Burlington Gardens Festival

For the first time the Royal Academy and its artists take to the streets of Mayfair with Burlington Gardens pedestrianised and the street transformed for a day.

Join on the temporary forecourt in front of Sir James Pennethorne’s building, to discover new artworks and performances, workshops, food, drink and music.

The forecourt will host art installations, including new works by RA Schools alumni Rachael Champion and recent graduate Henry Coleman. Inside the building there will be an installation by Graham Gussin, a musical performance by Richard Wilson RA who will send sounds around the dramatic central stairwell, and an immersive sound-movement work ‘Sound Bed’ by choreographer and dancer Vera Tussing. A special live interactive t-shirt press will be run by YR Store and Epson, featuring images by RA Schools students and staff.

Tables designed by Will and Piers Alsop will be set out along the street with food and drink on offer by artisan producers, with Italian delights from Cecconi’s and American food (to mark Independence Day). There will be a chance to get creative with print-making and drawing workshops throughout the day and special activities for children, including LEGO building.

Busking-style music, provided by The Nest Collective, will fill the air with performances from TEYR and The Thumping Tomies throughout the day, plus live acoustic performances by Jenny Bell. We will then host a finale performance in 6 Burlington Gardens by the Zoing with Bob and Roberta Smith Unexpected Hill, a new ceramic installation which will be located in Burlington Gardens throughout summer, will play host to theatrical life drawing and a talk by its designers, Istanbul-based SO? architects.

A temporary hidden link will be opened between Piccadilly and Burlington Gardens occupied by an art installation by RA Schools Starr Fellow Felipe Castelblanco and artist Jonathan Armistead. The rarely seen historic studios of the RA Schools will be opened with an exhibition by Castelblanco presenting his ongoing project The Para-Site School with guest artists Melanie Coles, Serra Tansel and Sheperd Manyika.

Taking place in partnership with Brown’s London Art Weekend.
Supported by Scott and Laura Malkin.