The Cass Sculpture Foundation

Commissioning, Lending, Selling and Education

The Foundation is a charitable organisation which operates by way of a rigorous commissioning process. Approximately 20 new monumental works, predominantly by contemporary British sculptors, are produced annually.

Once a work has been placed the Foundation splits the profit between the artist and the next commission thereby ensuring that it maintains its reputation as a progenitor of twenty-first century British sculpture.

To date, the Foundation has commissioned 160 monumental works from over 120 artists which have been placed in public and private collections all over the world. The Foundation has paid nine million pounds to British artists in order to further their careers.

Commissioning

Every year the Foundation commissions approximately 20 monumental sculptures from emerging and established contemporary British artists and designers. These are exhibited in the Foundation's grounds until placed in a national or international public or private collection.

Through meeting fabrication costs, and other additional costs (including installation and marketing), the Foundation frees artists from the economic constraints that hinder the realisation of their creative ambitions. The Foundation encourages pioneering and experimental works that challenge the creative processes of each artist in order to further their careers and the development of British sculpture.

The commissioning process can take between 1 and 5 years from conception to completion. During the process we ask that all artists contribute a maquette and works on paper to the Foundation's archive for educational purposes. When the piece is placed within a collection the Foundation splits all profit between the artist and the Foundation's next commission.

How do artists submit ideas to the foundation?

The Foundation's commissioning process is, in its initial stages, an organic process based upon dialogue between the Foundation and prospective artists.

What do artists submit to the foundation?

We ask that all prospective artists send detailed information regarding their piece(s) to info@sculpture.org.uk. This should include:

• A CV
• A portfolio of work
• Dimensions and images of the piece in question (be it drawings/photographs/concept editions)
• The desired materials from which the piece is to be fabricated
• Explanatory notes on the work

What next?

If the proposed sculpture is of interest, the Foundation will contact the artist to arrange a preliminary meeting to discuss the piece. This meeting will determine how best to move forward with the commission and will provide an opportunity for both Foundation and artist to reach a detailed understanding of that which is required from both parties.

Lending

• In an entirely new scheme, all of the works currently on the Foundation's grounds are now part of the lending programme.
• Lending affords organisations and individuals freedom and flexibility from the commitment of buying a piece outright.
• The average lending period is six to twelve months but may be extended or reduced subject to approval from the Foundation.
• Lending fees are charged on a monthly basis and are based upon a small percentage of the total sales cost of the piece.

Selling

• All of the pieces on the Foundation's grounds are for sale.
• To date, the Foundation has commissioned 160 monumental works from over 120 artists - all of which have been sold.
• The profits from each sale are split between the artist and the Foundation.
• The Foundation's share of the profit is invested into future commissions and its educational programmes.
• The Foundation is a financially independent charitable organisation which is solely funded by its rigorous commissioning programme.
• Since its in inception 14 years ago, the Foundation has paid nine million pounds to artists in order to further their careers.

Education

The Foundation's education and outreach programmes enhance the general public's enjoyment of quality twenty-first century sculpture. The Foundation's website, archive, library, in-house publications and work experience opportunities serve to further promote national and international awareness of our charitable work.

• Our 26 acre grounds consistently display over 70 monumental sculptures by the very best emerging and established sculptors.
• Our extensive website is an invaluable teaching and research resource. It comprises approximately 20,000 images supported by up to date and informative written material on over 160 sculptors.
• Our twentieth century British sculpture archive is home to over 300 maquettes and 160 works on paper - many of which are the product of our rigorous commissioning process. We ask that all of the artists with whom we work donate a maquette and work on paper to the foundation to secure the future, and long term preservation, of twenty-first century British sculpture.
• Our reference library, located in our specially commissioned foundation centre, is home to approximately 1000 books on sculpture past and present. It includes publications and exhibition catalogues on all of our commissioned artists in additional to general art historical texts.
• Our distinctive and original in-house publications document the Foundation's continual throughput of twenty-first century British sculpture by way of annual new commissions brochures and comprehensive exhibition catalogues.
• We offer internships for undergraduates/graduates wishing to pursue a career within the arts. Interns gain and invaluable insight into the art world whilst expanding their knowledge of twenty-first century sculpture within a professional and dynamic environment.
• We also offer volunteering opportunities to those wishing to develop their knowledge and awareness of the Foundation and its work. Volunteers are ambassadors for the Foundation through their work with the public in the Visitors' Gallery.