THE future of one of the artistic institutions of Glasgow's art scene, the RGI Annual Exhibition, has been questioned after its cancellation for the second year in a row.
The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts (RGI) held its first annual art show in 1861 and since then it has become a fixture in the city's artistic calendar.
In 2013, the show, which features work by dozens of artists, sculptors and painters, returned to its traditional home of the McLellan Galleries after being staged at the Mitchell Library.
However, last year's fire at the Mackintosh Building at the Glasgow School of Art led to the McLellan Galleries being used by the art school and no show was staged.
This year, the RGI planned to hold its annual show at the McLellan Galleries, which are now run by the art school, from late July to early September.
However, a series of discussions between the RGI and the art school - which needs to use the McLellan for a range of academic work this summer - have led to the conclusion that the show cannot be staged in the galleries this year.
It is understood many members of the RGI are deeply upset by the lack of show this year.
Jean McFadden, president of the RGI, said that the art school offered the building to the RGI for a May show but that was not possible for the institute.
She said that the RGI may now have to look for other venues in the city, but the Mitchell proved an unpopular exhibition site for some of the artists involved.
"We are all very disappointed about it, but one of the difficulties is finding the right venue," she said.
A statement from the RGI said: "The RGI Annual Exhibition planned to be held at the McLellan Galleries from late July to early September is not now going ahead.
"Regretfully the Glasgow School of Art, who currently have the use of the Galleries as a result of the tragic fire at the Mackintosh building, are no longer in a position to make the Galleries available to the RGI this year.
"A further announcement will be made regarding the next open submission exhibition to take place in 2016."
The RGI was formed in 1861 when 10 prominent Glasgow citizens met to discuss establishing exhibitions of the work of living artists.
By the end of the 19th century, many leading UK and European painters were displaying their work at the exhibition, with French painting influencing the Glasgow Boys, who went on to display their own work at the annual show.
A spokeswoman for the art school said: "We worked closely with the RGI to look at how the show might be delivered and explored a number of possible dates.
"With the Mackintosh Building currently closed, McLellan is being used by the GSA for a range of academic work including post-graduate and continuing education programmes.
"Unfortunately, these academic commitments meant that it was not possible to release McLellan Galleries for the dates which worked best for the RGI this year."
Newly elected RGI members this year include Jennifer Irvine, Reinhard Behrens, Adrian Wiszniewski, Heather Nevay and Peter Thomson.
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