On 30 May 2012 the Royal Academy of Arts hosted its annual Summer Exhibition Preview Party. The event marks the official opening of the Summer Exhibition and offers collectors the opportunity to preview the variety of artworks by both renowned and undiscovered artists, all available to purchase before the official Buyers Day.
This year’s gala event was co-chaired by Tracey Emin RA and GQ editor Dylan Jones, with support from a committee of cultural luminaries including: Alan Yentob, Alasdhair Willis, Lady Amanda Harlech, Amanda Wakeley, Anish Kapoor RA, Anya Hindmarch, Aoife Lambilliotte, Christopher Bailey, Conrad Shawcross, Sir David Tang, Ed Victor, Edward Vaizey, Fergus Henderson, Grayson Perry RA, Harold Tillman, Jerry Hall, Jonathan Yeo, Lucy Yeomans, Mat Collishaw, Michael Landy RA, Nick Candy, Nick Jones, Polly Morgan, Ron Arad, Sophie Dahl, Sue Webster, Tim Noble, Tom Dixon, Tyrone Wood, Valeria Napoleone and Yasmin Le Bon.
Guested including Duran Duran’s Nick Rhodes and Simon Le Bon, Will Young, Laura Comfort, and The Untitled Magazine’s Indira Cesarine were treated to champagne and canapés while reviewing the collection of works available for purchase, which featured significant works of contemporary art by many of today’s top artists.
The Summer Exhibition Preview Party is the Royal Academy’s most significant fundraising event of the year, with all proceeds raised from the sale of tickets and artworks providing income for the Academy’s entirely self-funded and much celebrated Exhibitions and Schools programme.
