National Trust and Arts Council form a new contemporary art initiative
07 June, 2010
by: Spoonfed Arts Team
A new partnership between The National Trust and Arts Council England pledges to stage contemporary arts and crafts events in historic houses across the country.
Sometimes two heads are better than one. We can only presume that this was the reasoning behind the new partnership between the two cultural behemoths that are the National Trust and Arts Council England. In a bid to forge a relationship with the contemporary arts and crafts sector the bedfellows deliberated over the drawing board and, several elaborate brainstorms later, came up with an ingenious new initiative, Trust New Art.
The National Trust hopes to make contemporary art something of a staple and has vouched to set up a three-year contemporary arts and craft programme. What's more, with a rather enviable list of properties at its fingertips, the Trust has decided to stage said events at a number of historic and stately homes across England's green and pleasant land. Not too shabby at all.
The National Trust also hopes to provide commission opportunities for emerging and established artists participating in the wide programme of events and projects. So far, the list of National Trust properties dabbling in the contemporary arts is impressive. This summer Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire will throw open its doors and play host to a series of lighting pieces by Brazilian designers the Campana Brothers.
Meanwhile, up north in Cheshire, Tatton Park celebrates its second contemporary biennial, Framing Identity, with some twenty artists exhibiting in the opulent and lush surroundings. Artists in Herefordshire will be taking advantage of Croft Castle's serene valley setting as they produce work for the Tell it to the Trees series. Deep in an ancient deer park Turner Prize nominee Roger Hiorns has some work shown at the atmospheric and secluded Calke Abbey, and artist Susie MacMurray goes to town in the Marble Hall of Kedleston Hall with a maze-inspired installation of gold threads. Lovely jubbly.
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Image Courtesy: Steve Messam, Lily, 2010, Photo: Thierry Bal, Commissioned by Tatton Park Biennial.
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