CHOOSE ART - Contemporary Art Society

**Whilst you are still welcome to donate, our CHOOSE ART campaign has now closed and we are unable to send out any further T-shirts or badges. Thank you all so much for your support! There will be one further chance to get T-shirts at the Art Car Boot Fair 15-17 May 2021**

What is the CHOOSE ART campaign?

We believe in the power of art and artists to open our minds to new ideas, connect us with each other and reflect the spirit of the time in which we live. That is why we need to support the artists of today.  

Our museums are scheduled to re-open from 17 May in England with opening dates for museums in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to be confirmed. When they do, we will once more have free access to collections that are some of the great treasures of the nation.

The Contemporary Art Society has always been one of the most important investors at grassroots level, directing funds to where they are most needed and championing contemporary artists. 

Our CHOOSE ART campaign this year comes at a time when the arts face unprecedented challenges, and our investment is therefore more vital than ever. 

For the CHOOSE ART campaign, we are very proud to be partnering with the famous designer and activist Katharine Hamnett, whose iconic Choose Life campaign in the 80s was itself one of the emblems of that period, and has been the template for so many causes since.    

Working in collaboration with Katharine Hamnett London and Frieze London the CHOOSE ART campaign will raise funds to buy art that will be donated to local museums and galleries across the country, to welcome back their communities when they reopen to the public.

Museums have a vital role to play in the recovery of high streets and town centres across the country. The museums that we support across the UK welcome 21 million visitors a year. As well as being important attractions in their own right, museums also help to support the wellbeing of the nation. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on creative communities. By buying work from artists we do not just support the individual but the whole artist community: the studio assistants, technicians, art handlers, and smaller galleries that do so much to nurture younger artists in turn.

Who are we?

The Contemporary Art Society is a charity that identifies the very best art of today and donates it to museums across the UK. Since 1910 we have donated over 10,000 works of art to public galleries, including the very first works for museum collections by artists from Picasso to Damien Hirst, discovering and supporting them in the early stages of their careers. Frieze London has partnered with the Contemporary Art Society since 2016, when the CAS brought its Collections Fund to the fair to acquire significant contemporary works for its Museum Members across the UK.

How can I help?

Any donation, no matter how small, will help us support more artists and museums as the crisis hits deeper.  

Katharine Hamnett London has designed an exclusive new T-shirt to support the campaign. For a £60 donation we would like to say thank you by sending you one of these as a gift. For a £110 donation we will send a gift of two T-shirts of your choice and for £200 we will send you four. Katharine has also designed a badge to say thank you for smaller donations of £10.

****Please note that for multiple T-shirt bundles you will need to forward your donation receipt to [email protected] with your size and colour combination.***

Click here to read our FAQs

These T-shirts are unisex so men are advised to choose a size up from their usual size. The male model is 186 cm/5'11" and is wearing size XL. The female model is 180cm/5'11" and is wearing size S.

Both the T-shirts and badges has been manufactured to the highest ethical and environmental standards. To read more about Katharine Hamnett London’s sustainability manifesto, please click here. 

Please also help spread the word and encourage others to donate. We would love to see a selfie of you wearing your T-shirt – and don't forget to tag us @ContemporaryArtSociety on Instagram! #ChooseArt

How will we use the funds raised?

We have seen an incredible outpouring of generosity from the people closest to us, helping to raise £100,000 in just a few weeks. This money will directly support museums across the country by donating artworks that will help them build stronger communities and include audiences that do not habitually engage with art. Now we need your support. By enabling the CAS to reach our £200,000 crowdfunding target, our charity can support at an even more significant level and further the sustainability of our museums up and down the country with new works.  If we exceed this target we can make a deeper impact!

Thank you for considering your donation to the CAS Choose Art campaign.

A note about the T-shirts

Please note that we are not retailing these T-shirts but they are a reward for a donation. We are a small arts charity and as such do not have the capacity to manage refunds and replacements. Please check this size chart carefully before selecting your reward as we will be unable to replace them if they do not fit.

These T-shirts are unisex so men are advised to choose a size up from their usual size. The male model is 186 cm/5'11" and is wearing size XL. The female model is 180cm/5'11" and is wearing size S.

You should receive your T-shirt or badge within three weeks of donating if you live in the UK.  

Click here to head our FAQs

Care instructions

Washing: 30°

Bleaching: Do not bleach

Ironing: Low heat

Dry cleaning: Do not dry clean

Tumble dry: Do not tumble dry

The Project

The CHOOSE ART campaign has been created in partnership with Katharine Hamnett London. The Contemporary Art Society and Katharine Hamnett London are joint project owners. Please note that if you opt in to receive marketing both parties may send you marketing information when relevant, including exclusive invitations and previews.