Art X-UK 2023–24

In 2023–24, the Government Art Collection visited Scotland and the North East to acquire works of art by artists from those regions.

11 artists were selected, and more than 20 new works of art will now go on display in government buildings around the world.

It’s amazing to be representing the North East in the Government Art Collection. The North East is one of the most exciting places for the arts in the UK and it’s really wonderful to see my region being recognised for its talent.

The North East is huge, so sometimes I do think, where do I fit within that and am I representing the issues that people care about? But I think because my work is class-based, there is that connection. More UK art collections should look to the North East.

— Joanne Coates, artist

Who we worked with

CVAN England
Operating across nine regions of England, the Contemporary Visual Art Network is a sector support and advocacy organisation, working regionally and nationally since 2012. A network that advocates for and represents a diverse community of artists, creative practitioners, arts organisations, institutions and art galleries across the whole of England’s visual arts sector. Regions: South West, South East, London, East, East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire, North East, North West.

This year, we worked with Art Network North East, focusing on artists based in the North East.

Every year, a CVAN region in England undertakes a thorough process to nominate and select artists for the Government Art Collection. The selection panels are composed of diverse representatives from the local visual arts community. What I find remarkable about this process is its democratic nature, which offers the Collection a broader perspective on artists who might otherwise be overlooked. This platform is crucial for artists seeking recognition and new opportunities. With increasing challenges for regional artists to access London and its networks, this partnership and the Art X-UK project help dismantle those barriers.

– Paula Orrell, CVAN England, National Director

Scottish Contemporary Art Network (SCAN)
Scottish Contemporary Art Network (SCAN) connects and champions Scotland’s contemporary art community. 297 organisational and individual members work at the heart of communities from Shetland to the Scottish Borders and from East Lothian to the Western Isles. They include Scotland’s leading galleries, artists’ studios, workshops and production facilities and a highly skilled workforce of artists, art workers and creative thinkers. They sustain a network of free at the point of access galleries and venues, responsive and flexible institutions that anchor local communities and open their doors to their neighbours and visitors alike.

We’re thrilled that artworks by Leo Robinson, Ashanti Harris, Ilana Halperin, Iman Tajik and Matthew Arthur Williams will be seen and shared in public buildings throughout the UK and across the world. These artists from Scotland tell complex individual stories and give voice to their communities, through artworks that are rich, complex and also very, very beautiful. At SCAN we believe that art can sit at the heart of public life and artists can be central to the way we see the world, so we’re delighted to partner with the Government Art Collection.

– Moira Jeffrey, Director, Scottish Contemporary Art Network

A series of four images of four ceramic artworks that look like stills from a film; in the first one, a blue and white patterned bowl of soup sits on a blue placemat, surrounded by a spoon, napkins, a glass of something yellow, another smaller bowl of soup and more food. In the second one is a close-up of the placemat and the bowl of soup, taken as if shot directly from above; in the third, we're even closer to the patterned bowl and the red spirals within the soup; in the final image, we can't see anything but the red and white spirals.

Kara Chin, Spiralling, 2023

Who are the artists

Kara Chin (Art Network North East), Joanne Coates (Art Network North East), Ilana Halperin (SCAN), Ashanti Harris (SCAN), Emily Hesse (Art Network North East), Rachel Lancaster (Art Network North East), Annie O’Donnell (Art Network North East), Leo Robinson (SCAN), Kuba Ryniewicz (Art Network North East), Iman Tajik (SCAN), Matthew Arthur Williams (SCAN).

 

Special thanks to all the networks and panellists who put forward this exceptional selection of artists from across the North East and Scotland.

To keep updated on Art X-UK and learn more about these artworks, follow the Government Art Collection on social media and use the hashtag #ArtXUK to take part in the conversation.