The RA Schools program is the longest standing arts program in the UK.
Photo: Simon Fieldhouse

On Tuesday March 15th, the Royal Academy of Arts will hold their 10th annual Dinner and Auction, of which all proceeds support the students and school, and the list of artists donating artworks is impressive, to say the least.

Donors include Eileen Cooper, Tracey Emin, Eddie Peake, Grayson Perry, Ai Weiwei, Prem Sahib, Rose Wylie, and Cornelia Parker among many others. Special wooden plates for the dinner are being hand-decorated by Mali Morris, Bob & Roberta Smith, and other artists and designers, such as Ron Arad.

Cooper, who’s also Keeper of the Royal Academy of Arts, comments on the notable names participating in the event in a statement, expressing gratitude for “the generosity of all the artists who have donated work, an illustrious list which reflects the overwhelming support for the RA Schools within the art world.”

The 247th summer exhibition, which included about 1000 works.
Photo: Royal Academy Schools

Founded in 1768, the RA Schools are part of the Royal Academy of Arts and are still running independently as the longest established art school in the UK. They are also the only school in Europe to offer a three-year postgraduate program, and at no tuition fee.

Faculty members include Michael Landy as Professor of Drawing, Chantal Joffe as Professor of Painting, Piers Gough as Professor of Architecture, Cathie Pilkington as Professor of Sculpture and Humphrey Ocean as Professor of Perspective.

The collection began with donations from the artists themselves.
Photo: Royal Academy Schools

The RA is currently undergoing a redevelopment led by Sir David Chipperfield to be completed for the 250th anniversary of the academy in 2018. The renovation will make many of the historic works within the school’s collection available for public view. The collection, which began with the foundation of the Royal Academy and focuses on British art since the 18th century, contains more than 900 paintings, 350 sculpture, 25,000 prints and 5,000 photographs.

Fundraising events are essential to keeping the RA Schools program independent and free for those accepted. Online preview and bidding opens on February 25, and the preview for the public auction is held from February 25-29.