The work of the Government Art Collection falls into four broad areas:

• selecting and placing works of art in Government buildings in the UK and abroad
• maintaining and caring for works of art in the Collection
• developing the Collection through a programme of acquisition and research
• lending works of art to public exhibitions
  

Selection

We arrange displays of art in Government buildings in the UK and around the world. These buildings include 10 Downing Street and Ministerial Offices in the UK, and the reception areas of several hundred British Embassies and Residencies in a wide range of cities across the globe. We aim to select works of art that have a strong connection with the location and/or the work undertaken in the building. Outside the UK, this choice includes works of art that demonstrate historical or contemporary associations between Britain and the host country. For example, the Ambassador's Residence in Cairo features Reflection, a painting by Bridget Riley. She was greatly inspired by a visit to Egypt, basing the colours of her work on the wall paintings in the tombs of Upper Egypt. We also consider other criteria, including the architecture of a building, environmental conditions and the functions of individual rooms and spaces.

Recent projects have included new displays of art in Moscow, New York, Madrid and Brussels and, in the UK, 10 Downing Street, Ministry of Justice and the Department for Work and Pensions.

George Hayter's portrait of Antonio Canova, sculptor of The Three Graces hangs in the British Ambassador's Residence in Paris. Canova was a frequent visitor to the Embassy, and appealed successfully to the Duke of Wellington for the return to Italy of works of art taken to France during the Napoleonic era

Acquisition and Research

The GAC purchases new works of art with the approval of an Advisory Committee. We aim to acquire works by artists who have a strong British connection: for example, those who were born or studied in Britain, or who have lived or are currently living in the country. Works must be robust and be able to withstand being displayed in non-gallery, working domestic and office environments. They will often have a particular historical or contemporary association with a specific Government building or country.

Purchases in recent years include historic works by Frederick Leighton and Thomas Bardwell, and works by contemporary artists Cornelia Parker, Hew Locke and Matthew Darbyshire. We also occasionally commission works of art, such as Andrew Grassie’s paintings of Downing Street and the GAC Sculpture Store.

Andrew Grassie's diminutive paintings, commissioned by the GAC in 2002, show the Pillared Room at 10 Downing Street and the sculpture storage area at the GAC's premises.

We provide interpretative material for visitors to the buildings where works of art are displayed. Occasionally we give talks to staff on site about the works in their building so they can deal with questions from visitors, or to draw attention to particular works during tours.

A talk being given to staff in the Glazed Gallery of the Ambassador’s Residence in Paris. Many contemporary works from the GAC are hung here to showcase the work of British artists.

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