Royal West of England Academy

Over het museum

The Royal West of England Academy began in 1844 as the Bristol Academy for the Promotion of Fine Arts, founded largely at the instigation of the artist Ellen Sharples. She hoped it would be an elegant building and an honour to the city, and it soon became an important art institution. From the start one of its main activities has been an annual Open exhibition, similar to the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition, which has shown tens of thousands of works by both leading and amateur artists. The programme was interrupted only during the Second World War, when the building was requisitioned to house American soldiers stationed in the city.

The Grade II* listed building on Queen's Road is still regarded as one of the most beautiful exhibition spaces in the country. Over its history the Academy has staged many notable shows, among them a French modern art exhibition in 1930 with works by Rodin, Gauguin, Bonnard and Dufy. Today it presents a year-round programme that shows contemporary art in a historic context and often brings historic masterpieces to Bristol for the first time. It is one of only four Royal Academies of art in the United Kingdom and is a self-supporting charity.

The Academy also keeps a permanent collection of over 1,700 works, mostly paintings by artists linked to the South West, which began with Ellen Sharples' bequest in 1849 and grew through gifts from members and a fund set up in 1941 for buying works by member artists. Works from the collection are shown in the galleries from time to time. The building reopened in 2022 after a refurbishment, with a family activity space, a Changing Places toilet, a lift to every floor and a mural on the history of the Academy.

Hoogtepunten

• Grade II* listed gallery building in Clifton
• Year-round exhibitions and the annual Open exhibition
• Permanent collection of over 1,700 works, mostly by South West artists
• Kenny Gallery with work by the Academicians
• Free Family Activity Space
• Heritage mural on the lower ground floor

Vaste collectie

• Kenny Gallery – A free gallery showing work by the Academicians of the RWA.

Opgericht

1844

Beheerder

Royal West of England Academy

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Tickets are for the main exhibitions on the first floor and are bought at the welcome desks on the day; booking is not needed. The ticket prices include an optional donation eligible for Gift Aid. The Family Activity Space, the shop, the café, the lower ground floor galleries and the Kenny Gallery are free to enter. Members of the RWA, holders of the RWA Art Pass (a paid annual pass) and members of AIM or SWFed are admitted free, as are refugees and asylum seekers.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie

The building is fully wheelchair accessible: a lift serving all floors takes up to four wheelchairs, a small second lift avoids six steps to the lower ground floor, and the shop and café have level access. Accessible toilets are on the ground and lower ground floors, and a Changing Places toilet is on the lower ground floor. A manual wheelchair can be borrowed, and folding stools are available. Free sensory Happy Packs can be borrowed from the welcome desk. Accessible tours include BSL tours, described tours, dementia-friendly tours and buggy tours, and an access guide can be downloaded. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome. One accessible parking space can be booked in advance.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte
• Speeltuin / speelhoek

The free Family Activity Space on the lower ground floor has giant interactive artworks, drawing materials, dressing-up costumes, a Duplo wall, a reading corner and a family activity trail. Monthly Scribble and Sketch sessions and buggy tours are also offered, and sensory bags can be borrowed. A baby-change facility is on the lower ground floor and buggies can be left in the café.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The building stands where Queens Road meets Whiteladies Road, opposite the University of Bristol's Victoria Rooms. It can be reached from the M4 (junction 19 onto the M32) or the M5. Cycle racks are next to the building and opposite near Waitrose.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel
• Garderobe

Spicer+Cole at the RWA is a café with indoor seating and outdoor seating on the terrace and balcony, serving breakfast, light lunches and cakes. Free bag storage is behind the ground-floor welcome desk.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen

Tot 200 personen.

The main galleries, the Kenny Gallery with the marble landing and balcony, the Youngwood Room and a meeting room can be hired for receptions of up to 200 people, dinners of up to 60 and meetings. Filming and photography shoots are also possible.

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