National Academy of Design

Founded in 1825, the National Academy of Design is one of the leading honorary societies for artists and architects in the United States. An advocate for the arts as a tool for education, the National Academy promotes art and architecture in America through public programming,
exhibitions, grantmaking, fellowships, and research. The National Academy’s membership is made up of 450 artists and architects who have been elected by their peers in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to art and architecture in America; upon election, incoming National Academicians are invited to donate a representative sample of their work to the Academy’s collection, which today represents one of the most significant collections of American art and architecture ever assembled. For the past two centuries, the National Academy has celebrated the role of artists and architects in public life and served as a catalyst for cultural conversations that propel society forward.