2011 press release

This text was first released in 2011 as an announcement of the joint acquisition of the d'Offay collection by Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland.

NATIONAL GALLERIES OF SCOTLAND AND TATE ANNOUNCE ARTIST ROOMS RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP

News release issued: Friday 24 June 2011

National Galleries of Scotland and Tate are delighted to announce the creation of an innovative Research Partnership bringing together the two museums with a Consortium comprising the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art and the Institute of Education, University of London.

The Partnership is being established for a period of five years to deliver an ambitious and far-reaching programme of research into the ARTIST ROOMS Collection and its use as a shared national resource. This unique Partnership will also draw on the expertise of Learning and Teaching Scotland as an Associate Partner who will provide advice, share knowledge and facilitate connections specifically in relation to education in Scotland.

ARTIST ROOMS is a major collection of modern and contemporary art owned jointly by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland that was established through Anthony d’Offay’s extraordinary donation in 2008, with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and the Scottish and British Governments. This growing collection has the special purpose of engaging young people and is being shared with galleries and museums throughout the UK thanks to the support of the Art Fund, the fundraising charity for works of art.

In line with the pioneering nature of ARTIST ROOMS, a broad programme of research will be developed by the Research Partnership encompassing art historical, technical art historical and conservation research relating to the artists and works in ARTIST ROOMS, alongside investigations into museological and pedagogical concerns. There will be a special focus on intersecting areas of research relating to the engagement of young people with the collection, with research questions developed through discussion with this target audience.

Outcomes of the Partnership will be varied, including conferences and forums, journal articles, books, teaching resources, new curatorial and interpretation strategies, technological innovations, as well as a programme of internships and PhD studentships. More broadly, the Research Partnership will promote wide research networks within the UK and abroad who share an interest in ARTIST ROOMS. The Consortium responded to an open call for tenders invited by the two museums last year, a ground-breaking approach that elicited a UK-wide competition.

It is an honour to be working with such a sensational collection. The ARTIST ROOMS Research Partnership will be right at the forefront of creating new models between contemporary cultural institutions and academia, reaching out to new audiences, artists, funders and researchers everywhere.

ARTIST ROOMS has already made a huge difference to the way that modern and contemporary art is seen and appreciated by audiences across the UK. This important new partnership will create new relationships, resources and networks that will widen and deepen that impact for artists, students and researchers as well as the general public.

Tate is delighted to be working in partnership with these leading institutions on this important and far-reaching research which will help us to better understand the impact of ARTIST ROOMS and identify and realise the further potential of this outstanding Collection.

I am delighted that the impact and legacy of ARTIST ROOMS will now be examined in rigorous depth by some of the UK's leading academic institutions. Through this, I hope we will find new ways of sharing and developing this Collection and forge a better understanding of what contemporary art can mean to individuals up and down the country.

The ARTIST ROOMS Collection

The Collection, which will be added to over time with new acquisitions, includes over 1000 works of art, representing some 33 artists including Diane Arbus, Joseph Beuys, Jenny Holzer, Gerhard Richter, Ed Ruscha, August Sander and Andy Warhol. Since 2009 the collection has been seen by nearly 14 million people through exhibitions held at some 33 galleries and museums around the country as well as at National Galleries of Scotland and Tate sites. ARTIST ROOMS On Tour with the Art Fund was devised to enable this collection to reach and inspire new audiences across the country, particularly young people.

The Art Fund

The Art Fund is the national fundraising charity, helping UK museums and galleries to buy, show and share art. It offers many ways of enjoying art through the National Art Pass which gives free entry to over 200 museums, galleries and historic houses across the country as well as 50% off major exhibitions. Over the past 5 years, the Art Fund has given £24 million to 248 museums and galleries to buy art.

It also sponsors the UK tour of the ARTIST ROOMS collection - reaching several million people each year, and fundraises to help museums buys works of art. It is funded entirely by its 80,000 supporters who believe great art should be for everyone to enjoy.

Press contacts

National Gallery of Scotland

Tate 

ARTIST ROOMS was established through The d'Offay Donation in 2008 and is jointly owned and managed by National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. It is being shared with galleries and museums across the UK thanks to the generosity of the Art Fund.