News
Artwork from North West Artists acquired by the Government Art Collection
In 2024–25, Government Art Collection worked in partnership with arts networks in Northern Ireland and the Contemporary Visual Arts Network North West (CVAN NW).
Each network convened a panel of artists and curators who proposed a shortlist of artists from the region for the GAC team to research.
We are delighted to celebrate that 3 artists from the North West were acquired:
· Rebecca Chesney
· Magda Stawarska
· John Lyons
We will be celebrating this profound achievement by the artists by sharing short interviews with the artists and also creating an online feature on our website to promote the acquisitions of North West artists both past and present.
66 Million, Rebecca Chesney
North West Artist Rebecca Chesney said:
“Finding out that my work has been selected for the Government Art collection and the recognition this brings to my practice was an honour. It’s very exciting to have my work represented in a national collection for the first time.”
Canboulay, John Lyons
North West Artist John Lyons said:
“It is an honour for my work to have been chosen for the Government Art Collection. It is also a pleasure to be given the opportunity, through the GAC, to share aspects of my Caribbean culture with the rich and varied world of the visual arts; and hopefully, as an inspiration to aspiring younger artists.”
Lina Poletti Strada I, Magda Stawarska
North West Artist Magda Stawarska said:
“I am very pleased that through the acquisition by GAC this work has the potential to be seen across the globe. I look forward to the interactions it could achieve. The recognition that being part of this prestigious and dynamic collection brings means a great deal to me.”
3 Artists from Northern Ireland were also acquired:
· Locky Morris
· Louise Wallace
· Jennifer Trouton
Arts Minister Ian Murray said:
“The UK is full of artistic talent and I am thrilled that new artworks from Northern Ireland and the North West are being represented in the Government Art Collection so we can showcase our remarkable artists on the world stage.
“The Art X-UK project gives recognition to our artistic talent throughout the nation and is supporting our creative industries to flourish around the world.”
In 2022, the GAC, which is part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), launched a five-year acquisitions programme to collect works from exciting talent and showcase the best of UK creativity – promoting further interest in the country’s globally renowned creative sector.
The Art X-UK project initially ran as a successful pilot scheme in 2020–21. Since then, more than 160 pieces by 72 contemporary visual artists have been acquired for the collection.
As part of the first year of this project, the GAC acquired 40 new pieces of artwork from Wales and the Midlands. Last year, the GAC acquired more than 20 new artworks from Scotland and the North East.
These works are now on display in government buildings around the country and internationally in British embassies and Ambassadors’ residences, including Washington DC, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and Paris.
Director and co-Chair of Contemporary Visual Arts Network North West Sam Lackey said:
“It has been a privilege to support the Government Art Collection in selecting artists for this year’s acquisitions. The process, which draws from the expertise and insights of curators across the North West, highlights the incredible diversity of artists across our region. Art X-UK is not just about expanding the collection – it’s about ensuring that the Government Art Collection remains a true reflection of the wealth of talent found in our region. This collaboration is a testament to the power of our partnerships across Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside and CVAN NW’s collective commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive visual arts community.”