Royal West of England Academy

Royal West of England Academy RWA | Charity | Bringing art to Bristol since 1844. Join us to explore our transformed building. You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram.
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The RWA – Bristol's first art gallery - is proud to bring world-class visual art from around the world to the South West since 1844. Find out what's on: rwa.org.uk

The magnificent Grade II* listed building of the Royal West of England Academy Art Gallery (RWA) is open all year round. Built in 1844, it was Bristol’s first art gallery and boasts stunning top-lit art galleries described as among the best exhibition spaces in the country. The exhibition programme includes a variety of shows, which appeal to all tastes from historic paintings to digital and new media and including painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture. The increasingly popular Autumn Exhibition is the largest open art show in the region. It includes all types of work, such as portraits, still life, abstracts, and landscapes most of which are for sale. Search for RWABristol.

25/09/2026

Put the date in your diaries… the Secret Postcard Auction is returning for 2026 🔥

🖼️ 20 October – 29 October
🔗 secretpostcard.org.uk

Submissions are open for RWA Biennial: Paint 🖌️We are seeking artists to present fresh and compelling approaches to the ...
18/09/2026

Submissions are open for RWA Biennial: Paint 🖌️

We are seeking artists to present fresh and compelling approaches to the theme of ‘Paint’.

From innovative contemporary explorations to more traditional approaches to painting, we want to see work that expands, disrupts or reimagines conventional ideas of painting, offering a platform for work that is bold, thoughtful, experimental and original.

We welcome ambitious and imaginative responses across painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, film, textiles, installation, and other disciplines.
‘Paint’ will be exhibited alongside an exhibition of new works by Sir Frank Bowling OBE RA RWA (Hon).

✅ Submissions are open until Monday 9 November 2026
🖼️ Exhibition open: Saturday 30 January – Sunday 9 May 2027

Submit your work 🔗 rwa.org.uk/paint

Thank you to artist Ibby Lanfear for allowing us to use her painting, ‘Lacunae: Noah’s Ark’ for the poster ✨

✨ The 173 Annual Open Exhibition is here ✨Come and explore this extraordinary showcase of over 500 contemporary works wi...
16/09/2026

✨ The 173 Annual Open Exhibition is here ✨

Come and explore this extraordinary showcase of over 500 contemporary works within our historic galleries.

Featuring both emerging talent and established names, this year’s Annual Open exhibition spans painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, architecture, sculpture, and mixed-media installation.

We are proud to be supporting some of the most exciting artists working across the UK and beyond today.

Don’t miss these highlights from our upcoming programme 👇

📣 Introduction to Collecting Art | 19 Sept | 11am
📣 Meet the Artists | 29 Sept, 6 Oct, 3 Nov | 6-8pm
📣 Saturday Exhibition talks | 3 Oct, 7 Nov, 5 Dec | 11am

Visit rwa.org.uk to find out more about the exhibition and our upcoming events.

🗓️ 173 Annual Open Exhibition | 12 September 2026 – 3 January 2027

Exhibition sponsored by and

10/09/2026

The 173 Annual Open Exhibition is almost here 🥳

We can’t wait to show you the exhibition, so here is a preview of what’s to come…
Artists, can you spot your work? 🔍

🗓️ 12 September 2026 – 3 January 2027
🔗 rwa.org.uk/events

Exhibition sponsored by and

From 19 June to 19 September 2027, the British Art Show 10 (BAS10) will be coming to Bristol, hosted by the RWA alongsid...
04/09/2026

From 19 June to 19 September 2027, the British Art Show 10 (BAS10) will be coming to Bristol, hosted by the RWA alongside venue partners Arnolfini, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, and Spike Island.

Curated by Eko Eshun, the exhibition will showcase some of the most exciting art produced in the UK over the last five years, aiming to “make us think about how art can challenge fears of otherness and difference.

As part of BAS10, a city-wide Fringe programme is planned. Creatives across Bristol will be invited to showcase their practice through pop-up exhibitions, installations, and events.

This won't be the first time Bristol has hosted a city-wide Fringe. In 2006, as part of BAS6, Bristol-based artist Colin Higginson presented work in the Fringe programme. We caught up with Colin to find out more about his experience and his hopes for BAS10

03/09/2026

Have you ever wondered what it takes to bring together the Annual Open Exhibition? 🤔 We’ve crunched some numbers…

And let’s take a moment to give an enormous thank you to our volunteers who have supported us every step of the way 💪

📣 Coming soon… 173 Annual Open Exhibition | 12 September 2026 – 3 January 2027
🔗 rwaopen.co.uk

Coming up in September 👇🎉 173 Annual Open Exhibition | 12 September 2026 – 3 January 2027Explore over 500 contemporary a...
02/09/2026

Coming up in September 👇

🎉 173 Annual Open Exhibition | 12 September 2026 – 3 January 2027
Explore over 500 contemporary artworks within the RWA’s historic galleries. With Invited Artists, Mohammad Barrangi.

✨ Candidates Exhibition 2026 | 12 September – 18 October
See the work of this year’s Academician Candidates, a shortlisted group of artists and architects at the forefront of their profession.

🍃 Living Stories: Landscapes of Belonging | 7, 9, 30 September
Across three shared sessions of walking, planting and creative writing, participants will explore Bristol as a living landscape shaped by nature, migration, heritage & community, adding their own voices to a story that is still unfolding.

👋 Lunchtime Tours | Tuesdays from 15 Sept | 12 – 12.45pm
A relaxed tour of the 173 Annual Open Exhibition led by an RWA Volunteer. Dive into the history of the Open exhibition and explore a select few artworks from this year’s show.

🍼 Baby Tour | 17 September | 11am – 12.30pm
Informal sessions held in a safe and comfortable space for parents and caregivers with babies aged 12 months and under.

🖼️ Introduction to Collecting Art | 19 September | 11am
Find out more about starting or building your art collection, with Ione Parkin RWA, Sara Dudman RWA, Pennie Elfick RWA and James Russell, Curator and Art Historian.

🤝 Annual Open: Meet the Artists | 29 September | 6 – 8pm
Join us for an evening exploring artworks in the Annual Open Exhibition, with Hamish Young PRWA and Anna Gillespie RWA.

Book your tickets 👉 rwa.org.uk/events

🚨 Last chance to see: Folly | Until 30 August 2026Curated by Peter Burke RWA, and including works by four RWA Academicia...
28/08/2026

🚨 Last chance to see: Folly | Until 30 August 2026

Curated by Peter Burke RWA, and including works by four RWA Academicians, the artists in this exhibition explore the tradition of folly building which began in Britain’s stately homes several hundred years ago.

Wealthy individuals chose to demonstrate their prosperity by commissioning ornamental structures in their newly landscaped grounds, often taking the form of towers or mock ruins.

Today, the wider built environment is filled with structures shaped by political, religious, or commercial ideologies. Many were once symbols of ambition and prestige but have since become redundant or obsolete. Can these be considered modern follies?

Featuring Peter Burke RWA, Judith Jones RWA, Jemma Gunning RWA RE and Karl Singporewala RWA RIBA.

🎟️ Free
🔗 rwa.org.uk/events


Our new What’s On Brochure has officially landed! 🎫🎉🎨Spanning September 2026 all the way through to Summer 2027, this gu...
28/08/2026

Our new What’s On Brochure has officially landed! 🎫🎉🎨

Spanning September 2026 all the way through to Summer 2027, this guide is packed with exhibitions, workshops, and events. Here is a sneak peek at what is inside:

🩷 The 173rd Annual Open: Full details plus details on our brand-new Tuesday late openings happening throughout the exhibition

📖 Featured Artist Mohammad Barrangi: A deep dive into this year's 173 invited artist, his unique process, and his personal mythology rooted in ancient Persian traditions.

🧭 Events & Classes: Your go-to guide for 'Meet the Artists', After Hours, Drawing School, and Art Skills sessions for our youngest creatives.

🎨 January Highlights: A first look at next years exhibitions, including 'New Work' by Sir Frank Bowling.

Pick up a physical copy at venues across Bristol and the South West (or inside and outside the RWA), or click the link in the comments to explore the digital version right now.

P.S. We hope you like the grid-images - a playful nod to the brilliant conceptual photographer Kenneth Josephson! 📸

27/08/2026

Curating an exhibition of over 500 artworks is a big task 🤯

We caught up with Hamish Young, President of the RWA Academicians, to find out what the process entails. It’s still early days though, so we won’t be sharing the final layout just yet 🤫

🔗 rwaopen.co.uk

Address

Queen's Road, Clifton
Bristol
BS81PX

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 8pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

0117 973 5129

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