National Academy of Design

National Academy of Design

The academy's previous building at 1083 Fifth Avenue
Formation	1863; 161 years ago (1863)
Type	Honorary organization, museum, and school
Purpose	To promote the fine arts in America through instruction and exhibition
Headquarters	Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Location	14-15 Gramercy Park South
Coordinates	40°44′15.7″N 73°59′12.3″W / 40.737694°N 73.986750°W / 40.737694; -73.986750
President	Wendy Evans Joseph
Website	www.nationalacademy.org

The National Academy of Design is an honorary association of American artists, founded in New York City in 1825 by Samuel Morse, Asher Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E. Thompson, Charles Cushing Wright, Ithiel Town, and others "to promote the fine arts in America through instruction and exhibition."^[1] Membership is limited to 450 American artists and architects, who are elected by their peers on the basis of recognized excellence.