Royal academy summer exhibition

The Summer Exhibition is held annually by the Royal Academy in Burlington House, Piccadilly. When the Royal Academy was founded in 1768 one of its key objectives was to establish an annual exhibition, open to all artists of merit, which could be visited by the public.

The first Summer Exhibition took place in 1769 and has been held every year seince without exception. Today, around a thousand works are selected each year from as many as 9,000 entries representing some 5,000 artists. The exhibition includes paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, architectural designs and models and is the largest and most popular open exhibition in the United Kingdom.

Exhibits are selected by The Summer Exhibition Selection and Hanging Committee. This is formed from the Council of Academicians (the governing body of the RA) and is traditionally chaired by the President of the Royal Academy, currently the sculptor Professor Phillip King.