New gallery space at The Royal Academy of Arts. Credit: The Royal Academy of Arts. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is set to re-open to the public next month having undergone a £60 million refurbishment in celebration of its 250th birthday.

The project has seen the RA expand its exhibition space with free public displays across the entire campus all year-round, as well as a new campus designed entirely by world renowned architect David Chipperfield.

I spoke to the project’s Masterplan Co-ordinator, Emily Whitaker, to find out a little more…

New gallery space at The RA. Credit: The Royal Academy of Arts. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

So what can the public expect to see at the new and improved Royal Academy?

Upon re-opening there’ll be a series of collections on display by RA academics and other exclusive articles including Michaelangelo’s Tondo– the only Michelangelo sculpture in the UK.

Alongside these displays there’ll also be exhibitions from visual artist and Turner Prize nominee Tacita Dean with her exhibition Landscapes and Italian architect and engineer Renzo Piano later in the year.

Michelangelo’s Tondo. Credit: Wikipedia. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

However, celebrations won’t be limited to London.

Art institutions across the UK will be taking a look back at the history of The Royal Academy, exploring the academics and artists who have helped shape it as well as many other galleries and museums across the country.

The Royal Academy of Arts is set to open its doors to the public on 19th May.

For more information on what’s happening near you in celebration of The RA’s 250th birthday, please visit the RA250 UK website.