Recommendations to purchase innovative works of art that reflect artistic practice in Britain today are made by a changing group of external advisors to the Arts Council Collection Acquisitions Committee. The new Acquisitions Committee this year includes Harriet Cooper (Head of Visual Arts, Jerwood Arts), Marie-Anne McQuay (Head of Programmes, Bluecoat, Liverpool) and Vanessa Peterson (editor, photographer and writer). The Committee researches artists and makes recommendations from within and beyond established gallery networks and are responsible for including the most innovative and progressive works, ensuring a broad range of artists are considered each year.
The external advisers to the Acquisitions Committee for 2021–22 were: Simeon Barclay, artist, Martha Barratt, writer and editor, Alistair Robinson (Programme Director, Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art) and Dr. Zoé Whitley, Director of Chisenhale Gallery. The internal members of the Acquisitions Committee are Deborah Smith, Director, Arts Council Collection, with Ralph Rugoff (Director, Hayward Gallery), and Peter Heslip (Director, Visual Arts, Arts Council England). Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair of Arts Council England, is Chair to the Committee.
FULL LIST OF ARTISTS WITH WORK ACQUIRED BY ARTS COUNCIL COLLECTION 2021-2022
Ain Bailey, Alvaro Barrington, Ashanti Harris, Ayo Akingbade, Edwin Mingard, Everlyn Nicodemus, Jasleen Kaur, Joseph Buckley, Kira Freije, Louise Giovanelli, Michael Armitage, Mohammed Sami, Nicola Ellis, Nina Chua, Phoebe Collings-James, Rene Matić, Rhea Storr, Sharif Persaud, Somaya Critchlow, Theo Simpson, Vinca Petersen, Vivien Zhang, Alfred Cohen, Erika Tan, Dennis Mitchell, Rose Hilton, Terry Frost, John Wells, Richard Billingham, Jadé Fadojutimi, Dean Kenning.
For more information on the artists and works listed, please go to the Collection webpage.