Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts

The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts stands in Copenhagen’s oldest royal square, Kongens Nytorv, inside Charlottenborg Palace. Founded in 1754 as an academy of portraiture, sculpture and architecture, it has trained Danish artists for more than 250 years. The palace itself dates from the 17th century and has witnessed every change of name the school has made. In 1996 the School of Architecture moved to former naval buildings on Holmen, a short distance away. Today the academy covers painting, sculpture, architecture, graphics, photography, performance and video, as well as their histories. It remains under the Danish Ministry of Culture and administers several distinguished medals. The academy’s reputation rests on generations of notable alumni and teachers. Among them are Vilhelm Hammershøi, Olafur Eliasson, Bertel Thorvaldsen and Jørn Utzon. The list of medal winners includes the C. F. Hansen Medal, the Eckersberg Medal and the Thorvald Bindesbøll Medal, awarded for outstanding contributions to Danish art and design. The School of Visual Arts and the School of Architecture operate as separate institutions within the academy. Both schools continue to shape the visual culture of Denmark and beyond. Visitors to Charlottenborg Palace find the main building on Kongens Nytorv, with its classical façade and historic interiors. The School of Architecture on Holmen occupies converted dockyard buildings by the water. Both sites are open to the public during exhibitions and events. The academy’s galleries display work by students and invited artists, offering a view of contemporary Danish art. The surrounding square and nearby canals provide a setting that balances royal grandeur with maritime atmosphere.