Royal Ulster Academy

There are three annual events in Belfast which are the absolute highlight of my calendar. One is Culture Night (September), another the Ulster University Art College Degree Show (June) and last but not least the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts (RUA) exhibition (October through to December).
According to their website the RUA, which was «founded in 1879… is the largest and longest established body of practicing visual artists in Northern Ireland. Through a series of education and exhibition events throughout the year the organisation aims to celebrate, enrich and expand contemporary approaches to the visual arts.» It certainly achieves these aims with the Annual Exhibition normally held within Ulster Museum being the pinnacle.
The RUA Annual Exhibition displays artwork by RUA Members, invited Artists and Artists selected through open submission. Via open submission anyone can apply to have their work included in the Exhibition, amateurs and students included. This is what makes for such an exciting show each year — there’s a huge diversity of Artists and visual art on display.
Each year I literally visit the RUA Exhibition around ten times. Paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics and installations are crammed into the gallery space on the top floors of Ulster Museum. Artwork covers the walls from ceiling to floor in a jig-​saw, mish-​mash of a display. This is fabulous, because the amateur Artist’s work hangs right beside or above the Professional Artist’s. It’s a truly egalitarian exhibit. If you visit yourself you’ll understand why I return numerous times. There’s no way you can notice and fully appreciate all the art with a single visit. Each time I return I spot new art I hadn’t noticed before, which is an absolute delight.
If you’re in a purchasing mood you can buy any item on display (though be warned some pieces can be expensive). Alternatively you can have a cheap day out at the RUA Annual Exhibition as entrance is free and the brochure is normally around £5 if you fancy buying it. Either way, I can’t recommend this Exhibition enough as without fail it’s amazing each year.

The Royal Ulster Academy is a charity organisation run by artists in the hope of encouraging and educating the public about visual art. It holds an annual exhibition, this year which will be taking place at the newly renovated Ulster Museum for their 129^th Annual Exhibition which will take place from 15 October — 14 November. It is being held at this location for the first time in 80 years after their first exhibition at the Museum in 1930. The exhibition shows work by RUA members, invited artists and work submitted by local artists hoping to be selected by the judges. The Academy strives to publicise and promote local artists both established and emerging. Visitors to the exhibition can purchase any of the works on sale which will be accompanied by a full colour catalogue. The academy will also hold a number of school tours, artist’s talks, public tours and workshops.