The flexibility I was given in shaping this year’s exhibition is a credit to the RSA Council and the Academy’s staff. Early on, I made two key decisions: not to invite any guest artists, and not to hand-pick the Hanging Committee. I wanted the Assembly of Academicians to choose the committee members. I believe it’s important to work with colleagues you may not know well, and to give newer Academicians the opportunity to gain experience on the Hanging Committees. A diverse mix—of experience, gender, and discipline—is vital to achieving the right balance.
I can remember, as a young artist, the excitement of submitting work through the Open Call and the thrill of being selected to hang alongside esteemed artists. By continuing to offer opportunities to both national and international artists, I hope we encourage even more submissions in the future—and demonstrate that the RSA remains fully committed to inclusion, just as I experienced as a young artist.
The high number of quality submissions this year was incredibly encouraging, though it made the selection process particularly challenging for the Hanging Committee. The introduction of online submissions in recent years has made the process more accessible and less time-consuming and costly for artists. Still, as always, there are works of great merit that, for various reasons, cannot be included in the final hang. The curation of such a large and varied exhibition is complex, requiring careful judgement and an understanding of how different works relate to one another. This often involves difficult decisions and frequent reconfigurations of the layout.
As a team, we have striven to include as many Open submissions as possible and to hang them thoughtfully alongside works by Academicians. The diversity and high standard of work is clearly evident in what is displayed throughout these magnificent galleries.