Against the backdrop of the art sector’s panic during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government trialled its Art X-UK project, which would become an annual drive to acquire the best of new British art for the Government Art Collection. This year a further 20 works by artists from Scotland and the Northeast were secured for the Collection. Appointment to the collection is marketed as a beacon of hope for the artist struggling through the uncertainty of COVID and its aftermath, and the project a “celebration” of raw British talent. A peruse on the Government Art Collection’s website, however, reveals that most of the Collection is displayed in government buildings not accessible to the general public. This seems directly at odds with the alleged aim of the project – what good is a homage to Britain that Britain at large can’t see? And, in the spirit of “Partygate,” what good is a celebration if only the establishment are invited?
The nominees for annual selection are put forward by contemporary art networks across the UK. The project asks for submissions that reflect Britain’s artistic diversity; in the 2020/21 selection process, out of 45 selected artists, 26 identified as women or non-binary, 20 as BAME, 6 as LGBTQ+, and 4 disclosed a disability.
Nomination to the collection is not entirely an empty gesture; although the private display of the art is controversial, selection is an honour and a career-boost. Following the acquisition of his work as part of the 2020/21 project, Nepalese-British artist Manish Harijan was granted a Global Talent visa by the British Council, allowing him to continue to work in the UK, having fled Nepal following backlash to his work on religious grounds. Having work reflecting such a range of personal experiences, from the religious and political oppression depicted in Harijan’s work, to mental illness, to navigating mixed racial identity in Britain, displayed for those in the highest ranks of government to see, could serve as a reminder for them to act in the interests of marginalised groups. It is worth remembering however that Boris Johnson, whose government first devised Art-X UK, once spent £100k on two works of art to hang in 10 Downing Street, all while drafting plans to slash benefits. In light of this, endeavours to display British art in government buildings seem far less public-spirited, and more like a renovation attempt.
Hope for public display of these works comes in the form of the new Labour government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy certainly tow the traditional Labour Party line, the line that saw free national museum and gallery admission put in place in 2001. Sir Keir has vowed to “bring art to where people are,” and Nandy has voiced her plans to get the Government Art Collection in particular “out of the basement and into communities.” Though the mechanics of Labour’s plans are murky, with their manifesto vaguely touching on requiring national galleries to increase, to an undisclosed scale, their loans to public spaces, one can hope that they make good on their promises.
“Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets Irish Taoiseach (53863886983)” by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street is licensed under CC BY 2.0.