Organizer Information
The Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) was founded in 1823 as the Society of British Artists, established by a group of painters dissatisfied with the Royal Academy and its schools. Queen Victoria granted the Society its Royal Charter in 1887. Today the RBA has around 85–100 elected members and is one of nine member societies that make up the Federation of British Artists, which administers the Mall Galleries in London. The Society's annual exhibition has been held continuously for over 200 years and has attracted major artists among its historical membership, including Walter Sickert, L.S. Lowry, and James Whistler.
Title & Description
RBA Annual Exhibition 2027
The RBA Annual Exhibition 2027 invites artists of all backgrounds, working in painting, sculpture, printmaking, and drawing, to submit work for exhibition alongside RBA members at Mall Galleries, London. Selected works are shown in the gallery and online, and the exhibition includes cash awards, art materials and framing prizes, and media features. Submissions are judged in a single online stage, and successful applicants deliver their physical work for display ahead of the exhibition's public opening.
Categories
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Drawing
- Printmaking
- Visual Arts
Eligibility
- Open to any artist aged 18 or over, from anywhere in the world
- Artists may enter a maximum of six works each
- Up to four works per artist may be selected
- Work must not have been exhibited previously in London
- Works must not exceed 2.4m along the longest dimension
- All works must be an original creation by the artist
- Eligible media: painting, sculpture, drawing, and original prints (photography is excluded)
Program Benefits & Awards
- Selected work included in the RBA Annual Exhibition at Mall Galleries, in the gallery and online
- Eligibility to win prizes and awards worth over £15,000 in total
- The Huaicun Zhang Award for Excellence: £10,000 for a work (or works) of exceptional quality
- Invitation to the Private View
- The chance to sell work at the exhibition
- Free admission to the exhibition for all entrants (normally £7)
- Free Artist Resource Pack (via a partnership with the Visual Artists Association), including "The Artist's Guide to Selling Art on Instagram" (PDF) and "Instagram for Art Careers" (Video Masterclass), provided upon notification of selection
- Membership in a network of exhibiting artists dating back to the Society's founding in 1823
Application Fee
Non-refundable submission fee of £22 per work, or £14.50 per work for artists aged 35 or under. This fee includes free admission to the exhibition for the entrant.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 8 January 2027
- Notification of selection: 15 January 2027
- Receiving Day (if selected): Saturday 13 February 2027, 10 am–5pm
- Exhibition opens: Thursday 25 February 2027, 10 am–5 pm daily
- Private View (invite only): Thursday 25 February 2027, 5pm–9pm (official opening 6pm)
- Exhibition closes: Saturday 6 March 2027, 5 pm
- Collection of unsold work: Thursday 11 March 2027, 10 am–5 pm
Location
Mall Galleries, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London, United Kingdom
Additional Details
- One image per work must be submitted showing the complete piece, in JPEG or PNG format, under 5MB; up to two optional additional images (details, angles, framing) may be included
- Required information per work: title, medium, size (cm), year of completion, and price; an artwork description is optional
- Selection is made by a committee of Society members; the decision is final and no feedback is offered
- If selected works arrive damaged, with unacceptable framing, size discrepancies from the submitted images, or otherwise not as shown online, they will be withdrawn and must be collected by the artist at their own expense
- Works must be delivered unwrapped, with the relevant form and labels (downloadable upon notification of selection); frames/stretchers must be substantial enough for mirror-plate hanging with 12mm screws; metal frames, unprotected glass edges, and clip frames are not admissible; all fittings (e.g. D-rings, picture wire) must be removed from the back of works
- Artists are responsible for delivery and collection costs; a list of regional art couriers is provided, and international artists commonly use Picture Post Art for shipping and customs paperwork; the gallery does not accept liability for courier services
- Uncollected works are stored at the artist's expense by an independent courier after the collection day; works uncollected within 12 months may be destroyed, sold, or disposed of without consent, notice, or compensation