Government Art Collection Acquires Works by Yorkshire and East of England Artists

The Government Art Collection (GAC) has acquired ten new works this year as part of the fourth phase of the five-year Art-X UK project. This initiative is designed to ensure that the Collection reflects creative talent from across the entirety of the United Kingdom.

The newly acquired works come from artists based in Yorkshire and the Humber and the East of England. These pieces will be displayed in government buildings throughout the UK, as well as in ten British embassies and Ambassadors’ residences overseas. International locations for these displays include Washington DC, Ankara, Abu Dhabi, and Paris.

Among the artists whose work has been acquired is Grace Clifford. Clifford’s practice involves using everyday objects and industrial materials to challenge stereotypes about working-class communities. Her work also explores how family history, local places, and heritage shape people’s identities across generations.

Other artists from Yorkshire and the Humber whose works have been acquired include Kedisha Coakley, Karanjit Panesar, and Sam Metz. From the East of England, the selected artists are Issam Kourbaj, Sikelela Owen, Amartey Golding, and Claire Cansick.

The Art-X UK programme runs from 2022 to 2027. Each year, the programme focuses on different regions: previous years have highlighted Wales, the East Midlands, West Midlands, Scotland, and the North East. The current phase focuses on Yorkshire and the Humber and the East of England, with future years set to feature Northern Ireland, the North West, the South East, and the South West.

The works acquired through Art-X UK are intended to be seen by audiences both in the UK and internationally. The display of these works in government buildings and embassies aims to showcase the diversity of artistic practice from across England and the wider UK.

The partnership between the Government Art Collection and regional visual arts networks is intended to ensure that the national collection reflects the richness of artistic practice from all parts of England. The inclusion of these new works in the Collection marks a step towards broader representation of regional artists.