London's Royal Society of Arts launches new annual summer exhibition

Illuminated runs from 10–24 June at the Royal Society of Arts headquarters on John Adam Street in central London. The exhibition is produced at a maximum size of seven inches by seven inches. Participating artists receive 50% of proceeds from sales, while the remaining 50% supports the RSA’s ongoing social impact programme. The inaugural edition features more than 100 artists, including Caroline Coon, Susie Hamilton, and Helen Beard. The initiative marks a shift from a long-running postcard auction format toward curated exhibitions and broader fundraising initiatives. The RSA is positioned as a natural institutional partner due to its social mission and willingness to support ambitious ideas, and the venue is described as underused for exhibitions given its history and scale.

"Illuminated will run from 10-24 June at the RSA's headquarters on John Adam Street in central London, with all works produced at a scale no larger than seven inches by seven inches. Participating artists will receive 50% of proceeds from sales, with the rest contributing to the RSA's ongoing programme of social impact work. The inaugural edition features more than 100 artists, including the British painter Caroline Coon, Susie Hamilton, and Helen Beard."

"The exhibition represents what AOAP Projects describes as a strategic evolution away from its long-running postcard auction format towards curated exhibitions and broader fundraising initiatives. The postcard auctions brought in some extraordinary work and helped build a very loyal audience, but inevitably, the shows began to feel structurally similar. AOAP Projects allows us to expand beyond that model and develop exhibitions and fundraising initiatives that are more tailored to the artists, the partner charity and the space itself."

"Peppe says the RSA was a natural partner because of its social mission and willingness to embrace ambitious ideas. The Royal Society of Arts felt like the right institutional partner because it combines cultural ambition with a genuine social purpose, which aligns closely with how we approach projects at AOAP Projects. I've always loved the space itself, and it feels underused as an exhibition venue given the building's history and scale."

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