Collecting art

Buying a work of art for the first time, or even negotiating the vast area of contemporary visual art, can be a daunting prospect, but one which carries many rewards. As an art dealer recently put it, "There is at the moment a feeling that art more profoundly and emotionally reflects and explains what it is like to be alive here and now than any other cultural form. More than books or films or music, modern art is a collective portrait of who we are." (as quoted in the Sunday Times, Feb 11, 2007)

The information included in the next few pages is not intended as a comprehensive guide, but aims to point the way to many of the resources available on finding, viewing, supporting and owning contemporary art. A list of all the websites and organisations mentioned in this section can be found in useful links.