Today (9 January) sees the opening of the Contemporary Art Society’s (CAS) new 3,000 square foot exhibition space in Clerkenwell, London. The charity – founded in 1910, and one of the UK’s oldest contemporary art organisations – has donated over 8,000 works of art to national collections across the UK. However, they’ve never before had a permanent home.
The new gallery has been designed by internationally renowned London-based architectural practice, Carmody Groake and sits within a constellation of public and commercial galleries close to Old Street station. The large minimalist space also features offices and an informal reception, plus a meeting space and library on the ground floor. In addition there is a seminar room that will host talks and events.
Paul Hobson, Director of CAS, explains what the space will bring to the organisation: “It will enable us to give greater visibility and access to our work, especially to provide a platform for our members and the public to see the works we are donating to museums and public galleries across the UK, before they depart for their new homes. We will be showcasing recent gifts of work donated through the support of our members and patrons and other fundraising activities.”
Crucially, the space will have a unique focus on the work of emerging artists, in particular those that are part of the CAS Artists Members scheme. Hobson explains: “On the ground floor we will be presenting changing displays from our Artists Members – artists with whom we’ve worked in some way, or whose work we have purchased for museums and public collections – along with selected artists. The work [will be] selected either by curators within our networks, private collectors, or our national networks of curators working in museums with public collections.”
The inaugural exhibition will feature 2012 Turner Prize winner Elizabeth Price, whose work User Group Disco (2009) was purchased last year for the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh. Following this will be changing displays by Louise Fairclough, Phyllida Barlow and Ivan Seal. In addition, Conversations on Contemporary Art will offer a series of topical, discursive and social events for CAS members and invited art world guests.
“We’re keen to give greater access to audiences in London to the incredibly rich and important collections we have across the country,” explains Hobson, “as well as to show historic and contemporary works in dialogue, and to do so through the eyes of the artist as curator. So for instance, the displays will often bring together the work we have donated alongside a small group of works from the public collection acquiring the work, selected by the artist.”
Hobson talks about the future of CAS as being about building “‘a coalition of the willing’ with organisations and individuals who share our values.” Artists, he says, have a key role to play in this. “We benefit enormously from the inspirational energy of artists. Even in these very difficult times when it is difficult for so many artists, they are still the oxygen that fuels our ambitions.”
For more information the Contemporary Art Society visit www.contemporaryartsociety.org
