Libraries and leisure

'Own Art' is Arts Council England arts purchase scheme

'Own Art' offers interest free loans designed to make it easy and affordable for you to buy original, high quality contemporary works of art.

So if you’ve dreamed of buying original art, but didn’t have the means, then this opportunity could be just what you’re looking for. You can buy paintings, sculpture, glassware, creamics, drawings, photography, jewellery, furniture, limited edition prints, textiles. In fact, you can buy any work of art or craft by a living artist which you see in one of the participating galleries.

How much can you borrow?

Loans are available from £100 to £2000, over a period of up to 10 months.

Some galleries may ask you to pay a deposit of 10%. This will be returned if, for any reason, your application for credit is unsuccessful.

You can buy several works at a time, or one or more works at different times within the £2000 limit.

To qualify, you must be aged 18 or over, have a bank or building society that can operate standing orders and be an UK resident.

There is no charge for the credit so the total amount payable under the loan, and the deposit, is not more than the cash price of the piece(s) of work you purchased.

There is no administrative charge or handling fee when you take out a loan.

Participating galleries
Over 250 galleries in England offer interest free loans for art. You can see the full list of galleries at www.artscouncil.org.uk/ownart. The galleries taking part in the East of England include:
Hertfordshire
Margaret Harvey Gallery 01707 285376
University of Hertfordshire 01707 285376

Bedfordshire
Bromham Mill Art Gallery 01234 824330
Chapel Gallery 01234 708604

Cambridgeshire Babylon Gallery 01353 669022
Byard Art 01223 560400
Cambridge Contemporary Art 01223 324222
Haddenham Studios and Gallery 01353 749188
Kettle's Yard Gallery 01223 352124
Lynne Strover Gallery 01223 295264
Primavera 01223 357708
Wysing Arts 01954 718871

Essex
Firstsite 01206 577067
Focal Point Gallery 01702 612621 X207

Norfolk
Bircham Contemporary Arts 01263 713312
Elm Hill Contemporary Art 01603 617945
Field Dalling Gallery 01328 830518
Norwich Gallery 01603 610561

Suffolk
Buckenham Gallery 01502 725418
Bury St Edmunds Art Gallery 01284 762081
Wingfield Arts 01379 384048
Wolsey Art Gallery 01473 433554