Sheila McGregor museums and galleries consultant
"Yes, we do need a strategy. By and large, regional galleries are not collecting the newest forms of artistic practice and audiences are therefore losing out. Of course there are some excellent initiatives, such as Art Fund International. But the overall picture is patchy.
The biggest challenges will be up-skilling curators, coordinating effort and raising money. A national endowment fund might be the answer. But shouldn't we also aim to rekindle the spirit of civic responsibility in local authorities? Well done, Arts Council England (ACE), for producing this report."
Matthew Rowe director, Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne
"I support ACE's intervention to stimulate debate around a contemporary collecting strategy, but I am wary of talk of a single national resource that "truly reflects international practice" as
this suggests that regional collections are merely bit players in a larger whole, whereas clear distinctiveness of individual collections should surely be the aim.
We should be developing the small number of regional centres of excellence that already have the expertise to acquire and share contemporary collections, rather than initiating a wholesale contemporary collecting habit that will lead to dilution of standards.
Strategic and quality collecting is not an easy habit to acquire. It is no accident that all of the English Art Fund International institutions were led by staff with experience of the Contemporary Art Society's Special Collection Scheme."
Paul Hobson director, Contemporary Art Society
"There should be a national strategy; indeed this initiative came out of the meeting we had with Margaret Hodge to ask for her support to drive this forward. We welcome the arts council paper, which recognises that funding is just one issue, along with the need to support the professional development of curators and for closer partnerships between organisations funded by local authorities and the arts council.
Building contemporary collections which are distinct and attract national and international audiences, clearly requires a strategic approach and financial investment. The ACE paper is a useful starting point for the considerations of the proposed steering group, which will take these initial ideas into a more practical arena."
Jonathan Watkins director, Ikon, Birmingham
"A national strategy will be helpful, especially if it comes with national support. Hopefully it will engender more enlightened collaboration between temporary exhibition galleries, such as Ikon, and their local authorities, which can only be a good thing.
There are so many exhibitions of contemporary art, often with commissioned work by great artists from the UK and abroad, but without much lasting effect on our museums.
We have to be proactive; it's a question of us seeking partnerships such as those made possible by Art Fund International, giving us a great opportunity to work with Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery and the New Art Gallery Walsall. We are all looking forward to the adventure."
"Yes, we do need a strategy. By and large, regional galleries are not collecting the newest forms of artistic practice and audiences are therefore losing out. Of course there are some excellent initiatives, such as Art Fund International. But the overall picture is patchy.
The biggest challenges will be up-skilling curators, coordinating effort and raising money. A national endowment fund might be the answer. But shouldn't we also aim to rekindle the spirit of civic responsibility in local authorities? Well done, Arts Council England (ACE), for producing this report."
Matthew Rowe director, Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne
"I support ACE's intervention to stimulate debate around a contemporary collecting strategy, but I am wary of talk of a single national resource that "truly reflects international practice" as
this suggests that regional collections are merely bit players in a larger whole, whereas clear distinctiveness of individual collections should surely be the aim.
We should be developing the small number of regional centres of excellence that already have the expertise to acquire and share contemporary collections, rather than initiating a wholesale contemporary collecting habit that will lead to dilution of standards.
Strategic and quality collecting is not an easy habit to acquire. It is no accident that all of the English Art Fund International institutions were led by staff with experience of the Contemporary Art Society's Special Collection Scheme."
Paul Hobson director, Contemporary Art Society
"There should be a national strategy; indeed this initiative came out of the meeting we had with Margaret Hodge to ask for her support to drive this forward. We welcome the arts council paper, which recognises that funding is just one issue, along with the need to support the professional development of curators and for closer partnerships between organisations funded by local authorities and the arts council.
Building contemporary collections which are distinct and attract national and international audiences, clearly requires a strategic approach and financial investment. The ACE paper is a useful starting point for the considerations of the proposed steering group, which will take these initial ideas into a more practical arena."
Jonathan Watkins director, Ikon, Birmingham
"A national strategy will be helpful, especially if it comes with national support. Hopefully it will engender more enlightened collaboration between temporary exhibition galleries, such as Ikon, and their local authorities, which can only be a good thing.
There are so many exhibitions of contemporary art, often with commissioned work by great artists from the UK and abroad, but without much lasting effect on our museums.
We have to be proactive; it's a question of us seeking partnerships such as those made possible by Art Fund International, giving us a great opportunity to work with Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery and the New Art Gallery Walsall. We are all looking forward to the adventure."
