LONDON.- This September, Art UK - the cultural education charity that is bringing together the nation’s art on one platform - launches a major fundraising initiative comprising an auction and a fixed-price sale of print editions. The initiative will feature some of the UK’s leading contemporary artists together with some of the nation’s most exciting new generation of painters, sculptors and printmakers.

Over 60 artists including Rana Begum RA, Marius Bercea, Stephen Chambers RA, Eileen Cooper RA, Richard Deacon RA, David Mach RA, Humphrey Ocean RA, Cornelia Parker OBE RA, Veronica Ryan, Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Bob and Roberta Smith OBE RA, Bernar Venet and Rose Wylie RA are among those confirmed, with a full list of artist names to be announced in September. Aligning with Art UK’s mission to democratise the world of art, the auction and print sale will include artworks by young, emerging artists, many of whom have been recommended by other participating artists. There will also be a focus on ensuring the auction includes artists from across the whole of the UK.

The proceeds of the sales will be split equally with the artists. This means collectors can acquire artworks whilst supporting the work of Art UK and also over 100 artists. Art UK’s share will go to support key areas of its work. In particular, it will use the funds to grow its schools learning resources, add more artworks to its website and tell the stories about underrepresented artists and those who have not had the recognition they are due.

Artists are essential stakeholders in the Art UK initiative and sharing the income raised is fundamental to how the charity works with artists. Artworks by over 50,000 artists are on the Art UK website, including work by nearly 10,000 living artists. The website is the only national inventory of artists’ works in public collections and, in the case of public sculptures, in the streets and squares of Britain.

Andy Ellis, Director, said ‘Ever since we started our work in 2003, artists have been central to what we do. They sit on our Board, they help create our learning resources, they write for us and feature in our stories, and they give us permission to reproduce their works. But most importantly, they are the reason for the extraordinary art collection we all own, that Art UK shares with the world’.

Art UK has partnered with the Auction Collective, who will run the auction and print sale. The Auction Collective’s relationship with Own Art and their innovative and more affordable approach to the auction resonate with Art UK’s own mission to make art accessible for new audiences. Art UK has also partnered with Cromwell Place - the stunning new complex of galleries in South Kensington. Cromwell Place will host a short exhibition of selected works and the live auction on 29 September.