As a Royal Academy of Art, the RWA's membership of up to 150 Academicians is a body of artists elected by their peers for their contributions as leaders in contemporary creative practice.  Academicians, with the Board of Trustees, are responsible for the leadership of the RWA. 

Since 2019, President Fiona Robinson PRWA has led this body, successfully navigating the RWA through challenging periods, including the COVID pandemic, capital re-development and a change in executive leadership. Her six-year tenure has been marked by significant strides toward making the institution more relevant for contemporary audiences. 

As Fiona prepares to hand over her role to incoming President Hamish Young, we sat down with her to discuss her achievements, the future of the Presidency, and her hopes for the RWA. 

What has it been like being the President of the RWA? 

It's a huge honour and it's an amazing, wonderful opportunity to engage with a group of exceptional artists. I've lived, breathed, dreamt and been kept awake by all things RWA for six years. 

When I became President of the Academicians in 2019, I created a statement of intent that included my wish to promote excellence so that the Academy has, and continues to have, a reputation for showing outstanding contemporary work, particularly in the Annual Open. 
 

I think this has been achieved. There is more exceptional work every year and the Annual Open improves because we have outstanding artists applying, which is extremely satisfying. The most fun moments have been placing the works for the Annual Open, where eight or nine academicians decide where all the work is going to be hung. 

The most important thing that I wanted to achieve was to pursue diversity and inclusivity. Building on Stewart Geddes' work (the Previous President) we have focused on making steps to break down the perception that the Academy is stuck in the past and unwelcoming.  I think an exceptional moment was appointing Sir Frank Bowling as an honorary academician and having his work as an invited artist in the Annual Open Exhibition.

For me, it's really important to make buildings like the RWA accessible. I have a disabled grandson and there have been times when he hasn’t been able to access cultural buildings. This is why I was active in working with the RWA team to ensure access improvements to the building during the Light and Inspiration Project (the capital redevelopment which opened up the building in 2021 ). This included installing the Changing Places facility which opened up the building to people who were otherwise unable to visit, including several specialist schools whose cohort benefit from such improvements. 

The RWA is a unique leadership model - an organisation led by both a Trustee board and an Academicians’ Council, along with an exceptional executive team. In the scheme of the RWA’s history, this is quite a new model. I wanted to make sure that Academicians are included in decisions about the Academy, and there is trust and respect between all groups and voices that make up the RWA. I feel that this has been achieved and that now there are  really good working relationships between the different groups within the organisation. 

As President of the RWA you are both artist and leader – can you tell us a little more about that?  

As an artist, as a person, and as someone leading a group of people, I think the most important thing is to listen to people, which I have tried to do. I've always tried to be rigorous and fair. I think that's really important. My approach has been to be available to discuss any issues with academicians, whether it is about their work or more personal matters and try to find a solution. 

It has been important to me is to be able to offer opportunities to Academicians, from curating opportunities, placing the annual open and serving on committees and on council.  

I've written references for Academicians as part of career development, for example, for solo exhibitions. It's hugely satisfying to be able to have that power to help people to achieve what they want to achieve. I feel really lucky and honoured that I've been able to do that. I have also had an exceptional team of academicians working with me on the Council and on various committees. I have really loved working with them and I couldn’t have achieved the things I set out to do without their support.  

 
What is next for Fiona? 
 
I'm hugely proud that we have elected Hamish Young to succeed as President. I am passionate about seeing the Academy thrive, which it will do under the excellent leadership of Ren and of Hamish. I would like to see it continue to show exceptional contemporary artwork and to be accessible to people from all walks of life.  

While I shall remain an RWA Academician, I am looking forward to spending more time in my studio and focusing on my own work! 

Interested in finding out more? Click here to read Ren Renwick, Director of the RWA's refelctions on Fiona's tenure as PRWA. 

📷 Khali Ackford / KoLAB Studios