Glasgow based sculpture group art gifts will widen community access to the arts

World-class sculptures will be donated to a Scottish primary school and a housing association as part of a drive to broaden access to art.

Article Source: Sculpture Placement Group
Last Updated: 12 February 2021 14:36

Glasgow-based Sculpture Placement Group (SPG) is gifting the works as part of what’s believed to be the first ever subscription scheme of its kind.

SPG Club members each receive two specially commissioned limited-edition works a year by internationally acclaimed sculptors at affordable prices. Each edition is limited to 39 pieces of which four will be donated to a charity or an organisation serving the community.

Andy Holden, whose work features in The Tate permanent collection, is soon to start work on the first piece and SPG Club members will be able to follow its development before it is delivered in the early summer.

The second will be from Holly Hendry who has exhibited throughout the UK and Europe and is currently preparing a solo show and large-scale outdoor commission at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea.

The sculptures will be specifically designed for indoor settings.

A work by each of the artists will be donated to Kirktonholme Primary School in East Kilbride and Govanhill Housing Association in Glasgow. SPG is in discussion with other groups about two further donations.

Kate V Robertson, of Sculpture Placement Group, said: “We set up SPG Club to give many more people the chance to enjoy, and collect, sculpture by high quality contemporary artists.

“We know what a struggle the past year has been for teachers and everyone working in schools. We are really pleased to be teaming up with Kirktonholme Primary as the staff there have such strong belief in the importance of the arts.

“Likewise we are big admirers of Govanhill Housing Association – they are really committed to the community, and we hope that the sculptures will be something they really enjoy.

“We will work with the school and housing association to provide information and resources that will help to appreciate the artworks.

“It’s really important that everyone feels entitled to experience art in their surroundings and hope that these gifts will enhance their new homes.”

Linda Wright, Headteacher of Kirktonholme Primary School, said: “We are looking forward to using sculptures as creative inspiration for the students and believe that the arts will be important when we are into the recovery phase of this pandemic.”

Some SPG Club memberships are still available - the last chance to sign up for 2021 membership is 28 February – so it could make a superb Valentine’s Day gift.

SPG Club membership is £45 a month and subscribers receive:

• Two limited edition sculptures a year delivered directly to their homes
• A certificate of authentication for each piece
• Artist profiles and information about and how each work was madeG
• Behind-the-scenes access to the making of each sculpture
• Live artist talks and events
• Information and advice on how to care for and display the sculptures.
SPG Club is supported by the Henry Moore Foundation and Creative Scotland.
• To sign up or find out more contact club@sculptureplacementgroup.org.uk

SPG, which also runs a sculpture adoption scheme, is dedicated to getting contemporary art into new settings and locations. The not-for-profit Community Interest Company aims to find ways of making art more affordable and create a more sustainable market while ensuring that artists – many of whom are on low incomes – are properly paid for their work.