In pictures: Summer Exhibition Preview Party

The summer of colour has begun

By Harriet Baker

Published 4 June 2015

The Summer Exhibition Preview Party is one of the most glamorous events in the London calendar – and a major fundraiser for the RA.

  • As guests browsed art in the galleries and live music filled the Annenberg Courtyard, last night the Royal Academy’s summer of colour began in style.

    The annual Summer Exhibition Preview Party marks the official opening of the Summer Exhibition and gives guests the opportunity to preview and purchase the works on show before the official buyers’ day. The party is a major fundraiser for the Royal Academy and helps fund the RA Schools, Britain’s first art school, which has offered free tuition for nearly 250 years.

    This year, guests included Sir John Hurt, David Bailey, Jerry Hall and Dame Vivienne Westwood, and Academicians Michael Craig-Martin, Conrad Shawcross and Tracey Emin.

    Henry Holland did a DJ set in the Main Galleries and towards the end of the evening, the talented Jessie Ware sang a live set to an enchanted crowd.

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    The Summer Exhibition Preview Party

    Take a look behind the scenes at this year’s Summer Exhibition Preview Party.

  • In pictures

  • The Summer Exhibition is on in the Main Galleries from 8 June until 16 August 2015. Read an interview with Michael Craig-Martin, the Co-ordinator of this year’s summer of colour.

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