Celebrating its upcoming 250th anniversary year, the Royal Academy of Arts will open a new campus to the public in May 2018. The design for the redevelopment is by Sir David Chipperfield CBE RA, and will bring new (and free) collections to the public with 70% more space than the current footprint. The development will also join Burlington House and Burlington Gardens to unify the two-acre campus. 

Exciting tours and exhibitions are planned, celebrating both the history of the institution and works from students in the RA schools. This mix, and the promise of free entry to collections is certain to bring more people to the institution. The artist and architect-led RA will also encourage public involvement with the new Architecture Studio, set in The Dorfman Senate Rooms.  These creative spaces invite not only engagement, but the opportunity for the public to become part of this interaction of art and architecture.

Further widening access to the works within the RA will be a new online platform, supported by the National Lottery. Over 10,000 items have been newly digitised in order to make them accessible to a worldwide audience.