Royal West of England Academy
Royal West of England Academy
4.5
About
The Royal West of England Academy exists for everyone with an interest in art and design.Our artistic programme promotes inspiring work by our Academicians and Artist Members, and brings high profile exhibitions by established artists to Bristol. The RWA’s aim is to provide an inclusive programme of exhibitions, events and education in order to enhance the knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of art to the people who visit. The Royal West of England Academy (RWA) is one of only five Royal Academies of Art in the UK. It is a registered charity which has been self-supporting for over 150 years and possesses an outstanding Grade II* listed building, galleries and permanent fine art collection. The RWA has HM Queen Elizabeth II as its patron. Education is an important element in any gallery experience and the RWA aims to supply programmes that provide quality art education in the gallery environment for all levels of ability, age and understanding. More details about forthcoming events and the types of activities we offer can be found on the Events pages. The Academy is situated in the academic heart of Bristol where Queen's Road meets Whiteladies Road. Read more about how the Academy was founded on our History page, and for more about our current work read our Behind the Scenes blog or our RWA President blog. Visitor information, including how to find us, opening hours and access info, can be found on our website.
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4.5
95 reviews
Excellent
53
Very good
33
Average
6
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Shelley S
12 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
This Gallery has a very eclectic & good range of traditional & modern Art & sculpture.
The Annual Pass (currently £15) is v good value (meaning each Exhibition costs about £5, with unlimited visits).
Small bookshop area & cafe (outsiders).
The Annual Pass (currently £15) is v good value (meaning each Exhibition costs about £5, with unlimited visits).
Small bookshop area & cafe (outsiders).
Written 24 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul L
England, UK22 contributions
Oct 2022
This was a good way to spend a couple of hours when the weather was awful. A good variety of art - even some I would have been able to afford, which was a first for me! I thought the entry price was a bit on the expensive side though. There are only 2 or 3 rooms of art and it is very crowded on the walls, so difficult to get perspective sometimes. It would be better to spread the artwork across more rooms if that is possible, or maybe a bit less cluttered with the space available. Still an enjoyable hour. The restaurant was very good. Food was excellent, lots of healthy choices.
Written 25 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LaurieStory
Santa Monica, CA53 contributions
Feb 2020
William Turner, an English Romantic painter known for his imaginative landscapes and stormy marine paintings visited the Bristol area often and is a founding member of the RWA. Lots of interesting exhibits and a few early Turner paintings. Great gift shop and a nice cafe. Well worth a wander!
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris M
283 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Hard to review an art gallery as the exhibitions change however January's offerings were poor.
Good things.
Staff friendly, building nice and cafe good.
Poor things.
The exhibitions the art seemed to focus solely on the artists life and not the quality of the art.
A whole section featured a dude in Cowboy boots and Leopard print underpants in weird and wonderful poses with animals. By the 5 picture the 'concept' had worn thin.
Good things.
Staff friendly, building nice and cafe good.
Poor things.
The exhibitions the art seemed to focus solely on the artists life and not the quality of the art.
A whole section featured a dude in Cowboy boots and Leopard print underpants in weird and wonderful poses with animals. By the 5 picture the 'concept' had worn thin.
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
futtock21
London, UK11,598 contributions
Jul 2019 • Solo
Just a short distance from Bristol’s Museum and Art Gallery is the Royal West of England Academy the UK’s only regional Royal Academy of Art. In common with the R.A. its academicians are elected. It is housed in a grand eighteenth century building the most impressive of whose galleries are on the first floor which also give access to outside seating adjacent to a flagpole the royal insignia of a lion and unicorn next to which today perched a marauding seagull. It houses temporary exhibitions. The downstairs shop stocks multiple copies of the last exhibition of works from the late great Albert Irvin R.A. pit in the context of British abstract expressionism in general. Fewer books appear to have been published to accompany the current exhibition of British works of the last three centuries on the subject of fire. Some rather silly sculptures; a film with flashing images behind black curtains; an imprecation John Betjeman style to burn Eton College rather than Slough, although the most impressive burning this Saturday afternoon was of burgers outside. There is a pleasant cafe inside and some peculiar small sculptures in a room in the basement accessed down a staircase displaying works by the late Mary Fedden.
Written 13 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gary w
Chiswick, UK1,271 contributions
Jun 2019 • Solo
Had an enjoyable visit here seeing the 'fire' themed installations and paintings.
The former included a huge figure in black charcoal, see my pics attached.
Well worth a visit if in Bristol. Free to students.
The former included a huge figure in black charcoal, see my pics attached.
Well worth a visit if in Bristol. Free to students.
Written 28 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rosslyn d
1 contribution
Mar 2019 • Friends
Really interesting range of work in a stunning building. Something for all tastes and in a very wide variety of media. Well worth a visit and on until June 2019
Written 27 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolyn S
Lydbrook, UK221 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
i went here to catch the last day of the Albert Irwin exhibition and to see what this venue, which seems to be showing some imaginative exhibitions at the moment, was like. The academy is just a short (though steep) walk from the centre, so very accessible for visitors to Bristol. The building is old and impressive, but inside is not at all stuffy, and has all the usual facilities one would hope for. The cafe was extremely pleasant, and offered a tempting variety of cakes. I expect to be making a return visit very soon. However, I do think it is not the most accessible space for those with reduced mobility.
Written 23 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judith A
Exmouth, UK236 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
Had a great day visiting the RWA. The current exhibition, Albert Irvin, (ended today) was good. And the workshop I did on “The surface of water” was outstanding: as was my lunch in the cafe. I’ve recently become a Friend, and I’m sure I’ll be coming more often.
Written 3 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
len_green50
Somerton, UK373 contributions
Feb 2019 • Solo
This is an old building with lots of Art history but is being kept alive by amazingly well curated exhibitions of Contemporary Art. It may not have the budget of the RA in London but their current exhibition of Bert Irvin and the Abstract Expressionists is AMAZING! Where outside of London can see work of this scale and ambition produced by one of Britains most loved abstract artist. Moreover, artists such as Jackson Pollock Willem deKooning, Basil Beattie are also on display showing Bert Irvin's influences and peers. This is creative curating at its best and what a delight for those art interested people in the south west of England. An exhibition not to be missed
Written 13 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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