Borrowing from the Collection
For the next few years we are changing the way we lend...
We are preparing for our next chapter with exciting plans for a new Arts Council Collection store in Coventry. As the UK's major lender of modern and contemporary British art this will mean more opportunities for our art to be seen and loved both nationally and internationally.
During this period our capacity to lend works will be reduced. From autumn 2021 until spring 2024 we will not be able to lend our paintings, prints, drawings and photographs although we will be honouring any existing agreed requests. If you are thinking about borrowing a work from this side of the collection over the coming years, please submit your loan request by 1 September 2021 and we will do what we can to facilitate the loan. We welcome all loan requests for shows opening outside of this timeframe.
Our sculpture, film and digital art collections are very much open for business so please do get in touch and a member of our team will be delighted to talk to you.
For enquiries about our digital and film works please email loans@southbankcentre.co.uk and for sculpture-related enquiries please email sculpture@southbankcentre.co.uk
The Arts Council Collection is the principal source of modern and contemporary loans to museums and galleries across the UK.
From 2019 to 2020, the Arts Council Collection lent over one thousand artworks to exhibitions in the UK and internationally, which were seen by nearly 3 million visitors.
The Collection welcomes requests for loans from galleries and museums as part of their exhibition and display programmes. Loans to UK museums and galleries are usually free of charge. Formal applications for loans should be made in writing to the Director, Arts Council Collection, at least six months in advance.
To enquire about the availability of works, please contact: loans@southbankcentre.co.uk
Curators' Portal
Use our online Curators' Portal to create, save and download selections of artworks.
To use the Curators' Portal, simply:
1. Login or create an account using the link below.
2. Choose artworks by selecting ‘Add to My Collection’ from any of the 8,000+ artworks in the Collection.
3. You can use the Curators’ Portal to create and save multiple selections of works, as well as downloading lists.
The Long Loan scheme provides loans to the museum and gallery sector and public institutions such as universities, charities and hospitals.
The Select programme invites galleries and museums to select exhibitions and displays from the Arts Council Collection.
Works from the Collection are exhibited at our sculpture centre, Longside each year. Longside is a unique space for exhibitions, offering panoramic views of Yorkshire Sculpture Park.