Own Art

Do you envy Charles Saatchi's art collection? Do you yearn to make that final bid for Damien Hirst's latest magnum opus, a sow pickled in Tizer? Well, now you can start your own hoard of contemporary artwork through Own Art, an initiative from Arts Council England designed to make art affordable to the non-multi-millionaires among us. 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Own Art loans are available in over 250 galleries in England and they allow you to buy "original works of art by living artists in any media." You can borrow anything from £100 to £2000, which is then paid back (interest free) over ten months.

There are galleries across England that participate in this scheme, from the North East to the South West. There are similar schemes running in Wales and Scotland.

BECOMING A COLLECTOR

If you wonder what's it like to become a collector, the Own Art website offers insight into the experience with some musings from people who've been collecting art for a long time. So, if you like the idea of this scheme but are wondering how you can possibly justify it to your family - who think you should put their material interests first - look here for some help.

25 June 2010