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Royal Academy of Arts Names Helen Legg Artistic Director, Starting June 2026

The announcement underscores a self-funded institution facing budget pressure.

Overview

  • Helen Legg will lead the Royal Academy’s exhibitions, collection and public programmes after joining in June 2026.
  • The Academy also named Livia Evans as commercial director and Lamia Dabboussy as director of brand and audiences.
  • The institution relies on ticket sales, philanthropy, sponsorships, memberships and commercial activity, with recent staffing reductions reported.
  • A Sotheby’s sale on March 5 raised about £2.1 million for the Academy from works by Royal Academicians and honorary RAs.
  • At Tate Liverpool, Legg has overseen a major redevelopment now slated to reopen in 2027 with a new art hall and a launch exhibition by Chila Kumari Singh Burman, following earlier leadership roles at Spike Island and Ikon.