More than 140 people have purchased new works of contemporary art and craft worth £84,000 during the first six months of the Scottish Arts Council’s Own Art scheme, it was revealed today, as an additional 22 galleries across Scotland are selected to participate in the initiative.

Own Art, which aims to foster a nation of art collectors and help develop the visual arts economy in Scotland, has been operating in nine Scottish art galleries since its launch in December 2004 and has proved a success with galleries, customers and artists alike.

Own Art offers interest free loans (typical 0% APR) of £100 to £2,000, which are repaid in regular instalments, making it easier for people to buy high quality contemporary art and crafts. By encouraging sales in a wide range of visual art and craft including painting, sculpture, photography and ceramics, Own Art aims to encourage new buyers and patrons of contemporary art and develop the visual arts economy through increasing sales, which will benefit both galleries and artists.

The scheme is now being expanded to include galleries the length and breadth of Scotland, from galleries such as the Red Door Gallery and Doggerfisher in Edinburgh to more remote galleries such as the Bonhoga Gallery on Shetland, the Finsbay Gallery on South Harris and the Custom House Gallery in Dumfriesshire (see full list below).
The type of work available to purchase through the scheme has also been expanded through the selection of new galleries, and buyers will now be able to use the credit facility to purchase contemporary paintings, ceramics, glass and jewellery, photography, sculpture and multi-media based art.

The Modern Institute in Glasgow is one of the latest galleries that will now be participating in the Own Art scheme, and is renowned internationally for its artists’ work, representing three of the four Scottish artists exhibiting at this year’s Venice Biennale as well as the two Scottish artists nominated for the 2005 Turner Prize, Simon Starling and Jim Lambie.

Tony Webster of the Modern Institute says: ‘I am delighted that the Modern Institute is now involved in Own Art – the scheme creates a great financial framework to be able to afford unique artworks by contemporary artists. For people who would like to start collecting or have already started, it should provide a painless system which will benefit the artists immediately.’

Mary Smith, owner of the Bonhoga Gallery, adds: ‘As one of Scotland’s more remote galleries, Bonhoga is delighted to offer a chance to purchase art on the same terms as venues in the city, thus removing another parochial barrier. This is a great opportunity for visitors to the gallery to extend, or begin to collect art. The opportunity to purchase work on an interest-free basis allows folk to buy pieces that may, in normal circumstances, be beyond their reach. This has advantages for the buyer, the gallery and the artist who may now be able to sell more expensive works.’

Wendy Law, Visual Arts Officer at the Scottish Arts Council and Manager of the Own Art scheme in Scotland, says: ‘Own Art is all about developing the visual arts market in Scotland and in the first six months, all of the galleries involved have had new customers buying work which they would not have been able to afford otherwise.

‘We are delighted to add another 22 galleries to the scheme, bringing the total of galleries involved to 31. There is a widespread misconception that in Scotland you can only buy high quality contemporary art in the big cities. There is a wealth of rural and local art galleries across Scotland who are selling really good quality work by both established and upcoming Scottish artists. The geographic spread of the galleries involved in Own Art reflects this and means that people across Scotland can benefit from the scheme while the diversity of the work on sale in the different galleries means there really is something available for everyone.

She adds: ‘Own Art, however, is not just good for the galleries and their customers, it is also benefiting artists. More people buying original artwork will create more demand for work by Scottish artist and because Own Art offers qualified buyers instant credit, galleries can pay artists almost immediately.’

The 31 galleries involved in the scheme are: Amber Roome*, Doggerfisher*, Edinburgh Print Workshop, Ingleby Gallery, Leith Gallery*, Merz Gallery*, Red Door Gallery*, Royal Scottish Academy* and Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh; the Gatehouse Gallery*, Glasgow Print Studio, Modern Institute*, Roger Bilcliffe Gallery, Sorcha Dallas* in Glasgow; the Collins Gallery* at Strathyclyde University; the Stenton Gallery* in East Lothian; Peacock Visual Arts in Aberdeen; the Castle Gallery and Kilmorack Gallery* in Invernesshire; the Custom House Gallery* and High Street Gallery* in Kircudbright; Frames Contemporary* and Strathearn Gallery in Perthshire; the Jerdan Gallery* in Crail; the Juno Design Gallery* in Dunoon; Dundee Contemporary Arts and Eduardo Alessandro Studios* in Dundee; Tolquhon Gallery* in Ellon, Aberdeenshire; Finsbay Gallery* in South Harris, Bonhoga Gallery* in Lerwick and the Riverside Gallery* in Stonehaven (* denotes new gallery).

Galleries are selected by an independent panel which assesses each application based on certain criteria including the quality of work on sale, their professional relationship with artists, the quality of exhibition space and the knowledge and training of staff. It is expected that the number of galleries exhibiting in the scheme will rise to 50 by the end of 2005 and the Scottish Arts Council will be working with member galleries to help promote Own Art, creating a wider audience for the substantial network of Own Art galleries and ultimately, leading to more sales.

For further information on the galleries or how the Own Art works, visit www.scottisharts.org.uk