Arts Council England announces investment into future of the Arts Council Collection
1 May 2014 04:24 PM
We have just announced
additional strategic funding for the Arts Council Collection to support an
enhanced programme at Longside Sculpture Gallery and to establish three
additional long-term partner venues across the country to support the existing
relationship with the Southbank Centre.
Strategic funds will be
available in 2015 to develop these regional venues, as will a special
acquisition fund for artists working outside the
capital.
The Arts Council Collection is
the national loan collection of modern and contemporary British art. It was
founded in 1946 by Kenneth Clark to inspire and enrich the nation’s
appreciation and knowledge of contemporary art through touring exhibitions and
loans to galleries and public buildings throughout the country. It now also
reaches audiences through publications and digital programmes, with millions
seeing it each year through the exhibitions programme and long term loans. The
collection currently represents 2,162 artists across 7,747
artworks.
The aim of this additional
funding is to create a legacy with regional partners at a time when regional
museums and galleries are under considerable pressure. It is intended to
enhance contemporary curatorial capacity and confidence in the regions, as well
as showcase the best of the collection to attract new audiences, and enliven
regional collections with relevant Collection works.
The regional partners will be
found through an open call application process where they will be asked to
demonstrate their plans to create long term visible homes for the Collection,
increasing the profile and awareness of the Collection with supporting digital
activity and to work with the Southbank Centre to enhance the wider education
and learning activities programmes.
The Arts Council will also be
continuing to work with the Southbank Centre, who have managed the Collection
since 1989, to develop a programme of activity that will maximise the reach of
the Collection and access to it across the country by building on the existing
exhibitions and loan programmes.