Projects

The Collections & Acquisitions Committee was established in 2024, providing career development opportunities for under 30s and increasing accessibility to the Towner Collection through transparency of working processes and practices.

The aim of the Committee has been to encourage mutual learning and to create a collaborative environment through which Towner's founding ethos to be ‘an art gallery for the people’ can continue to be realised. Committee members' input has been invaluable in helping Towner to fulfil its commitment to furthering the diversity of its collection.

The current Comittee members include:
Connie Ashford
Flavia Cahn
Serena Cobbinah
Ben Coleman
Maddie Lock
Luka Shaxson
Adam Spain
Elva Webb
Sophie Wright

The role of the Collections & Acquisitions Committee is to:

• - Research and bring suggestions of artists to be considered for acquisition.

• - Stay up to date with exhibitions, artists and good practice especially in areas around collections, art & landscape/environment etc. 

• - Support the acquisition process of selected artists and their work, including written funding applications 

• - Act as an advisory group for the content and interpretation for Collection exhibitions. 

Through meetings with Towner's curatorial team, the Committee have come together to propose a new acquisition for the Collection to be announced in early 2026. This coincides with Gathered Around the Sun, an exhibition of Towner Collection works curated by the Committee.

The Reimagine programme is designed to inspire creativity and increase resilience in the sector. The key aim for the Reimagine programme in 2025 has been to fund projects   that will help organisations reimagine their work with collections. The funding is made available to formally constituted, not-for-profit organisations that hold permanent collections.