submit an unframed Work, it will be strictly at Your own risk.
4.3 Frames must have no protrusions or hanging fixtures on the reverse. The RA will affix attachments to the frame should Your Work(s) be chosen for the Exhibition.
4.4 Any Work that comprises more than one part must be clearly identified as one work. Please see the FAQs for how to label the parts of Your Work(s).
4.5 We suggest that You add soft padding to all corners of Your Work(s) for transportation.
5.1 A Work of architecture may consist of several drawings or models of one project. They must be mounted on a single backing, contained within one frame or included within one model case.
5.2 You are responsible for ensuring that Your model is able to withstand delivery, handling and display in the Exhibition.
5.3 Architectural models must be encased. However, You agree that the RA may remove the model from its case at its discretion and You will ensure that your model will also be able to withstand such removal.
5.4 Drawings, photographs and models by makers other than the architect should be credited as follows: drawn or photographed by ‘name of draughtsman or photographer’ or model by ‘name of modelmaker’.
5.5 Works of architecture should be submitted in the name of the individual architect or practice.
6.1 The following types of Work are inadmissible:
• A Work over the specified size limit of 244 x 350cm (excluding sculpture and architecture models, where any one part should not exceed 200cm on the longest side and the total weight must be no more than 3,000kg when packed);
• A Work that has already been exhibited in a major institution in London (excluding prints);
• A Work that is not recently made, and which therefore does not support the purpose of the Summer Exhibition in representing what is happening in the contemporary art world;
• Printed reproductions of original works (please refer to the FAQs);
• A Work that contains noxious or toxic substances, has flammability below 50°C, contains human tissue, or incorporates dangerous electrical appliances. Note: all electrical appliances must be accompanied by current PAT test certification.
• A Work that comprises textile elements of animal origin including, but not limited to, wool, silk, animal hair, leather and feathers, which has not been treated for pests. All Work comprising textile elements of animal origin must be treated for pests prior to its delivery to the RA. You must inform the Summer Exhibition Office of the treatment carried out in advance of delivery of the Work to the RA.
• Editions of sculptures cast in materials that are different to the materials of the exhibited Work or editions of sculptures which are not made from casts.
• Any interactive Work that requires handling and any audio visual Work that requires headsets may be inadmissible in the event of a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). You must inform the Summer Exhibition Office of any such works at least one month before the digital submission deadline given in the exhibition schedule.
7.1 Please refer to the FAQs for information on how to price Your Work(s). You will be required to state the price You wish to charge for Your Work(s) on Your Entry Form. Prices will be printed in the List of Works and online. No changes to prices stated on the Entry From may be made after the Entry Form has been submitted.
7.2 All prices stated on the Entry Form must include: the RA’s Commission plus VAT; VAT on Your share where applicable (i.e. if You are registered for UK VAT); and UK postage and packing for sending unframed prints from the edition to UK Purchasers.
8.1 Deposits for any Work for sale will be taken in person at the RA sales desk or, if You elect to make Your work(s) available for sale online, over the telephone, and via the RA website. Please note that all telephone and online sales are subject to special regulations for ‘distance sales’ under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (“the Regulations”). Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for Entry to the Summer Exhibition.
8.2 When selling a print from an edition, it shall be made available to the Purchaser promptly after the completion of the sale and in accordance with the Regulations as set out in the Terms and Conditions of Entry into the Summer Exhibition if the sale is made by telephone or online.
8.3 When selling an exhibited Work by telephone or online, You should clearly inform the Purchaser when they will receive the Work after the close of the Exhibition and in accordance with the Regulations as set out in the Terms and Conditions of Entry into the Summer Exhibition.
8.4 In all other cases, You shall contact the Purchaser promptly to complete the sale of the Work and keep the Purchaser fully informed of the progress of the sale.
8.5 In accordance with anti-money laundering legislation introduced in 2020, the RA is required to make identification and screening checks on buyers for high-value orders. This may apply where Your Work(s) is/are included in a high-value sale of multiple works. The necessary checks will be processed by the Royal Academy prior to Your receiving confirmation of Your sale. As the seller of the Work(s), You may, however, also be independently responsible for carrying out any required customer due diligence. You can rely on the checks performed by the Royal Academy via a specific pro forma which is available for this purpose. All sales are subject to satisfactory completion of these checks, which must be carried out before any Work is released to Purchasers.
9.1 Successful entrants to the Summer Exhibition will receive an invitation to the Exhibition Varnishing Day Reception on the date given in the exhibition schedule.
10.1 Works not hung in the final Exhibition must be collected from the RA during the period given in the exhibition schedule and will only be handed out on presentation of Your email notification from the RA.
10.2 At the close of the Summer Exhibition, Works that are exhibited must be collected during the period given in the exhibition schedule and will only be given out on presentation of the signed Removal Order (see the FAQs).
10.3 Please refer to the Terms & Conditions of Entry, clauses 9 and 10, for further details regarding collection of Works and consequences of non-collection.
In the event of an unforeseeable circumstance, please note that some dates may be subject to change.
Digital Submission Opens Tuesday 10th January
Digital Submission Closes Tuesday 14th February
Audio-visual work must be transferred in a .mov file format via WeTransfer to summerexhibition@royalacademy.org.uk by Tuesday 14th February
Digital Judging results are announced Wednesday 22nd March
Two-dimensional works Tuesday 2nd & Wednesday 3rd May, 8am to 4pm
Architecture Thursday 4th May, 8am to 4pm
Sculpture Friday 5th May, 8am-4pm
Results announced Wednesday 24th May
Non-Members’ Varnishing Day Friday 2nd June, times to be announced
Non-exhibited works Monday 5th June – Friday 23rd June, 8am-4pm and for one Saturday only on 24th June, 9am-4pm.
Exhibited works Wednesday 30th August – Tuesday 19th September, 8am-4pm and for one Saturday only on 16th September, 9am-4pm
Summer Exhibition Opens Tuesday 13th June – Sunday 20th August
(Please refer to point 6.5 in the above Terms and Conditions of Entry to the Summer Exhibition and Sale of Your Work(s).)
When you pay a deposit for one or more artworks (“the Work(s)”) from an artist (“Artist”) in the Royal Academy of Arts’ Summer Exhibition, this constitutes an offer to the Artist to purchase (“Offer to Purchase”) the Work(s). Such Offer to Purchase is governed by the terms and conditions set out below.
All Works
This Offer to Purchase is registered with the Artist who should, on receipt of the notification containing the Offer to Purchase, inform you that the offer is accepted. In the unlikely event that the Artist does not accept the offer, the RA will refund the deposit. If you decide not to proceed with the purchase, your deposit may not be refunded. All arrangements for payment of the balance, collection, or delivery of Works are made between the Artist and you.
If you reside outside the UK, you must bear the transportation and importation costs and complete a customs declaration. A VAT registered Artist is required to provide you with a VAT invoice.
The RA will provide the Artist with your name, telephone number, email address and postal address. This is for the purposes of completing and fulfilling the purchase. By making an Offer to Purchase, you consent to the RA sharing your personal data in this way. The Artist is required to handle your personal information securely, confidentially and for the purpose of this transaction only, unless you agree to the information being used in another way.
The RA will not have any liability to any person in respect of any incorrect information provided to it by you or the Artist.
Exhibited Works
If your Offer to Purchase is accepted, it will be only on the condition that the Work(s) remains at the RA until after the exhibition closes.
The Work(s) will be available for collection during the period given in the exhibition schedule and will only be given out by the RA on presentation of the official Removal Order duly signed by the Artist or the Artist’s representative.
The RA receives a commission on each sale from the Artist which is used to support the charitable work of the RA.
Money Laundering Regulations
In 2020, the government introduced new legislation that affects all art sellers, galleries and buyers. Before the Royal Academy passes high-value orders onto artists, we are obliged to make identification and screening checks on purchasers, similar to those carried out by banks when you open an account. Any offer to purchase is subject to satisfactory completion of these checks.