The RWA Millennium Appeal
The RWA Millennium Appeal was launched in April 1998 aiming to raise funding for the repair and revitalisation of the RWA. In essence the Appeal sought to achieve two objectives; to upgrade the RWA facilities so that the public would be able to view major exhibitions and renew and strengthen our traditional involvement in the practice and teaching of fine art. Proposed changes included replacing the roof, repair and cleaning of the masonry, including the spectacular façade of the Academy, restoration of the dome and the Walter Crane lunettes, installation of lighting and climatic controls in the galleries, addition of a café and auditorium and the full restoration of the RWA Permanent Collection. These changes would enable the RWA to expand its important contribution to the cultural and educational life of the West of England.
In active partnership with both the public and private sectors, the Academy staged exhibitions of even greater regional and national importance through the modernisation of our facilities.
To achieve the objectives of the Appeal the RWA needed to raise £5 million. Therefore your contributions were very important to us, no matter how much or how little you gave.
The main work on the Academy building and most of the other projects was completed in the Autumn of 2002. This enabled the revitailized Academy to re-open with its 150th Open Exhibition, a great success for all those involved. Our thanks go out to all those who made donations or who helped in other ways to bring about the successful conclusion to our millennium appeal.