He said modern classical music reminded him of the sounds he used to hear going down the mines

The Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition is the art world turned briefly upside down. Since 1768 the work of distinguished Royal Academicians has been displayed alongside the output of members of the public, who submit their own dabblings. In the Palladian splendour of Burlington House the professional rubs shoulders with the amateur. And the visiting public have the challenge of distinguishing between the two.

It’s true that I don’t get out much these days but, even so, the party for i readers at the Royal Academy was one of the most enjoyable nights I’ve had for some time.

Of all the instructions I’ve been given in my career, this was the most peculiar, not to mention demanding.

Montenegrin guitarist Miloš Karadaglic was a child prodigy who became a star of Yugoslavian TV and radio in his teens before studying at London's Royal Academy, where he received the Julian Bream Award from the celebrated guitar legend himself – a passing-on of the torch which bears its first fruit with this striking debut album.

Grayson Perry received a Royal Academician's medal in the category of Printmaking at the Royal Academy of Arts in London yesterday. Perry, 50, who often appears as "Claire", his female alter-ego, is known for his urns decorated with images of sex and child abuse. The potter joins Tracey Emin and Anish Kapoor at the institution which is regarded by many as "the artists' union".

The UK is "dangerously dependent" on GPS satellite navigation systems, a report by engineers warns.

The Royal Academy's latest blockbuster exhibition, Modern British Sculpture, features cutting edge works by Anthony Caro, Damien Hirst and Barbara Hepworth. To give you a taste of what to expect from the show, which opens to the public on Saturday, we've brought you a picture preview.

Visual Arts: Sargent and the Sea at the Royal Academy. The emotional seascapes and beautifully lit beach scenes are inspiring. I subscribe to get a Friends of the Tate and Friends of the Royal Academy card each year, so I can pop into each gallery often. Also, they both have really nice cafés, so it is a good place to meet for snacks. The Museum of Everything, with Sir Peter Blake's collection of stuff he has found over the years is very sweet and interesting too.

A new exhibition inspired by the book of Ecclesiastes will feature works from the by contemporary artists from the last 500 years.

A crumbling barnyard, a room full of page three girls and a previously undisplayed work by Damien Hirst will be among the artworks included in the first retrospective of 20th century British sculpture to be held in this country for nearly three decades.