Supporting museums across the UK
Founded in 1910, the Contemporary Art Society exists to develop public collections of contemporary art in the UK. For over 100 years, we have played a leading role in building inspirational collections of modern and contemporary art for audiences across the country, donating more than 10,000 works for public benefit. We do so in order to ensure the widest possible access to the work of living artists for audiences nationally and to make a significant contribution to the cultural heritage of Britain.
This sustained activity over many decades makes the Contemporary Art Society one of the most important investors in public collections in the UK and, by extension, of successive generations of contemporary artists.
The Contemporary Art Society has often purchased early in an artist’s career and this ability to identify talent `ahead of the curve’ continues to be a key strength of our approach. Today, we work with curators of our UK-wide Museum Membership to ensure that together, we make the most relevant, lasting and meaningful additions to these important regional collections. We aim to work with museums to support their acquisition policies, building their connections with their communities, creating inspirational collections for audiences today and tomorrow.
The Contemporary Art Society currently has a membership of 78 museums across the UK: from Plymouth in the South to Orkney in the North, from Swansea in the West to Norwich in the East. Collectively, these museums welcome more than 21 million visitors a year. Museums and public collections play an important role in the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of the country, contributing towards social cohesion and civic pride, driving tourism and regeneration, and are an inspirational and educational resource for people of all ages and backgrounds.
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