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 at the forefront in promoting living artists in Scotland through its Annual Exhibition, scholarships and in other ways. It plays a pivotal role in encouraging young artists from all of Scotland’s Colleges of Art and Architecture in its unique annual Exhibition. For all of this work the Academy relies entirely upon private funding.