Own Art is a publicly funded scheme operated by social enterprise Creative United in partnership with Novuna Consumer Finance with support from Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Arts Council of Wales.
The scheme offers interest-free loans for UK customers to buy original works of art and craft through a diverse network of over 300 galleries, art fairs and artist-led organisations.
Own Art’s 20th anniversary celebrations this autumn coincide with the expansion of the scheme into Wales under a new funding relationship with Arts Council of Wales.
Over 80,000 loans
Since the scheme launched in 2004, Own Art has provided over 80,000 loans, helping more than 50,000 art buyers across the UK acquire works by emerging and established artists, while supporting the UK’s vibrant visual arts sector with more than £79 million in sales. Surveys of users of the Own Art scheme conducted by Novuna indicate that 91% of users plan to purchase more art as a result of their experience, with 69% stating they would not have bought the artwork if our scheme had not been available.
Expansion to Wales
This year, Own Art are pleased to announce its expansion to galleries in Wales, where it will replace the long-standing Collectorplan scheme. While Collectorplan enabled the sale of art through many galleries in Wales over the last 40 years, Own Art will open up new opportunities by connecting Welsh galleries to a UK-wide audience for both in-person and online sales.
Diverse organisations UK wide
With over 300 organisations currently participating on the scheme, the Own Art community highlights the incredible diversity of the UK’s contemporary art and craft sectors. From artist-led organisations such as The Other Art Fair in London, to galleries showcasing local talent such as Moy MacKay Gallery in the Scottish Borders town of Peebles, and Saul Hay Gallery in Manchester, the scheme offers the opportunity to purchase original works of art and craft, primarily by UK based artists and makers.
Own Art is proud to have connected with, and offer the scheme through, organisations who platform communities at risk of being marginalised - such as Liberation Art Gallery in Brighton who work with artists specialising in therapeutic art; and Outside In who offer a platform for artists encountering barriers to the art world due to health, disability, or social circumstance.
Their membership also includes not-for-profit organisations like New Contemporaries, who support emerging arts practice through an annual touring exhibition, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the UK’s leading centre for modern and contemporary sculpture, and the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, an artist-led charity which supports artists and makers based in the West Midlands region, and beyond.
Mary-Alice Stack, Chief Executive of Creative United said: “Own Art has transformed the way people engage with contemporary art over the last 20 years, making art-buying accessible to all, and supporting many thousands of artists each year who have benefitted from the increased sales opportunities that the scheme has generated.
"As we expand the service into Wales, we aim to provide even more opportunities for art lovers to connect with artists and galleries. This expansion reflects our continued commitment to stimulating the creative economy through making art affordable to wider audiences right across the UK.”
Iain Munro, Chief Executive at Creative Scotland says: "Through the Own Art scheme, nearly 6,000 art lovers in Scotland have been able to acquire artworks to cherish, with total sales reaching almost £5million. This initiative helps sustain the work of artists and our gallery ecosystem, and Creative Scotland is proud to continue supporting Own Art as a significant driver in contemporary art sales.
"Offering interest-free credit for purchasing original works, the scheme removes financial barriers to art ownership, enabling artists and galleries to reach wider audiences. As we celebrate Own Art's 20th anniversary and the scheme’s expansion into Wales, we applaud its impact on artists and art enthusiasts across Scotland and the UK."
Head to the Own Art website to find out more: https://www.ownart.org.uk/
Media contacts
For press enquiries, please contact Irene Ruiz Garrido | [email protected]