London’s Royal Academy of Arts is due to kick off its annual Summer Exhibition, the largest open contemporary art exposition on the planet, on June 8th.
Having run every year since 1769, the event is now in its 241st year and draws on a long and rich heritage. It now attracts around 10,000 submissions, with selections being carried out by academicians.
The theme of the 2009 edition of the show is Making Space. Works will be selected by directors Eileen Cooper, Will Alsop and Ann Christopher.
A wide array of famous names played a part in the exhibition in previous years, from Tracey Emin to Gordon Benson and Humphrey Ocean, as well as Lucien Freud, Gavin Turk and Julian Opie.
Contributors of exceptional merit receive awards for their work, with the prize money for this year totalling 70,000GBP.
Each year, the Royal Academy selects a memorial artist to celebrate and this year’s display will comprise the works of Jean Cooke, a British painter who died in August 2008.
The vast majority of works on display are available to buy, so why not book a room in one of the many hotels in London and head down to the exhibition for a chance to pick up some original artwork?
The event will conclude on August 16th.
