Royal Society of Arts

The Royal Society of Arts, commonly known as the RSA is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London, which encourages the developments of the arts, creativity and commerce.

It was founded in 1754 by William Shipley[?] as the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. It was granted a Royal Charter in 1847. Notable members have included Karl Marx.

It is probably best known for the "blue plaques[?]" seen on the outside of many London buildings, commemorating famous people who have lived there. The society caused a minor stir when it voted to place a plaque for guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Some commentators bemoaned this as the beginning of a trend to honour current-day, "one-day wonders"; in its defence, the Society stated that Hendrix having been dead for 30 years at the time, his status as one of the great musicians of the century seemed by then far from transient.

The National Training School for Music in London was founded by the RSA in 1876. This was later succeeded by the Royal College of Music.

In 1908, King Edward VII granted it the right to use the term "Royal" in its name.

The Society was instrumental in the preservation of West Wycombe[?], purchashing the entire village and handing it over the the National Trust.

More recently, the Society has had involvement in a project to exhibit works of contemporary art on the empty fourth plinth in London's Trafalgar Square.

Links:

• Website: http://www.rsa.org.uk/
• History: http://www.rsa.org.uk/rsa/history.asp