CHOOSE ART Campaign raises over £200,000 to support artists and museums during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Contemporary Art Society’s CHOOSE ART campaign in partnership with Frieze and fashion designer and activist Katharine Hamnett has raised over £200,000 at its close on 16 April 2021.

People donating £60 received an exclusively designed CHOOSE ART t-shirt by Katharine Hamnett London, with £10 donations receiving a CHOOSE ART badge as a reward. A combination of crowdfunding and private donations led to a total of £200,535.50 to be spent on new art for museums.

The campaign is designed to support as many different artists and local museums as possible, based on the understanding that art and museums will play a vital role in helping communities across the nation heal following the Covid-19 pandemic. Money spent purchasing artworks also provides financial support to artists, technicians and art handlers, many of whom work on a freelance basis and have seen their income streams decimated over the past year.

All funds raised during the campaign will be spent on purchasing art and craft for our Member Museums and we look forward to sharing the exciting news with you as purchases are made. As always, purchasing is overseen by the 2021 CAS Acquisitions Advisory Committee, an external panel chaired by CAS Director Caroline Douglas that meets four times a year.

The CHOOSE ART campaign will ensure that when museums across the UK reopen, they are able to reach out to their communities through new acquisitions, playing a vital role in civic healing and mental wellbeing as well as bringing new life to high streets.