Founded in 1825, the National Academy of Design promotes art and architecture in America. As the leading honorary society for visual artists and architects in the United States, we advocate for the arts as a tool for education, celebrate the role of artists and architects in public life, and serve as a catalyst for cultural conversations that propel society forward.

In September 2025, the National Academy of Design will launch “The 200 Year Project,” a yearlong series of exhibitions, public programs, and special projects to mark the Academy's 200th anniversary. Coincident with the United States’ semi-quincentennial, "The 200 Year Project” will use the Academy’s own history to question who has been excluded from the canon, how we can rethink narratives used to understand our culture, and how artists themselves help shape those narratives.