The Royal Academy of Arts doesn’t really need any introduction but I’ll provide you with one anyway. Founded by King George III all the way back in December 1768, its centuries long mission has been to promote British art and design via ‘education and exhibition’ (thanks, wikipedia!). Still going today, independent and privately funded, it seems to be doing this quite well. In terms of the ‘education’ aspect – the Royal Academy Schools form the oldest art school in Britain, and also . And for the exhibition – they possess a massive collection of art, much of it extremely rare. And they also champion ‘up-and-comers’ – which they bloody well should do. Go into the courtyard at Burlington House at the moment ad the first thing you shall see will be the current installation, which looks like…I dunno… WW2 era sea mines crossed with a touch of Scandinavian minimalism and some of the decor from a the Casino Night Zone in Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Anyhow, within this hallowed institution’s hallowed courtyard you shall find The Keeper’s House. It is called this because it was traditionally the place where the academy’s Keeper lived (the current ones doesn’t live there though, which seems sad considering it’s full of supercool shit). The Keeper did a lot of stuff (though looking after bees and errant footballs were not included) – I think mainly it comes down to administrative work and ‘keeping’ the art collection. Keeping it looking pretty and…educational maybe.
Anyhow, within The Keeper’s House is The Shenkman Bar (named after a notable RA architect, I think?). We were invited down to said bar because of a man/cocktail genius/excellent human being named Fabio Fritolli – who I met some months back at the Cichetti bar. Fabio is a bar consultant (I think) – and since this is his current project, he wanted us to come see it. All I can say is that everything is SERIOUSLY on fucking point and that I’d love to know where he gets his ideas from. Also in attendanc