Royal Academy of Arts to that drawn up by Cheere in 1755. It was Sir William Chambers, a prominent architect and head of the British government's architects' department, the Office of Works, who used his connections with George III to gain royal patronage and financial support for the Academy in 1768. The painter Joshua Reynolds was made its first president, and Francis Milner Newton was elected the first secretary, a post he held for two decades until his resignation in 1788. The instrument of foundation, signed by George III on 10 December 1768, named 34 founder members and allowed for a total membership of
Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition is the largest, open art exhibition in Northern Ireland, attracting many hundreds of artist entrants from Ireland and elsewhere. Presidents of the Academy have included Sir John Lavery R.A, Morris Harding, William Conor, Mercy Hunter, T.P. Flanagan, Joe McWilliams and Rita Duffy. The present president is Julian Friers RUA. Academicians include Basil Blackshaw, Victor Sloan, TP Flanagan, Graham Gingles, Jean Duncan, Neil Shawcross and Jack Pakenham. The RUA Mission Statement is: The Royal Ulster Academy is an artist led organisation which promotes both traditional and contemporary approaches to visual art through its exhibition and education program. At the