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The RWA is England's only regional Royal Academy of Art - one of only five in total including those in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and London. It is a registered charity which has been self-supporting for over 150 years and possesses an outstanding Grade II* listed building, galleries and permanent fine art collection. The RWA has HM Queen Elizabeth II as its head patron and enjoys the support of leading individuals and businesses in Bristol and beyond.
Education is an important element in any gallery experience and the RWA's learning and outreach programmes (supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund) provide quality art education in the gallery environment for all levels of ability, age and understanding, and encourage disadvantaged communities to find empowerment through art. More details about forthcoming events and the types of activities we offer can be found on the Events pages.
The RWA’s aim is to provide an inclusive programme of exhibitions, events and education in order to enhance the knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of art for the widest possible audience.
HISTORY
In the early nineteenth century, a group of artists in Bristol formed an association known as the Bristol Society of Artists. The members were mostly landscape painters and many were well known, such as William Muller, Francis Danby, J.B. Pyne and John Syer.
In 1844, a small group of wealthy and influential individuals founded the Bristol Academy for the Promotion of Fine Arts and the Bristol Society of Artists was incorporated into it. At this time the President and committee were redominantly its patrons, rather than its artists.
A leading figure in this group was Ellen Sharples, who was an artist - one member of a portrait painting family - who had spent considerable time in America before settling back in Bristol. When she died in 1849, she left £2,000 to the Bristol Academy for the Promotion of Fine Arts. This sum, together with an earlier gift from her and money donated by other supporters, enabled the erection of a fine building in 1858 - Bristol's first Art Gallery. Early patrons included Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Prince Albert, the Prince Consort.
In 1875 a considerable collection of Turner watercolours were exhibited attracting over 15,000 visitors.
A school of art was established in 1853, known as the Bristol School of Practical Art; this was supported by artist members and studio space was later provided by the Academy. In 1936, this school became West of England College of Art, which continued until 1969, since when it has changed hands and identities, being run by UWE and now Stroud and South Gloucestershire College (SGS), offering a continued presence for a school of art wthin the Academy premises. Education continues to be important at the RWA.
HISTORY
The RWA School of Architecture was officially opened in 1921 by HRH Prince of Wales, it was later taken over by the University of Bristol in 1963 and closed in 1983.
In 1913 a major extension to the front of the building, including the dome and Walter Crane lunettes, was completed and King George V granted the Academy its Royal title, with the reigning monarch as its Patron.
Two of the early Presidents were Lord Winterstoke and Lady Stancombe-Wills; both were members of the Wills family and both contributed generously with time and money to the Academy. Lord Methuen of Corsham in Wiltshire was President of the RWA from 1940 to 1967 and he encouraged the Academy to ensure that all future Presidents were artists. He had a large retrospective exhibition filling all the galleries in 1970.
In 1941 Augusta Talboys, an artist member, left a sum of money to the Academy so that the interest from it may be used to purchase works of art for the collection, to which she also bequeathed her own paintings. This part of the collection alone now numbers over a thousand works and forms the substantial part of the Permanent Collection of the RWA - a substantial part of which can now be viewed on the BBC Your Paintings website.
Annual Exhibitions have been held at the Academy since its beginnings in the 1850s, with the only gap being during the Second World War, during which the Academy became the temporary home of various organisations, including the Bristol Aeroplane Company and the U.S. Army. Immediately after the war ended, the Council applied for the release of the galleries but was informed that they would be occupied by the Inland Revenue until further notice. It wasn't until 1950 that the building was returned to its original function after the intervention of the then Prime Minister, Mr Atlee. At this time, the building was found to be in a rather poor condition and great efforts were made to restore the the fabric of the building and improve the galleries.
Throughout its history the Royal West of England Academy has shown numerous exhibitions of note, including, in 1930, a French Modern Art Exhibition that showed among others the work of Auguste Rodin, Paul Gauguin, Pierre Bonnard and Raoul Dufy. Other notable shows have included The Architecture and Drawings of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Paintings by Anne Redpath and Pablo Picasso Etchings.
In 1999, the Patron of the RWA, Her Majesty The Queen visited the Academy, toured the galleries and met a number of its members and supporters.
Education is an important element in any gallery experience and the RWA's learning and outreach programmes (supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund) provide quality art education in the gallery environment for all levels of ability, age and understanding, and encourage disadvantaged communities to find empowerment through art. More details about forthcoming events and the types of activities we offer can be found on the Events pages.
The RWA’s aim is to provide an inclusive programme of exhibitions, events and education in order to enhance the knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of art for the widest possible audience.
HISTORY
In the early nineteenth century, a group of artists in Bristol formed an association known as the Bristol Society of Artists. The members were mostly landscape painters and many were well known, such as William Muller, Francis Danby, J.B. Pyne and John Syer.
In 1844, a small group of wealthy and influential individuals founded the Bristol Academy for the Promotion of Fine Arts and the Bristol Society of Artists was incorporated into it. At this time the President and committee were redominantly its patrons, rather than its artists.
A leading figure in this group was Ellen Sharples, who was an artist - one member of a portrait painting family - who had spent considerable time in America before settling back in Bristol. When she died in 1849, she left £2,000 to the Bristol Academy for the Promotion of Fine Arts. This sum, together with an earlier gift from her and money donated by other supporters, enabled the erection of a fine building in 1858 - Bristol's first Art Gallery. Early patrons included Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Prince Albert, the Prince Consort.
In 1875 a considerable collection of Turner watercolours were exhibited attracting over 15,000 visitors.
A school of art was established in 1853, known as the Bristol School of Practical Art; this was supported by artist members and studio space was later provided by the Academy. In 1936, this school became West of England College of Art, which continued until 1969, since when it has changed hands and identities, being run by UWE and now Stroud and South Gloucestershire College (SGS), offering a continued presence for a school of art wthin the Academy premises. Education continues to be important at the RWA.
HISTORY
The RWA School of Architecture was officially opened in 1921 by HRH Prince of Wales, it was later taken over by the University of Bristol in 1963 and closed in 1983.
In 1913 a major extension to the front of the building, including the dome and Walter Crane lunettes, was completed and King George V granted the Academy its Royal title, with the reigning monarch as its Patron.
Two of the early Presidents were Lord Winterstoke and Lady Stancombe-Wills; both were members of the Wills family and both contributed generously with time and money to the Academy. Lord Methuen of Corsham in Wiltshire was President of the RWA from 1940 to 1967 and he encouraged the Academy to ensure that all future Presidents were artists. He had a large retrospective exhibition filling all the galleries in 1970.
In 1941 Augusta Talboys, an artist member, left a sum of money to the Academy so that the interest from it may be used to purchase works of art for the collection, to which she also bequeathed her own paintings. This part of the collection alone now numbers over a thousand works and forms the substantial part of the Permanent Collection of the RWA - a substantial part of which can now be viewed on the BBC Your Paintings website.
Annual Exhibitions have been held at the Academy since its beginnings in the 1850s, with the only gap being during the Second World War, during which the Academy became the temporary home of various organisations, including the Bristol Aeroplane Company and the U.S. Army. Immediately after the war ended, the Council applied for the release of the galleries but was informed that they would be occupied by the Inland Revenue until further notice. It wasn't until 1950 that the building was returned to its original function after the intervention of the then Prime Minister, Mr Atlee. At this time, the building was found to be in a rather poor condition and great efforts were made to restore the the fabric of the building and improve the galleries.
Throughout its history the Royal West of England Academy has shown numerous exhibitions of note, including, in 1930, a French Modern Art Exhibition that showed among others the work of Auguste Rodin, Paul Gauguin, Pierre Bonnard and Raoul Dufy. Other notable shows have included The Architecture and Drawings of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Paintings by Anne Redpath and Pablo Picasso Etchings.
In 1999, the Patron of the RWA, Her Majesty The Queen visited the Academy, toured the galleries and met a number of its members and supporters.