Royal Ulster Academy

The 145th Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition Call for Entries is Now Open.

Artists are invited to submit work for the 145th RUA Annual Exhibition, one of the longest-established open exhibitions of contemporary visual art in Ireland.

Selected works will be exhibited at the Ulster Museum, alongside RUA Members and internationally recognised Artists.

Submissions are open to Artists working across painting, drawing, print, sculpture, photography and other visual media.

Start your submission via .royalulsteracademy.org

Entries close 14th July 2026.

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Opening Hours
Tuesday - Sunday: 10am - 5pm
Closed Mondays

🎄Christmas Holiday Times

🎄24th, 25th, 26th December: Closed

🎄27th and 28th December: Open

🎄29th December: Closed

🎉From 30th December, the Ulster Museum is open as normal, including New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day - 10am-5pm.

✨The last day to see the RUA 144th is Sunday 4th January.

⚪️Collection of work, both for unsold work whereby artists collect as well as buyers:

1. Collection from the Gallery at the Ulster Museum Monday 5th January 2026 - 10am-4pm.

Collection will take place via the Stranmillis Road entrance to the Museum.

A short parking window will be available to assist with loading.

2. Collection from RUA Headquarters
Sunday 25 January 2026 - 10am-3pm.

Alpha House
1-3 Rosemary Street
Belfast, BT1 1QA

Please note: this is NOT the Ulster Museum.

3. Dublin Delivery Option - Saturday 31 January 2026.

Delivery to Dublin is available through
Tom Caldwell Installations.
Phone: +44 7711 716887
Email: [email protected]

This is an independent service and is not provided by the RUA.

If you have any questions, please contact the RUA office for assistance at [email protected]

We were very saddened to hear of the passing of Ruth, a much-loved former member of the RUA team, fondly remembered for her warmth, kindness and generosity of spirit.
Our heartfelt condolences go to Tony, her son Sean, and the wider family circle.
Ruth will be greatly missed and warmly remembered by all who knew her.

Congratulations Eddie Rafferty.

Eddie was awarded the NIAVAC prize for Best in Show by a Member of the Academy.

Eddie is pictured here in front of his award winning work, “Blue Settee”, with Director of the RUA Simon McWilliams and John Scovell from the Ulster Museum.

Niavac

Congratulations Stephanie Hess, recipient of the Hamilton Architects Prize for Sculpture.

Stephanie is pictured with Paul Millar from Hamilton Architects.

“My childhood bookshelf has been a great influence in my life,” she says. “The adventures, hopes and dreams of the little creatures anthropomorphized in the stories of Beatrix Potter, AA Milne, Richard Scarry and Kenneth Grahame, to name but a few, have given me a sense that anything is possible in a world inhabited by animals who sail rafts, bake pies, drive cars, make cups of tea and head off on adventures!”

Stephanie’s bronze sculpture, “By the Tail” can be viewed at the RUA 144th Annual exhibition, Ulster Museum Belfast.

Hamilton Architects

The Tom Caldwell Installations Prize for Best in Show by an Associate Member of the Academy, has been awarded to Alison Lowry.

Home (n): Someone’s Place Of Origin, Or The Place Where A Person Feels They Belong.

“A birds nest, to me, has always represented home, a supposedly safe space to nurture and bring up your children.
In many places across the world however, it is anything but.
Thinking especially about the genocide occurring in Palestine, I created this work to illustrate the dangerous and desperate situation that many families in.
The glass ‘twigs’, illustrate the fragility of this existence, and the keffiya, the sense of belonging and attempt at comfort.”

The prize is sponsored by TOM CALDWELL INSTALLATIONS.

Congratulations to David Agenjo, winner of the Paul Henry Landscape Prize, awarded by Gormley’s Gallery.

"I am a Spanish self-taught artist (bo. Madrid,
1977) and am currently based in London. Before that, I lived in Dublin (2006-2010), where I began paving my path toward becoming a professional artist.

My recent practice focuses on nature, from decaying trees and flowers to broader landscapes. I’m interested in the tension between beauty and decay, combining traditional oil painting techniques with contemporary approaches and concepts.”

“Stuff and Them” can be viewed in person at our 144th Annual Exhibition in the Ulster Museum Belfast.

Congratulations to Denise McAuley, winner of the Irish News prize for ‘most outstanding work by a non-member’.

You can meet Denise at the RUA on Friday 12th December at 12.15pm, as she takes part in a short informal gallery discussion in front of her award winning work, “Materia Medica”.

🔴WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK🔴
AT THE RUA 144th ANNUAL EXHIBITION
ULSTER MUSEUM BELFAST

🟢ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Fridays 12.15pm - 12.30pm

✨Friday 12th December with Denise McAuley

*this event is open to all, no booking required ... meet the artist in front of their work in our Exhibition Space, Gallery 4, Ulster Museum Belfast

🟢GUIDED TOURS
Saturdays 2.30pm

✨Saturday 13th December with Director of the Royal Ulster Academy, Simon McWilliams RUA.

*this event is open to all, no booking required .... meet at the sales desk in our Exhibition Space, Gallery 4, Ulster Museum

🟢GUIDED TOUR in Spanish

✨Saturday 3.30pm with Gerry Lenaghan.

*this event is open to all, no booking required .... meet at the sales desk in our Exhibition Space, Gallery 4, Ulster Museum

Cover image: “Couple” by Christy Keeney.

Moneyvart Ceramics

Thank you to and for supporting our Education Programme.


# /Supported
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Congratulation to Kate Beagan, recipient of the Æ Russell Society Award at the RUA 144th Annual Exhibition.

Pictured are Arlene Marks and Michael McKernan, members of the Æ Russell Society.

“The Boyne Valley” can be viewed in person at the Ulster Museum Belfast.

“It’s the Boyne river that is running through on the left and the Ml on the right.

What attracted me was the almost mirror image of these two. One totally carved by nature and the other designed my man. I’m quite sure they didn’t take the flow of the Boyne into factor when they were planning the road but it’s a beautiful piece of symmetry.”