Publicly funded museums and galleries are cornerstones of community identity, education, and heritage. From the largest art galleries to the smallest local museum, each enriches our shared cultural lives and supports economic vitality through tourism and placemaking.
But the environment in which these cherished cultural organisations operate is proving challenging, with rising costs, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the legacy of Covid-19 all continuing to have an impact.
Arts Council England’s strategy, Let’s Create (2020-2030), stresses the urgency of cultural resilience and inclusivity. Public funding remains critical, but private giving, partnerships, and philanthropy are increasingly vital. Stronger relationships with collectors, philanthropists, commercial galleries, auction houses, and the business community can unlock acquisitions, sponsorships, and collaborative programmes that invigorate collections and expand cultural access nationwide.
This report focusses on contemporary collecting, and regional museums and galleries in particular. Commissioned by Arts Council England and prepared by ArtTactic, it examines where these relationships are strong, where gaps remain, and what steps could strengthen the ecosystem. With unprecedented wealth transfers, shifting philanthropic values, and widening regional disparities, this report argues that the time is right to reimagine how museums, funders, and private stakeholders could collaborate more effectively.