Interview President of the Royal Academy of Arts and artist, Rebecca Salter PRA
One person who is especially excited to see the show when it comes around is Rebecca Salter, President of the Royal Academy, and an eminent painter and printmaker; a major retrospective was held in 2011 at the Yale Center for British Art, demonstrating through more than 150 works the fascinating connections Salter has continued to make between Western and Eastern aesthetics, architecture and art.
That interest stems from Salter’s expertise in Japanese woodblock printing – she honed her craft in Japan, and has subsequently written books on the subject. Salter has also helped nurture future generations in the medium, as an Associate Lecturer on the MA Printmaking Course at Camberwell College of Art, University of the Arts, London, where she taught until 2016.
But her career didn’t stop when she quit teaching – in 2019, Salter made history when she became the first ever woman to be appointed as the President of the Royal Academy of Arts, breaking a leadership history of 26 male Presidents since the institution’s founding in 1768.
THE WICK:
You were elected as an Royal Academician in 2014, and in 2019 you became the first woman to be elected President of the Royal Academy. What has that historic moment meant to you?
Rebecca Salter:
The timing of my election was particularly challenging because we were immediately faced with covid and lockdowns. I felt a huge sense of responsibility leading such an historic organisation at such a difficult time and we would have struggled without our incredibly talented and dedicated staff.
The RA is all about people meeting up and it was tough not being able to meet Academicians in person. Zoom is just not the same.
TW:
The Summer Exhibition, this year curated by Ann Christopher, is a longstanding tradition. What do you find most inspiring about this annual event?
RS:
I love working with the Summer Exhibition Committee each year. Every Committee has its own character but they always focus on creating an exhibition which does justice to each and every work.
It is magical to watch the exhibition take shape.
TW: What do you enjoy most about working at the Royal Academy in general?
RS:
Every time I walk into the courtyard I can’t believe that I have the privilege of being President. It is a complex organisation full of extraordinary talent with our Academicians, students and staff. Every day is inspiring.
TW:
The Royal Academy has no public funding and the UK is facing a cost of living crisis. As a leader how do you shine a light on this vital need for support?
RS:
Having no public funding gives the RA our treasured independence but that means we have to work hard all the time to secure our various sources of funding. We rely on people believing in what we do and supporting us whether that is as a Royal Academy Friend, patron or donor. We are very grateful to them all.
“It is a complex organisation full of extraordinary talent with our Academicians, students and staff. Every day is inspiring.”
