In 2026, we’re celebrating our bicentenary and 200 years of Scottish Art and Architecture. This milestone also marks the 40th anniversary of the RSA Friends, who have long supported the Academy’s mission. To honour this occasion, we invite you, our Friends, to make a lasting, personal contribution to the RSA Collection, and join us for A Blueprint for Belonging.
For a donation of £200, you’ll directly support our bicentennial programme, and will receive a bespoke printmaking kit designed by master printmaker Leena Nammari RSA. The kit will enable you to make an artwork that expresses what belonging means to you.
Using the kit, you’ll create a cyanotype print by placing objects or drawings on top of hand treated paper and exposing it to the sun. This simple process creates a striking, blue-toned image. The kit includes a variety of ready-made cyanotype paper, tracing paper to print an image or draw onto, a pre-printed photograph of the RSA created by Leena Nammari that is ready for exposure, and an exclusive thank-you print made by Leena herself. With these materials, you’ll craft an A5 sized artwork that will be housed in the RSA Collection, contributing to a unique project that symbolises and celebrates the enduring legacy of the RSA Friends.
This collaborative project is open to all skill levels. Your cyanotype print can also include additional artistic elements such as collage, drawing, or painting. To support your creative process, you’ll have the opportunity to join Leena in the gallery on select dates in 2025. During these sessions, she’ll discuss her practice, share insights into techniques you can use and answer any questions to help guide you in making your artwork.
At the end of the project in spring 2026, you’ll be invited to an exclusive gathering during the 200th Annual Exhibition. Participants will come together to showcase their artworks in an evening of celebration. A moment to come together, share stories, and celebrate the vital role the RSA Friends play in the Academy’s legacy.
Afterwards, these works will be placed in a time capsule and sealed for 60 years until the 100th anniversary of the RSA Friends. Preserved within our Nationally Recognised Collection, the capsule will be opened in 2086, providing a snapshot for future generations of what belonging meant in 2026.
Your donation will support our bicentennial celebration - an ambitious year-long programme of special exhibitions and projects across Scotland in 2026. This will allow us to develop new audiences in every corner of the nation, making the RSA more sustainable and ensuring that we can continue to champion Scottish artists and architects for years to come.
Our goal is to have 200 RSA Friends participate in A Blueprint for Belonging, raising a total of £40,000 to fund an unforgettable year of programming, both within our home in Edinburgh and in partner venues throughout Scotland, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to join the celebration.
We deeply value the support of our Friends, and this milestone wouldn’t be the same without you. We hope you’ll add your voice to this tapestry of belonging.
