Talk

The definers of success

The Successful Artist? panel discussion

Thursday 21 June 2018 6.30 - 7.45pm

The Benjamin West Lecture Theatre, Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts

Free, booking required.

Sold out

Sponsor statement

Sponsor statement

Artist Yinka Shonibare MBE RA, Head of the RA Schools, Eliza Bonham Carter, and the Director of Ikon Gallery Jonathan Watkins explore how artistic success is defined and who defines it, in this discussion chaired by art critic and curator Sacha Craddock.

One of the founding purposes of the RA was to enhance the success and status of British artists. The measures thought to achieve such success included providing high quality training through the Royal Academy Schools, exposing art to a wider audience through the Summer Exhibition, also with an intention to increase sales of artists work and gain critical attention in the press, defining a core professional group of artists and connecting artists to those holding power.

Many of these founding principles have endured throughout the RA's 250-year history. But to what extent are these ideas still relevant to our definition of artist success today? Is commercial success evidence of artistic achievement? Does fame or visibility equate to success? Who decides who is successful – the public, institutions, critics, peers or the artist themselves? What is the role of education for artistic achievement? How much of these factors can be determined by the artist? Join our panel to discuss who and what defines an artist’s success today.

The event will be introduced by Maurice Davies, Head of Collections at the Royal Academy.

Admission is on a first-come-first-served basis for those with tickets. We would recommend arriving at least 15 minutes before the start time to avoid disappointment.

This event will be accompanied by BSL interpretation and live subtitling courtesy of Stagetext.

The Successful Artist? programme is proudly supported by Heritage Lottery Fund, as part of the new RA Collections programme.

Free, booking required.

Sold out

Sponsor statement