Own Art

Celebrate their 10th anniversary with free downloadable Jeremy Deller artwork

Since the launch of Own Art, over 30,000 people have used the scheme to purchase more than £25 million worth of contemporary art and craft. Now to celebrate their 10th anniversary, Own Art is making it possible for everyone to own a unique piece of artwork for FREE.

2014 is a milestone year for this Arts Council England initiative and an opportunity for more people to see, buy and collect contemporary art and craft using the Own Art scheme. Over the last 5 years Hitachi Capital and Own Art have worked in partnership to make owning an original piece of artwork affordable through our interest free loans. As part of their 10th anniversary celebrations, Own Art has commissioned Turner Prize winning artist Jeremy Deller to create a digital animation which will be free to download.

Based on his work from the Venice Biennale 2013, the animation will be split into 30,000 stills (representing the number of people who have already used the scheme), and will be available to download online from Monday 7th July 2014 as unique individual works of art. By downloading, you will also become part of a global Own Art Collective, showing that anyone can own a truly magnificent piece of original art in an affordable way.

On Saturday 19th July, the grand reveal of Deller’s final animation will premiere simultaneously on screens across Westfield London and Westfield Stratford.

“I'm really proud that Own Art has been successful in inspiring so many thousands of people to take their first steps as buyers and collectors of contemporary art and craft. The £25 million worth of sales that the scheme has supported over the past 10 years has also been important in assisting the galleries we work with, and the artists they represent, to be more sustainable as businesses. This has undoubtedly helped to strengthen the growth, development and productivity of the UK's vibrant visual arts economy.”
Mary-Alice Stack, Chief Executive of Creative United who runs the Own Art scheme

Just over 80% of customers say that Own Art has enabled them to buy a more expensive piece of work than they had originally thought possible.

As part of the 10th anniversary celebrations, Own Art customers will now be able to borrow anything from £100 to £2,500.