The Art Fund has announced plans to increase funding for museums and galleries to buy and show art by over 50% by 2014.
Responding to the severe financial pressures facing most institutions, the Art Fund is committing £7 million a year to the funding programme – up from £4.5 million.
The Art Fund is also launching the National Art Pass, giving special access to art all over the UK.
The Art Fund will develop it’s funding programme to deliver art to all corners of the UK in different ways, and to help people experience great art at first hand, by:
Making more money directly available to help museums buy important works of art – the Art Fund has given over £24m over the last five years to 248 museums
Running more public fundraising campaigns for art at risk of being lost to UK collections – such as the recent £6m Brueghel and Staffordshire Hoard campaigns
Sharing art around the UK through support of tours, exhibitions, projects and events – continued support throughout 2012 for ARTIST ROOMS on Tour announced today
Supporting curatorial development – beginning with a new partnership with the National Gallery to nurture curatorial talent in regional museums
Supporting the collecting of international contemporary art – through the £5m Art Fund International scheme
Celebrating, advocating and supporting the museums and galleries sector – through the Art Fund Prize for museums and galleries
Campaigning for ways to make it easier for museums to acquire art – for example through tax reforms to encourage lifetime giving
Helping people make the most of art – through the introduction of the National Art Pass and a national guide to art
www.artfund.org
