LONDON.- The Royal Academy’s annual Summer Exhibition is the world’s largest open submission contemporary art show. Now in its 243rd year, this exhibition continues the tradition of showcasing work by both emerging and established artists in all media including painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, architecture and film. This year’s co-ordinator is Royal Academician Christopher Le Brun. Playing a significant role is Michael Craig-Martin RA who is curating one of the largest galleries. The Architecture Room is curated by Piers Gough RA and Alan Stanton RA. The exhibition runs from Jun 07 2011 until Aug 15 2011.

One of the founding principles of the Royal Academy of Arts was to 'mount an annual exhibition open to all artists of distinguished merit' to finance the training of young artists in the RA Schools. This has been held every year without interruption since 1769 and continues to play a significant part in raising funds to finance the students. The Royal Academy receives no public funding so all those who support the Summer Exhibition by submitting work, visiting it and through purchases contribute to supporting artists of the future.

The largest space in the Royal Academy features a new approach to a traditional “salon hang”. This includes a mix of open submission works as well as artworks by Royal Academicians. A dense and rich visual experience is created through the presentation of works hung from dado rail to picture rail. Works on display include a large canvas by the Danish painter Per Kirkeby and Keith Tyson’s apocalyptic painting Deep Impact.

The Summer Exhibition attracts a high volume of entrants each year with over 12,000 entries received this year from 27 countries. The majority of works are for sale, offering visitors an unrivalled opportunity to purchase original artwork by high profile and up-and-coming artists. Michael Craig-Martin’s curated room features works by newly elected and established Royal Academicians including Tacita Dean, Gary Hume, Allen Jones, Cornelia Parker, Jenny Saville and Alison Wilding. Craig-Martin has also curated the Wohl Central Hall which greets visitors on arrival with a celebration of photography. For the first time these walls are hung solely with the work of artists who use photographic media including an image by Cindy Sherman Hon RA.

Following on from last year’s successful BBC TWO Culture Show Special on the Summer Exhibition, the Royal Academy of Arts is working with the BBC once more. The programme will be broadcast on 16 June, 7pm.

MEMORIAL ARTIST
Ben Levene RA (1938 – 2010), was born Gerald Philip Levene in 1938. He won a scholarship to the Slade School of Art in 1956 and became a visiting lecturer and tutor at the Camberwell School of Art and Royal Academy Schools. He exhibited works annually in the Summer Exhibition from 1974 onwards. His works are held in public collections including the Government Art Collection, Guildhall Art Gallery, Southampton Art Gallery and the Chantrey Bequest. Levene was elected painter Royal Academician in 1986 and lived and worked in London.

ANNENBERG COURTYARD
‘Coloring Book’ by Jeff Koons (b.1955) will occupy the Royal Academy’s Annenberg Courtyard. The colourful piece reflects Koons interest in society’s obsession with infantilism and youth. Jeff Koons was elected Honorary Royal Academician in 2010.

Jeff Koons’ sculpture is the latest installation in the RA’s programme of Sculpture in the Courtyard and follows on from Barry Flanagan’s posthumous 2010 display of three hares; ‘Hare and Bell’ 1988, ‘Nijinski Hare’ 1996 and ‘Large Left-Handed Drummer’ 2006, Bryan Kneale’s ‘Triton III’ (2009), Sir Anthony Caro’s ‘Promenade’ (2008), the Chapman’s ‘The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth, but not the Mineral Rights’ (2007), Anselm Kiefer’s ‘Jericho’ (2007), Rodin's ‘Gates of Hell’ (2006) and Damien Hirst's ‘Virgin Mother’ (2006).

PRIZES
Each year, the Summer Exhibition recognises artists of exceptional merit, awarding a total of £70,000 prize money donated by commercial sponsors. Established in 1978, the Royal Academy of Arts Charles Wollaston Award is, at £25,000, one of the largest and most prestigious art prizes in Britain. Previous winners include: Yinka Shonibare (2010), Jeff Koons (2008), Gavin Turk (2007), Jake and Dinos Chapman (2003), Alan Charlton (2002), Marc Quinn (2001), Gerard Hemsworth (2000) and David Hockney (1999).