This exhibition was a collaboration with Stills Centre for Photography, Edinburgh,Scotland, in April – July 2016. Established forty years ago, Stills has been a highly active and well regarded regional gallery that promotes the role of photography. The collaboration brought together important museum-quality works by seminal artists that critically expanded the remit of photography. In line with the foundation’s purpose to enhance the efficacy and understanding of art institutions, the project highlighted unexplored narratives in the work of Lewis Baltz – arguably one the most significant and influential artists of the second half of the twentieth century. The display focused on three of Baltz’smost celebrated series of works and presented them alongside sculptures by artists Carl Andre and Charlotte Posenenske to emphasise the Baltz’s affinity to practices beyond photography. The exhibition was co-curated by Ben Harman,director of Stills, and Sébastien Montabonel.
The forecast discusses the importance of Artists’ Estates in the securing of practitioners’ legacies, as well as its burgeoning relevance in the art market. What in the past concerned mostly late-career artists is defined here as a crucial step in the path of all those who intend to be key players in an increasingly professionalised artworld. The forecast outlines the key issues governing an estate: from the long-term benefits provided to artists and heirs, to the risks associated with a lack of management and planning. Moreover, it emphasises the necessity for artists to develop a cohesive professional strategy for the future preservation of their legacy that aligns with their present career.
One of the Foundation’s key objectives is to encourage the expansion of networks between public and private sectors. 'Going Public', staged in Sheffield between September and December 2015, was a city-wide exhibition programme over four months, accompanied by a symposium on the question ‘How Can Public Art Institutions Unlock the Potential of Philanthropy?’. Conceived by curators-at-large Sébastien Montabonel and Mark Doyle, led by Sheffield Museums and supported by the Ministry of Culture, the project assembled the works of four renowned international collections that were displayed in numerous venues across the city. 'Going Public' was a resounding success that presented a convincing argument for the collaboration of the public and private philanthropy. Endorsed by Minister of Culture Ed Vaizey, the symposium featured in the first Cultural White Paper in the UK since 1965. A Report by independent writer Louisa Buck was released to the public in July 2016.
As the UAE welcomes COP28 and continues to play a vital role in shaping the environmental discourse, BEEAH HQ has invited the Foundation to co-curate an a topical exhibition. 'Harmonizing with Nature: A Journey of Lifelong Practice' transcends artistic boundaries, inviting you to embark on an immersive and thought-provoking exploration of the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural world. Mending humanity’s relationship with nature is essential to achieving a viable tomorrow. As the world navigates through an unpredictable future faced with the threats of climate change and environmental degradation, it becomes increasingly evident that our survival and prosperity are intricately intertwined with the health of our natural ecosystems. Nature, in its resilience, fragility, and regenerative ability, inspires us to seek solutions rooted in its essence and narrated through its grains and terrains.
