Royal Academy of Arts as somewhat anachronistic. But efforts are made to award each prize to a student producing work that bears a relation to the intentions of the original benefactor. The Royal Academy has an important collection of books, archives and works of art accessible for research and display. A large part of these collections have been digitised and can be investigated through the Collection website. The first president of the Royal Academy, Sir Joshua Reynolds, gave his noted self-portrait, beginning the Royal Academy collection. This was followed by gifts from other founding members, such as Gainsborough and Benjamin West. Subsequently each elected
Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie van België voor Wetenschappen en Kunsten or KVAB is an independent learned society of science and arts in Flanders in Belgium. The academy dates its origin back to 1772 when the Imperial and Royal Academy of Brussels was founded by empress Maria Theresia. In English language context the academy is mostly referred to as "Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts", but sometimes also called in shorthand "Royal Academy of Belgium". The Academy is headquartered in the Academy Palace ("Paleis der Academiën"), Hertogsstraat 1,