Gallery view of Picasso and PaperPhoto: © David Parry/ Royal Academy of Arts
The Royal Academy has announced that it will reopen to Friends of the Royal Academy on Thursday 9 July and to the public on Thursday 16th July. The RA has been closed for nearly 4 months due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The RA will open in phases, initially for 4 days a week: Thursday to Sunday, 11am – 4pm and the five-star exhibition, Picasso and Paper, which has been extended until Sunday 2 August, will be on view in the Main Galleries. Friends of the Royal Academy, the RA’s membership programme, will be given access from Thursday 9th July to Sunday 12th July, followed by the public from Thursday 16th July.
The health and safety of visitors and staff is paramount. The RA will be following government advice on health and safety as a minimum, with additional measures and standards also in place. This will include:
- Social distancing throughout the RA
- Compulsory wearing of a face covering for staff and visitors
- Multiple sanitisation stations throughout the RA
- Operating a cashless system
- Operating a one-way system throughout the building
A full list of what to expect during a visit, can be found here: royalacademy.org.uk/visiting-
Rebecca Salter, President of the Royal Academy of Arts, said: ‘
The Royal Academy has been a home for artists, architects and art-lovers for over 250 years. Our belief in the power of art for all is still as strong as ever and we can’t wait for the RA to gradually be filled once more with people and creativity. I would like to thank our dedicated staff who have been keeping the RA going during this challenging time as well as our visitors, supporters, loyal Friends and Patrons’.
