Enthusiastic artists' clique? (6)
I believe the answer is:
raring
'enthusiastic' is the definition.
(as in 'raring to go')
'artists' clique?' is the wordplay.
'artists'' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academy of the Arts).
'clique?' becomes 'ring' (I've seen this in other clues).
'ra'+'ring'='RARING'
(Other definitions for raring that I've seen before include "Eager, impatient" , "Eager (to go?)" , "Agog" , "Very eager (to do something)" , "Very keen (to go?)" .)