about us

Founded in 1910, the Contemporary Art Society exists to develop public collections of contemporary art in the UK. We do so through raising the funds to purchase and commission new works of contemporary art for our national network of public collections, and by strategically soliciting gifts of works to these collections for public benefit.

For 100 years, we have played a unique and largely solitary role in the formation of public collections of contemporary art in this country, donating more than 8,000 works where they are enjoyed by audiences everywhere. We continue to act as a catalyst for the visual arts in the UK, developing audiences, artists, curators, collectors and collections alike.

We are a national membership organisation, bringing together individuals, institutions and organisations, including contemporary art enthusiasts and collectors, curators and artists, commercial gallerists and a UK-wide network of public collections in regional museums and art galleries.

As a society, we run membership schemes for individuals which offer inspirational insight into the world of contemporary art and private collecting, and for curators and those who work with collections, strategic programmes and initiatives which aim to build capacity and knowledge within and about public collections. All proceeds raised through our activities are used to purchase new works of art for our Member Museums and Galleries.