Ten significant contemporary artworks have been added to Manchester Art Gallery’s permanent collection thanks to The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund, the largest philanthropic art fund of its kind in Northern England.
The new acquisitions, unveiled this week at Manchester Art Gallery, continue a remarkable success story for the city, with the Fund having secured 48 works for public ownership since its launch in 2017.
Founded by Thom Hetherington, Executive Chairman of Manchester Art Fair and The Manchester Contemporary, the Fund was created to support artists at pivotal stages in their careers while helping Manchester Art Gallery build a significant and representative contemporary collection for the people of Manchester and beyond.
Since its inception, the Fund has raised more than £127,000, enabling important contemporary works to enter Manchester Art Gallery’s collection, where they will remain publicly accessible for generations to come.
Central to the Fund’s success is a growing community of supporters drawn from across Manchester and the North. Bringing together individuals from business, academia, law, media, property and the creative industries, its members share a belief in the importance of culture, a commitment to supporting emerging artists and a desire to ensure that outstanding contemporary art remains accessible to everyone.
The latest acquisitions include works by Manchester-based artists Katie Tomlinson, Lindsey Bull and Brass Art, alongside nationally recognised artists Shezad Dawood, Hetain Patel, Lisa Milroy, Helen Thomas, Simeon Barclay and Errol Theunissen.
The acquisitions reinforce Manchester’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading cultural cities and highlight the important role philanthropy can play in supporting artists, galleries and public access to contemporary art.
Fiona Corridan, Content Lead at Manchester Art Gallery, said: “The new acquisitions funded by The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund inject new energy into Manchester Art Gallery’s collection, introducing fresh and thought-provoking perspectives that enrich and recontextualise the works already held within it.
“As well as contributing to the wider arts ecology, the Fund is directly supporting artists through the inclusion of their work in a significant regional collection with the visibility, validation and long-term impact that it brings.”
For artists, acquisition by Manchester Art Gallery provides a significant career milestone. For audiences, it ensures that contemporary art remains freely accessible and that the collection continues to reflect the creativity and diversity of the artists shaping culture today.
Thom Hetherington, Founder of The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund, said: “Manchester has always been a city that believes culture matters. One of the reasons this Fund has been so successful is because people across the city have come together around a shared belief that contemporary art should be accessible to everyone, not just a privileged few.
“Over the last nine years we have created something which has gained national and even international recognition. We have supported artists at critical moments in their careers, strengthened one of the country’s most important civic collections and ensured that significant contemporary works are brought into public ownership.
“The works unveiled this week are another important chapter in that story and a reminder of what can be achieved when a city invests in its cultural future.”
The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund’s continued success demonstrates the strength of Manchester’s cultural community and its commitment to ensuring that contemporary art remains a vital part of the city’s identity.
