In 1768 a group of bewigged artists and architects came together to form the Royal Academy of Arts. They wanted to create an independent institution that would be run by artists elected by their peers. These artists came to be known as Royal Academicians and presently include people like Grayson Perry and Tracey Emin as well as David Hockney and Gilbert & George.

This year marks the Academy’s 250th anniversary and also the culmination of a transformation project, known as Reveal, Celebrate and Explore, that has been 10 years in the making. RA250 sees the unveiling of a newly extended creative campus, connecting the school with the exhibition space and converting the RA into a new home for art and ideas.

The RA250 building project has been designed by Sir David Chipperfield RA, an acclaimed architect and an Academician himself. The project links the Academy’s two sites, Burlington Gardens and Burlington House, for the first time to create a unified cultural campus.

The Royal Academy is an independent and privately funded charity that runs as both a free arts school and extensive exhibition space. The New RA will host more major exhibitions in new spaces such as the Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Galleries. They will feature works by living artists and architects starting with Tacita Dean followed by Renzo Piano.

The renovation project, which received initial funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, looks to set the RA apart as not just a coveted gallery space but also an area of great cultural, architectural and artistic creativity. The RA’s team has worked tirelessly to unify the heritage of the Academy with the modern technological landscape by digitising 10,000 works of its collection, which can be discovered online with accompanying commentary and links.

To celebrate the New RA, over 60 galleries nationwide are hosting RA250 themed exhibitions, displays and events.

Visit the Royal Academy’s website to find out more.