Joining The RI
The Membership Process
Election to membership of the RI is by a democratic vote of the full membership, which happens at the Annual General Meeting following the Annual Exhibition.
The only criterion for applying to join the RI is to have exhibited at the RI Annual Exhibition on at least two previous occasions.
About the RI Membership Application
Applicants must have been selected and participated in two RI Annual Exhibitions. They must describe how they will contribute to the RI and what skills they can bring to the Institute, beyond exhibiting at the annual exhibition.
Application Fee
A £30 payment (cheque made payable to The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours) will be required to cover the costs of processing the application.
For applicants from overseas, the fee is £40.
Submission of Paintings
The applicant will then be asked to submit six paintings to the annual Spring Exhibition.
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Paintings must have been completed within the last 3 years
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Paintings must not have been exhibited previously in London
All work must initially be submitted online.
Size Restrictions
For applicants and candidates, there is an overall size limit for any group of 4 submitted paintings:
Maximum dimensions:
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2.4m high
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1.5m wide
These limits are in line with restrictions placed on RI members.
Selection Process
The six submitted paintings will be considered at the annual exhibition selection meeting, where the RI Council will decide:
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Which paintings to accept for the exhibition
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Whether or not to accept the applicant as a Candidate for membership
Type Of Work
The type of work submitted is entirely at the discretion of the artist.
The RI Council will assess both:
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Each painting individually
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The group as a coherent body of work
If successful, the selected paintings will be hung together in the exhibition as a group of Candidate’s work.
Once accepted as a Candidate, this status is effective for a period of 3 years.
Display of Candidates’ Work
All Candidates’ work will be separately displayed during the exhibition.
Additional Requirements for Candidates
Candidates will be asked to submit:
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A digital portfolio of additional work
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A digital CV
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Images of sketchbooks works and/or any other reference material. All submitted digital artworks and information will be considered by the RI membership alongside the paintings for exhibition.
International Artists
For international applicants, please see the Mall Galleries website for information about:
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The requirement to register for VAT (Value Added Tax)
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Guidance on transporting work to the UK