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| Mall Galleries | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mall Galleries |
| Caption | Entrance to the galleries near Trafalgar Square |
| Established | 1971 |
| Location | The Mall, London, United Kingdom |
| Type | Art gallery |
Mall Galleries Mall Galleries is a London-based exhibition space closely associated with visual arts societies and annual juried displays. It hosts a wide range of painting, sculpture, print and drawing exhibitions linked to established institutions and contemporary practicing artists. The Galleries operate as a nexus between artists, collectors and visitors, staging high-profile events and specialist society shows.
The site developed in the late 20th century with institutional roots tied to the Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Society of British Artists, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Society of Wildlife Artists, and other historic bodies. Its formation reflected long-standing debates about exhibition space for the Royal Academy system and independent societies such as the New English Art Club and the Society of Scottish Artists. Over subsequent decades the venue staged competitive exhibitions that attracted entries from practitioners associated with Royal Watercolour Society, Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, Royal West of England Academy, North British Academy of Arts, and regional organisations like the Leeds Art Gallery network. High-profile themed shows have included contributions from artists linked to institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Victoria and Albert Museum, and touring collaborations with the Imperial War Museum and the British Museum.
Located on The Mall near Trafalgar Square and facing the ceremonial route to Buckingham Palace, the premises occupy a central position in the City of Westminster. The building's proximity to transport hubs connects it with Charing Cross railway station, Green Park tube station, Piccadilly Circus tube station, and major cultural arteries linking to Somerset House and St Martin-in-the-Fields. Architecturally the gallery spaces are configured to accommodate juried hanging systems and sculptural plinths, and have been adapted for touring exhibitions previously staged at venues such as Somerset House and the Royal Festival Hall.
While not a collecting museum in the traditional sense, the Galleries curate annual and temporary programs that present works associated with societies including the Royal Watercolour Society, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Royal Society of British Artists, and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. Major recurring events include the annual shows for the Society of Wildlife Artists and the Society of Botanical Artists, alongside themed exhibitions referencing historical moments showcased in institutions like the National Gallery and National Maritime Museum. The programme has featured portraiture linked to figures who appear in the holdings of the National Portrait Gallery, landscape painters resonant with the traditions of Constable and Turner displayed in dialogue with contemporary makers, and sculpture exhibitions comparable to displays at the Henry Moore Institute and the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.
The Galleries serve as the exhibition base for societies that include the Royal Society of British Artists, Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Society of Wildlife Artists, Society of Botanical Artists, New English Art Club, and the Royal Society of Marine Artists. These bodies represent practitioners who have also exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, National Portrait Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, and regional organisations such as the Scottish National Gallery and the Walker Art Gallery. Artists with profiles across these networks—portraitists, landscape painters, printmakers and sculptors—regularly submit work for selection panels linked to academies such as the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Royal West of England Academy.
Curatorial teams collaborate with educational partners including the City Lit, the Courtauld Institute of Art, and outreach programmes that mirror learning activity provided by the National Gallery and the British Museum. Public programmes have included artist talks, panel discussions and workshops led by members of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Society of Wildlife Artists, masterclasses associated with the Royal Academy Schools, and school engagement schemes tied to local authorities in the City of Westminster. The Galleries also participate in national initiatives promoting access to art similar to projects run by the Arts Council England and community-focused programmes modelled on regional arts centres like the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.
The Galleries are managed by trustees and a board with links to sponsoring societies, operating as a charitable or not-for-profit entity with governance practices comparable to the Royal Society of Arts and the Art Fund. Financial support historically combines venue income, exhibition fees, ticket sales and philanthropic contributions from individuals and trusts associated with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and private benefactors. Partnerships with societies mirror collaborative funding models used by the Royal Academy of Arts and other membership-based institutions, while commissioning and prize funds draw on sponsorship arrangements analogous to awards such as the BP Portrait Award and grants administered by Arts Council England.
Situated on The Mall, the Galleries are accessible from Trafalgar Square, St James's Park, and pedestrian routes from Piccadilly Circus. Opening times and ticketing vary by exhibition; visitors commonly arrive via Charing Cross railway station or Green Park tube station. The venue is located within easy walking distance of cultural landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Horse Guards Parade, making it a convenient stop for visitors touring central London. Category:Art galleries in London