Founded in 1949 by artists and for artists, New Contemporaries is committed to fostering an environment where emerging and early-career artists are empowered to shape their own futures. We support emerging and early career artists through an annual artist development programme that culminates in a prestigious national touring exhibition, selected by internationally renowned artists. Our commitment to fostering the next generation of talent is amplified through our partnerships with major institutions such as the Institute of Contemporary Arts, MIMA Middlesbrough and South London Gallery.
By prioritising artist-led initiatives, we aim to disrupt traditional hierarchies and challenge the status quo. Our community-driven approach ensures that emerging voices are not only heard but are central to pioneering new ideas and support structures. Through collective action and shared resources, we build a foundation that champions diversity, collaboration, and long-term sustainability for the next generation of artists.
New Contemporaries is an Arts Council of England National Portfolio Organisation.
Our values:
1. Community-led
This value reflects our belief that true change in the arts comes from within the artist community. We are committed to fostering an environment where early-career artists are empowered to shape their own futures. By prioritising artist-led initiatives, we aim to disrupt traditional hierarchies and challenge the status quo. Our community-driven approach ensures that emerging voices are not only heard but are central to pioneering new ideas and support structures. Through collective action and shared resources, we build a foundation that champions diversity, collaboration, and long-term sustainability for the next generation of artists.
2. Change-makers
A commitment to taking risks, challenging conventions, and driving forward radical change in the arts. We believe in empowering early-career artists not making them conform. By embracing a maverick approach, we reject complacency in favor of experimentation, innovation, and disruption of the current system. This value embodies our resolve to pioneer fresh ideas, create alternative support structures, and cultivate a space where creativity can thrive unrestrained. It is not just a trait—it’s a call to action, inspiring both artists and our organisation to lead with courage and vision.
3. Transformative
By offering alternative pathways, new support systems, and opportunities for artists to thrive, we aim to transform the way the art world operates. Our commitment to transformation is about fostering growth, challenging entrenched structures, and enabling artists to evolve their practices and perspectives in ways that drive meaningful progress for themselves and the broader cultural sector. As an organisation it is also a commitment to staying contemporary, relevant and pioneering.
3. Agile
This reflects our ability to adapt, respond, and evolve in an ever-changing industry. We are committed to staying nimble and flexible in how we support early-career artists, allowing us to respond quickly to new challenges, emerging trends, and the evolving needs of the creative community. By being agile, we can experiment with new ideas, refine our approaches and stay relevant.
4. Contemporary
Our focus is on the here and now, centering on the voices, practices, and concerns of today’s artists. It signifies our commitment to staying current with evolving artistic expressions and the issues shaping contemporary society. Being contemporary means embracing diversity in perspectives, mediums, and approaches, ensuring that we represent the cutting edge of the art world. By engaging with present-day challenges and conversations, we support artists who are not only responding to the times but also shaping the future of art, culture, and society.
