This September, Sheffield Cathedral will be one of five venues to host some of Europe’s finest private collections of twentieth century and contemporary art.
Known as Going Public: International Art Collectors in Sheffield, the exhibition will run from 16 September to 12 December.
The project will draw on the collections of four leading arts patrons: Noclas Cattelain (London), Dominique and Sylvian Levy (DSL Paris), Egidio Marzona (Berlin) and Patrizia Sandtretto Re Rebaudengo (Turin).
Set against a backdrop of cuts in public funding for the arts, the exhibition is designed to begin a debate about the role public galleries and private collections play in bringing great art to everyone. This will include a summit on 12 October for world art figures to debate the role of private philanthropy for the arts.
Speaking to Hannah Ellis-Petersen from The Guardian, CEO of Museums Sheffield, Kim Streets commented:
“The idea is that philanthropists can play a role in developing public art galleries in the future and I think that’s very important for regional institutions in particular. We all need to develop a vision of what public arts will be like in 20 or 30 years’ time”.
At The Cathedral
The Cathedral will showcase works from the Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Collection, including installations by Jake and Dinos Chapman and Maurizio Cattelan. While some of these works may be deemed controversial within an ecclesiastical setting, like the Chapman brothers’ Cyber Iconic Man, the Dean of the Cathedral, Peter Bradley, sees an opportunity.
“There are many images of violence in the Cathedral already, crucifixes and so forth, which we are desensitised to. We are hoping this piece will lead to a debate around violence and religion and martyrdom. This is a new beginning for contemporary art in Sheffield".
Led by Museums Sheffield, Going Public: International Art Collectors in Sheffield will take place at Sheffield Cathedral, Millennium Gallery, Graves Gallery, Site Gallery and Sheffield Institute of Arts Gallery.
Further information will be added to the Cathedral website in the coming weeks.
Read More
> Steely eyed: Sheffield sets its sights on private art for public spaces; The Guardian
> Sheffield partners with major European art collectors to bring world class exhibitions to the city; Museums Sheffield
