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're inviting our Friends to make a lasting, personal contribution to the RSA Collection.
For a donation of £200, you’ll 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. These works will be placed in a time capsule housed in our Nationally Recognised Collection and sealed for 60 years until the 100th anniversary of the RSA Friends.
Your kit will include the following
- A black envelope containing 10 sheets of cyanotype paper
- A blue envelope containing
- Pre-printed acetate image of the RSA building
- Tracing paper to print or draw images onto
- A handcrafted thank you print by Leena Nammari RSA
- A clip frame used to hold your images in place while exposing the paper to light
- An artists pen for drawing on the tracing paper
- An instruction booklet explaining everything you need to know to complete your cyanotype
- A prompt sheet for you to fill out and include with your submitted cyanotype
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.
Your donation will support our bicentennial celebration - an ambitious yearlong programme of special exhibitions and projects across Scotland in 2026 - funding an unforgettable year of programming, both within our home in Edinburgh and in partner venues throughout Scotland, ensuring that everyone can 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.
Please note: This project is exclusively available for RSA Friends. To participate, please ensure you have an active membership and use the same email associated with your Friends account to make your order. If the details provided don’t match our records, we’ll reach out to you to confirm, which may result in a delay in shipping.
If you’re not yet an RSA Friend but would like to participate in A Blueprint for Belonging, then please select ‘A Blueprint for Belonging (New Friends)’. This option includes an RSA Friends single membership with your order.
Orders may be picked up until Sunday 22 December or after we return to the gallery starting on Wednesday 1 January.
