V&A launches furniture acquisition fund

The V&A and Outset Contemporary Art Fund have launched a new annual acquisition fund to focus on contemporary furniture.

The fund aims to raise £100 000 a year to collect the best furniture pieces of the year and will be supported by Outset’s patrons.

Christopher Wilk, V&A keeper of furniture, fashion and textiles, will lead a panel of industry experts to select the pieces. The acquisitions will be exhibited at the V&A during London Design Festival in September and at the Pavilion of Art & Design and Frieze Art Fair, both in October.

Outset Contemporary Art Fund co-founder Yana Peel says, ‘Broadening the philanthropic efforts of Outset into the world of design seems very timely at a moment when private funding for the arts is more important that ever.’

The fund has been launched to coincide with plans to open a new furniture gallery at the V&A, which will showcase British design since 1948, in time for the 2012 London Olympics.