It is with great sadness that we announce the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art will close its doors for the final time on 24 August 2025.

Founded in 1881, the Academy has been at the heart of the Welsh art world for nearly 150 years. As Wales’ only Royal Academy, it has provided a platform for generations of artists, staged countless exhibitions, and welcomed visitors from across Wales and beyond.

Throughout its long history, the Academy has played an important role in nurturing creativity, supporting artists, and enriching the cultural life of Conwy, North Wales, and the wider nation.

In a joint statement, the Council of the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art said:

“This is not the future we imagined for the Academy, and we know this news will be deeply felt by the many people who value its place in Wales’ cultural life. We are proud of the Academy’s long history and the community that has grown around it. Our sincere hope is that, in time, something new may rise from its legacy.”

The Academy will remain open to visitors until 24 August 2025, giving friends, members, and the public a final opportunity to visit and reflect on its history before closure.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported the Academy — our members, artists, visitors, funders, and friends — for helping sustain it across nearly a century and a half.

While this marks the end of the Academy in its current form, its legacy will continue to inspire the arts in Wales for generations to come.