Dear Sir Nicholas Serota CH,
I am writing to you on behalf of the Trustees, staff and the many artists, individuals and
institutions who have been supporters of the visual arts organisation Locus+ over many years.
As you know on June 27 Arts Council England announced it would no longer support Locus+
as a National Portfolio Organisation. This is despite the application being marked ‘met’ or
‘strongly met’ in all required areas. The reasons for this disappointing decision to withdraw
support have still not been fully explained to us by the regional office.
Based in Newcastle upon Tyne, and established in 1993, Locus+ is a small and robust
organisation of just two full time members of staff operating on modest resources, yet its
reach is global. The organisation has an enviable track record and reputation for the quality
of its commissioning of new works by artists at various stages of their careers, regionally,
nationally and internationally. To date it has commissioned 145 works that have toured
nationally and internationally and published over 37 artists’ monographs and publications.
The organisation has consistently doubled Arts Council investment year on year since its
inception and commands a reputation for sound financial planning and project management,
with a strong, supportive, yet critical Board of Trustees and active International Advisory Panel.
In addition, Locus+ has established and continues to maintain the largest archive of time-
based work in Europe. It forms a comprehensive overview of contemporary art practice from the ‘70s to the present, covering artists’ projects from a variety of British and International
contexts. This significant and valuable collection continues to grow.
The company took an unexpected (and unexplained) 42% cut in its revenue grant at the
previous round of NPO applications (2015/16). This resulted in the loss of one member of staff
and a major restructured plan for the immediate future. This plan has proven successful
with strategic partnerships (public and private) formed in the North East, nationally and
internationally resulting in over £300K of committed project funding for the next two years.
This confirmed programme, which includes new commissions by Douglas Gordon, Anya
Gallaccio and Richard Wright, is now in jeopardy as the company will not be able to continue
without Arts Council support. Furthermore and of particular urgency is the strategic welfare
of the contents of the Archive.
Much has been made of an increase in support for organisations outside London with
investment in artists, international ambitions and partnerships. We are at a loss to explain the Arts Council decision to artists, our advisors and the many supporters who have contacted us and feel we have no option but to request clarity from your office regarding this matter and
positive guidance regarding future of the Archive.
If you require any further information on this matter please do not hesitate to contact me.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Faithfully
John Kippin
Chair of Trustees, Locus+ Ltd.
Kay Pallister, Jamie Warde-Aldam, Judith Winter
Jon Bewley, Jonty Tarbuck, Enid Rogers
Judy Adam
John Adams
Jane Ainscough
David Ainley
Joan Ainley
Sam Ainsley
Amanda Airey
Rob Airey
Michele Allen
William Allen
Delphine Allier
Francisca Alsua
Glenn Alteen
Craig Ames
Jane Anderson
Danielle Arnaud
Martina Aschbacher
Conrad Atkinson
Cat Auburn
Azzle
Simon Bainbridge
Matt Baker
Andy Balman
Deasy Bamford
Fiona Banner
Peter Baren
Chloe Barker
Christian Barnes
Anna Barriball
Ryan Bartaby
Jordan Baseman
Stuart Bastik
Beth Bate
Katriona Beales
Anne Bean
Kate Beard
Oliver Beck
Oliver Bennett
Caroline Bergvall
Josephine Berry
Catherine Bertola
Anna Best
David Bethell
Patricia Bickers
Jeelan Bilal-Gore
Sutapa Biswas
David Blazey
Graham Bolam
Bryony Bond
Monica Bonvicini
Christine Borland
Dawn Bothwell
Ann Böttcher
Martin Boyce
Sonia Boyce
Louise Bradley
Alex Breeze
Ruth Brenner
Pauline van Broekman
Andrew Brown
Irene Brown
Katrina Brown
Paul Brown
Jenny Brownrigg
Jason Brumby
Celia Bryce
Pavel Buchler
Louisa Buck
Effie Laura Burns
Andrew Burton
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Bev Bytheway
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Judith Carlton
Lucy Carolan
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Val Close
James Cockerill
Sarah Coles
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Helen Collard
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Susan Collins
Rowena Comrie
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Mathieu Copeland
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