This new post forms part of a major three-year initative funded by Arts Council England, North East with partnership funding from Turning Point North East. It follows on from the launch of a sister scheme in the North West of England last year. Rebecca’s role is to develop the audience for contemporary art and collecting in the region by implementing new programmes of engagement around collecting within the region, connecting to London and international projects, biennials, art fairs and other events.
Founded in 1910, the Contemporary Art Society is the national membership organisation for contemporary art enthusiasts and collectors. It exists to support contemporary artists and to promote collecting by both individuals and institutions, and through diverse activities generate the funds, which enable them to purchase significant works of contemporary art to give to public collections in the UK, where they can be enjoyed by the widest possible audience now and in the future.
“Building on the success of our scheme in the North West, we are delighted to have this opportunity to develop audiences for contemporary collecting in the North East, where the visual arts ecology has such potential. We are fortunate to have found in Rebecca someone who combines an international perspective on contemporary art with a passion for the North East region.
We are grateful to Arts Council England, North East and the Turning Point Group North East for their investment in this exciting new initiative, and to BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, for generously hosting this role.” – Paul Hobson, Director, Contemporary Art Society
Rebecca Morrill said “I feel privileged to be leading on the Contemporary Art Society’s exciting new venture in the North East. Working in the heart of the London art scene was a great experience and this is a fantastic opportunity to bring something of my insights back to the region. Mindful of the role the Contemporary Art Society has historically played to augment collections nationally and develop audiences for contemporary art, I look forward to creating a programme of critically engaged events, in partnership with arts organisations across the North East.”
Rebecca works Wednesday-Friday and can be contacted on 07815 830 182 or email rebecca@contemporaryartsociety.org