Sunday 14 September 2025
When we picked the Royal Society for the Arts Open House for our next Open Heritage Days event, we weren’t sure quite what to expect but rather thought we might be visiting an art museum. We were a bit off in our expectations. The institute that has been located at 8 Adam Street, very near the Charing Cross station since 1774 describes itself as being “at the forefront of significant social impact since 1754.” When it was founded in twenty years earlier in a coffee shop not far from its current location as the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce its purpose was to pool subscription funds to encourage encourage inventions, discoveries, and designs to promote the public good. Priding themselves on being a democratic organization that has been open to women as well as men since its founding, we were immediately invited to apply for membership but at that point we were more interested in learning about the its history. The building was fascinating. After a bit of poking around we joined a tour of the facility and learned more about the society, its founding, and its accomplishments. The building itself was designed by Robert Adams and his brothers as part of their Adelphi development between The Strand and the River Thames. We were intrigued to learn that one of the earliest members of the society was Benjamin Franklin who joined in 1756. We enjoyed the tour of the building, the decor and the fine arts displayed but were intrigued to learn that despite its name the society is less about fine arts. Its focus seems difficult to define but is a society that through its history has endeavored to change society in every way imaginable. When we left, with all that swirling around in our heads, we headed out to partake of a delicious Sunday Roast at The Wellington nearby.
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