An arts charity has launched a digital platform giving the public the chance to create their very own online exhibition from the nation’s art collection.

Art lovers will get the chance to curate a private collection or make them public for anyone to see. The platform was devised by Art UK, which houses a quarter of a million pieces of art by 46,000 artists from more than 3,000 art venues.

Budding curators are already taking to social media and sharing their collections using the hashtags #CurateYourOwn and #ArtUKCurations.

The innovative platform comes off the back of a recent report which revealed that art venue bosses are concerned they won’t be able to attract visitors back after the lockdown ends. Other cultural venues have already stated that they are unlikely to open until next year, raising concerns about their future.

The vast majority of museums and galleries have switched their focus to online, most notably the British Museum which placed four million of its items on its website in April.

Art UK has already seen an increase in visitors to the site since restrictions came in to curb the spread of the virus. It hopes that the launch of Curations will inspire the public to engage with art and tell their own stories behind the nation’s collection. The charity also hopes the tool will help galleries reach new audiences and help preserve their future.

Andrew Ellis, Art UK’s Director, says:

Curations is an example of what is possible when you digitally connect the national art collection. It means museums and the public alike can now bring together artworks from institutions across the country, tell the stories behind the art, and share their Curations with others.

Curations has also been designed to support teachers plan lessons and activities for their students while schools remain closed. The charity also plans to launch a new learning portal for schools in the autumn.

For more information, visit http://artuk.org/discover/curations.

Image: VE Day by Lawrence Stephen Lowry (courtesy of Art UK)

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