Launching the CAS Rapid Response Fund supporting Artists and Museums across the UK
A Crowdfunding campaign in partnership with Contemporary Art Society, featuring limited-edition face masks designed by David Shrigley, Linder, Yinka Shonibare and Eddie Peake
A Crowdfunding campaign in partnership with Contemporary Art Society, featuring limited-edition face masks designed by David Shrigley, Linder, Yinka Shonibare and Eddie Peake
The CAS Rapid Response Fund is a timely initiative, extending the working relationship between Frieze London and CAS that has been in place since 2016. This year our partnership takes on a new form, shaped by an undeniably urgent need to support our community during these challenging times -Eva Langret, Artistic Director of Frieze London
The Contemporary Art Society has created a new fund, in partnership with Frieze London, as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic to support both artists and museums across the UK. The CAS Rapid Response Fund,will be used to buy artworks by early-career artists across the UK and donated to local museums and galleries, who will use these works to welcome back their communities as lockdown restrictions are relaxed.
Crowdfunding Campaign with David Shrigley, Eddie Peake, Linder and Yinka Shonibare
A crowdfunding campaign has been launched today, allowing art lovers to support contemporary artists and local museums across the UK. Money raised will be spent purchasing artworks by British-based artists, providing financial support to artists, technicians and art handlers, many of whom have seen their income streams decimated over recent weeks, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- People who donate £35 will receive a limited-edition facemask designed by leading artists – David Shrigley, Eddie Peake, Linder and Yinka Shonibare.
- £120 will buy a pack of all four.
- For those wishing to pledge further financial support, £2,500 will allow donors to become an honorary Patron of the Contemporary Art Society for a year.
- Donate here from Wednesday 20 May to Wednesday 10 June.
Due to government restrictions, museums across the UK are currently closed until July 4 at the earliest. The CAS Rapid Response Fund will ensure that when museums reopen, they are able to reach out to their communities through new acquisitions, playing a vital role in civic healing and mental wellbeing.
My design perhaps acknowledges that our emotions are more difficult to see when we wear a mask. The fund will provide incredible support to emerging artists at a time when the art world entirely ground to a halt, but also the technicians, the assistants, the small galleries that do so much to support younger artists in turn. -David Shrigley, artist
The CAS Rapid Response Fund builds upon the CAS Collections Fund at Frieze London, that has been in place at the fair since 2016, supporting the acquisition of contemporary art for museum collections across the UK.
The CAS has always been one of the most important investors at grassroots level in the arts ecosystem: supporting artists, galleries and museums through smart and timely purchases. That support is of critical importance right now, injecting investment directly where it is needed whilst helping museums become more active centres of our communities as we slowly recover from this period of lockdown. Thanks to the partnership with Frieze London we are able to reach art lovers and collectors across the world who are as keen to assist artists and museums as we are. -Caroline Douglas, Director, Contemporary Art Society
The crowdfunding campaign for the CAS Rapid Response Fund will be live for three weeks – from Wednesday 20 May to Wednesday 10 June.
