Academy to host Turner Prize nominees

Since it was founded in 1768 under the leadership of Joshua Reynolds, the Royal Academy of Arts has been a hallowed home for works by some of the artistic canon's most renowned figures.

But now, a commercial art gallery that made its name representing video artists, former Young British Artists and Turner-prize nominees will be moving into the RA's recently acquired space in Burlington Gardens.

The Haunch of Venison Gallery was established by the art dealers Harry Blain and Graham Sout-hern. Rumours that a deal with the RA was imminent have been doing the rounds, but it was never going to be struck without a substantial noise being raised by Academicians who opposed the idea of a commercial gallery. A source said the decision, to rent the building for three years, had left some of them reeling.

The new space at 6 Burlington Gardens, formerly the British Museum-owned Museum of Mankind, was bought by the RA in need of refurbishment. With the promise of regular rental funds from leasing the building, many felt the RA was forced to accept the gallery on to its premises.

Charles Saumarez Smith, secretary and chief executive of the Royal Academy of Arts, implied the decision was at least partly money motivated. "This arrangement will enable us to further our goals in the redevelopment of the Royal Academy, which will be of immense benefit," he said.

The Haunch of Venison is set to move into the premises in February 2009, but has not released its future programme. It has attracted some leading lights in the contemporary arts scene, including Bill Viola, who chose the gallery to represent his art. In 2007, it represented two Turner prize nominees, Zarina Bhimji and Nathan Coley.

Last February, the gallery fell under the ownership of Christie's International, but Mr Blain and Mr Southern maintain control over its programme. They said: "The gallery will expand its current exhibition programme as it will be able to mount both ambitious, large-scale exhibitions and an ever-changing array of smaller projects."

Reports suggest the gallery would pay part of the rent at Burlington Gardens as well as a charitable give of £4m.