The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (
RSA) is a
London-based, British organisation committed to finding practical solutions to social challenges. Founded in 1754 as the
Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce, it was granted a
Royal Charter in 1847, and the right to use the term
Royal in its name by
King Edward VII in 1908. The shorter version,
The Royal Society of Arts and the related
RSA acronym, are used more frequently than the full name.