Own Art, a new national interest free loan scheme, has been launched by Arts Council England (ACE). It offers interest free loans of up to £2,000 towards the purchase of new contemporary art in 250 galleries across the country.
The scheme, which was piloted regionally last year, has been rolled out nationally in response to research carried out into public attitudes to buying art. The Taste Buds report conducted by Morris Hargreaves McIntyre discovered that 4.9 million people in England own art but a further 5.9 million have aspirations to buy art. At the launch of the scheme, Sir Christopher Frayling, Chair of ACE said, ?The art market outside London is underdeveloped yet we know there is enormous scope for growth. Many more people will now be able to enjoy living with original, high-quality contemporary art in their own homes. Art needn?t be restricted to big white-painted gallery spaces.?
Published: 29-11-2004