Lectures

The Lecture: “The Royal Academy of Arts: Past, Present and Future”

at 02.30 pm. 
Organized by Ministry of Culture and Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)

Ministry of Culture and Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) announce a special lecture by Charles Saumarez Smith, Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Arts, London.

Charles Saumarez Smith will give a talk entitled “The Royal Academy of Arts: Past, Present and Future”. This lecture will give a rare opportunity for Thai audience especially artists, art teachers and art students to know more about this grand art institution founded in 1768 by King George III with a mission to promote art and design in Britain through education and exhibition.



The motive of the Royal Academy of Arts is to raise the professional status of the artist by a system of art training and art exhibition with appropriate standard of excellence. Behind this concept is desire to foster a national school of art and encourage interest in the public based on taste and creativity.



The first Royal Academy exhibition open to all artists was held in 1769. Now known as the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, it has been staged annually without interruption to the present day. The Royal Academy also hosted ambitious contemporary art exhibitions including in 1997 “Sensation” the collection of works by Young British Artists owned by Charles Saatchi. The show caused controversy due to subjects, contents and materials used by artists.



Recently, the loan exhibition “Degas and the Ballet” attracted enormous attention as it focused on the French Impressionist painter’s fascination with the camera and moving images. Just opened to the public is “David Hockney: A Bigger Picture” has been a phenomenal success. 



Charles Saumarez Smith will discuss about activities of the Royal Academy of Arts and its future plan to travel art projects in Asia. He will also show samples of works by eminent Royal Academy artists such as David Hockney, Antony Gormley, Tracy Emin, Tony Cragg, 



Professor Dr Apinan Poshyananda, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Culture comments that, “This is a lecture not to be missed. Thai and foreign artists as well as art students, curators and cultural managers will experience the history of this world famous art institution. Hope this will be a great opportunity for art projects for Thai artists to work with Royal Academy artists in the near future.”



Charles Saumarez Smith has been Secretary and Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Arts in London since 2007. Before that, he was Director of the National Gallery and of the National Portrait Gallery. He has been Slade Professor at the University of Oxford and President of the Museums Association and is currently a Visiting Professor of Cultural History at Queen Mary, University of London. 



For more information and reservation

Sarinda Tel. 022146630-8 ext. 528