the royal society for the encouragement of arts, manufactures and commerce (rsa) is a british multi-disciplinary institution, based in london. it is often called the royal society of arts instead of by its long formal name. the front of the building uses the short name too — see photograph. it was founded in 1754 and was granted a royal charter in 1847. notable members have included benjamin franklin, karl marx, adam smith, william hogarth, john diefenbaker, stephen hawking and charles dickens.