Government Art Collection

Works of art from the Government Art Collection (GAC) are displayed in UK Government buildings in nearly every capital city, making it the most dispersed collection of British art in the world. The role of the Collection is to promote British art while contributing to cultural diplomacy. Dating from 1899, the Collection has expanded over the years and now contains over 14,000 works of art from the 16th century to the present day by British artists, in a broad range of media. Works are displayed in varied environments: Government buildings in the UK including No10 and No11 Downing Street, and British Embassies and Residences internationally. The Collection is accessible to the public through loans to exhibitions, collaborative programmes, tours and digital platforms.