The build up to our bicentenary is well underway, and the plan to make this a truly national celebration is quickly taking shape. With support from Museums Galleries Scotland, RSA200: Celebrating Together is set to be the furthest reaching project ever of its type in the UK with cultural partners near and far coming together to celebrate the bicentenary with their own events, exhibitions, performances, talks and collection rehangs.
RSA200: Celebrating Together is not just about looking back; it’s a celebration of the people and creativity that continue to shape both the Academy and the cultural landscape of Scotland. It’s a partnership project and we’re delighted to have over 100 organisations involved across Scotland and beyond, from the Highlands & Islands to the Borders, to the south of England and France.
From exhibitions and residencies to life drawing classes and a new survey of our built environment, Celebrating Together will make new connections, bring art and architecture to new audiences and share these stories worldwide.
For 2026, we’re making our resources available for our partners, supporting collaborations with our Academicians and opening up our collections to be seen across the country. It’s looking like it’ll be a very busy time for our small Collections team, with over 130 artworks already earmarked for loan in 2026.
Some museums and galleries have exhibitions taking place in the lead up into 2026. One of these organisations is The University of Stirling, which is where the first of our loans for 2026 has just been installed.
Installation view, Art & Science exhibition series, University of Stirling Collections
Species (Coelacanth) II, a monumental print by Stuart MacKenzie RSA, is on loan until August 2026 as part of the university’s series of Art & Science exhibitions exploring the intersection of arts, maths, architecture and patterns found in nature. The work is paired next to a research image showing a transcript localisation of trypsin in the gut of the salmon louse and Rock Pool (2023) by ceramicist Lotte Glob.
Alison Watt RSA, Le Bouc, University of Stirling Collections
As well as MacKenzie’s work, the exhibition series includes a painting that was recently acquired by the university, Le Bouc by Alison Watt RSA. Le Bouc is from a recent body of work that Alison completed after a period of special access to the archive of internationally renowned 18th century Scottish portrait artist Allan Ramsay, which is held in the National Galleries of Scotland. Both works are on show until 7 August 2026.
Joan Eardley RSA, A Field by the Sea – Summer (1961), oil on board
Our Collections team are now preparing the next works to go out on loan as part of RSA200: Celebrating Together. Five paintings, including Joan Eardley RSA's A Field by the Sea – Summer, will soon be going to the University of St Andrews as part of their upcoming exhibition exploring Scottish art and identity at the Wardlaw Museum, on show from 16 October 2025 until 15 February 2026.
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