Royal Society of Arts including Cheere and William Hogarth, or were involved in small-scale private art academies, such as the St Martin's Lane Academy. Although Cheere's attempt failed, the eventual charter, called an 'Instrument', used to establish the Royal Academy of Arts over a decade later was almost identical to that drawn up by Cheere and the RSA in 1755. The RSA also hosted the first "exhibition of contemporary art" in 1760. Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds were among those who exhibited at this first exhibition, and were subsequently founder members of The Royal Academy of Arts in 1768. The Society was a pioneer
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,