The Friends of the Royal Scottish Academy were founded in 1986 to give art lovers the opportunity to support the work of the Academy and to participate in its activities. The RSA is committed to supporting contemporary art practice in Scotland through its ongoing programme of exhibitions, scholarships, bursaries and awards. In addition to the exclusive exhibiting platform of the RSA New Contemporaries Exhibition, these opportunities also play a pivotal role in encouraging young artists from Scotland’s Schools and Colleges of Art and Architecture. For all of this work the Academy relies entirely upon private funding.