FOR more than a century, it was one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the cultural calendar until its much mourned untimely demise.

But now one of the oldest art exhibitions in Scotland is back and will feature one of the most revered figures in the design world.

The Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts (RGI) will once again hold its annual exhibition next month after a long running issue with a suitable venue has finally been resolved.

It will now return for a two week show at the iconic Mitchell Library in Glasgow which will be the 153rd in its history.

The RGI was founded in 1861 and is the third largest organisation of its kind in the UK, with more than 1200 members.

Notable members include Dame Elizabeth Blackadder, Barbara Rae, James Watt, Adrian Wisniewski, and honorary members including John Byrne and Liz Lochhead.

This year's show will feature a focus on the seminal Scottish architect Alexander "Greek" Thomson, for whom 2017 is the bicentenary of his birth in 1817.

The last annual show was staged at the McLellan Galleries in Sauchiehall Street three years ago, but has not been held since.

In 2014, after the Glasgow School of Art fire, the McLellan Galleries were used by the art school and in 2015 there was also no show, due to a lack of a venue.

The use of the McLellan Gallery in 2013 was a "major expense" for the RGI and led to much controversy within the body, which is a charity.

Now the RGI is to exhibit between 400 and 450 works of art in the Reading Room of the Mitchell Library between November 12-27 and is to embark on a revamp of its organisation to make it more suited to the "21st century".

Susan Murray, treasurer of the RGI, says the annual show, which used to be a fixture in the arts calendar of the city, is now back for the long term.

The RGI also wants to attract younger members and use its gallery to showcase work from emerging artists.

"It hasn't been in the Mitchell since 2012, we have been actually delighted to go back to there," she said,

"Our President David Dunbar has managed to revive some of the partnerships we have had, including with Glasgow Life [which runs the Mitchell].

"It really seemed as if everything was conspiring against us having another Annual Show, ever.

"The problem has been finding an exhibition space, as much as anything else, but now we have an opportunity to go back."

Initially the show was to be in the main hall of The Mitchell but problems with its roof made another annual show unlikely and Ms Murray said she feared the annual show was "doomed".

"But thanks to Glasgow Life, they pulled out all the stops and we are using the Reading Room," she added.

"We really needed to get back to having a public face, and we hope to have it in the Reading Room for a number of years.

"It is a relief to have the show again. We will develop what we have got this year into a great show, but next year's show will have established that we are back for much longer.

"This year, it has been a lot of hard work to re-establish ourselves. We have big ambitions and we want to do more."

The RGI also want to change the way its own gallery, the Kelly Gallery in Glasgow's city centre, is used and revamp itself with a new strategic plan.

This year's annual show will involve visits from secondary school pupils who will have a show at the Kelly Gallery afterwards.

Joanna Baxter Wilson, the gallery co-ordinator, says that a new focus will be put on emerging artists and exhibitions, rather than just using it as a place for artists to sell their works.

Ms Wilson said next year will see a mix of exhibitions of cutting edge art from emerging artists and traditional "selling" shows of paintings and sculptures.

Ms Wilson said: "We want to bring two communities together, almost - it could work, not work, but we need to try it because it is the only way this organisation can move forward. We want to gently ease the changes in."