Annual art show at The Royal Academy, London

An integral part of not only the London but the world art calendar, annual Summer Exhibition courtesy The Royal Academy is one among the largest open contemporary art shows across the globe that draws together a wide array of new and recent works by several established, emerging and unknown artists.

The academy, founded by George III in 1768, enjoys a unique position as an independent and privately funded art institution led by eminent architects and artists. It does not receive any public funding so all those supporting the exhibit by submitting works, checking it and through artwork purchases contribute to the cause of supporting artists of promise.

One of the basic founding principles of the monumental Royal Academy of Arts was primarily to 'mount an annual exhibit open to artists of merit' in order to finance the young artists’ training in the RA Schools. The event has been held almost every year sans interruption since 1769. It continues to play a major part in raising funds for financing the deserving students.

Royal Academician Christopher Le Brun is this year’s coordinator. Michael Craig-Martin RA, curating one of the really large galleries, also plays a significant role. Piers Gough RA and Alan Stanton RA have curated the Architecture Room.

The largest space in the academy features a novel approach to a rather traditional ‘salon hang’. This is comprised of a mix of open submission works as well as select works by Royal Academicians. A rich visual experience is offered through the presentation of work hung from dado rail to picture rail. They include Danish painter Per Kirkeby’s large canvas and an apocalyptic painting, entitled ‘Deep Impact’ by Keith Tyson.

The exhibition attracts a good response from entrants each year with more than 12,000 entries recorded this year from over 25 countries. Most works on display are for sale, offering an opportunity to purchase original pieces of art by quality and up-and-coming artists.