We, the undersigned, affirm the Turning Point Network’s commitment to collaboration and the need for collective action to strengthen our sector.

The Turning Point Network is a series of coordinated regional groups of contemporary visual arts professionals involving around 2,000 individuals and several hundred organisations, large and small, commercial and public, international and local. As such, it represents a diverse and vibrant ecology embracing a broad range of artistic and curatorial practice. The Network brings together its members to create a platform for collaboration and exchange so that they can share ideas and resources, improve their ability to deliver their work, and shape the future.

Clare Woods, Black Vomit, 2008 enamel and oil on aluminium, 200×280 cm, 78.7×110.2 ins Image © Clare Woods, Courtesy Arts Council Collection

We believe that together we are more resilient, sustainable, and effective.

Most of all, we believe that it is only by sharing, collaborating, and engaging others at every level of society in our vision that we can continue to deliver world-class contemporary art for the nation. The UK’s contemporary art sector leads the world – it is an area in which our country maintains a true competitive advantage. It also punches well above its weight: the sector’s contribution to the national economy and society in general far outweighs the small amount of public subsidy it receives. We are committed to building on that success by working together to ensure a sustainable and resilient sector that is equipped and able to play a leading role in civic life.

In the coming months, the Turning Point Network will redouble its efforts to collectively address the urgent issues facing our sector, such as sustaining the contemporary visual arts ecology as a whole, new business models, engaging local communities, employment, internationalism, and digital technologies. At the same time, we will demonstrate how we can enable others to become active and responsible citizens and help society and the economy become bigger, better and stronger.

We call on all those who are committed to the continued success and vitality of the contemporary visual arts in our country to join us by signing up to this vision: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/turningpoint/ 

Maria Balshaw

Director, Whitworth Art Gallery, Chair, Turning Point Contemporary Visual Arts Manchester

Paul Smith

Chief Executive, Liverpool Biennial, Chair, Turning Point Visual Arts in Liverpool 

John Butler

Head of School of Art, Birmingham City University, Chair, Turning Point West Midlands

Professor Chris Bailey

 Chair, Turning Point Yorkshire

Keith Jeffrey

Chief Executive, QUAD Derby, Chair, Turning Point East Midlands Visual Arts Network

Donna Lynas

Director, Wysing Arts Centre, Chair, Turning Point East

Sally Shaw

Senior Cultural Strategy & Project Officer Visual Arts and Public Realm at Greater London Authority, Chair, Turning Point London

Michael Stanley

Director, Museum of Modern Art Oxford, Chair, Turning Point South East

Lindsay Taylor

Exhibitions Officer, Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Chair, Turning Point North by North West

Tom Trevor

Director, Arnolfini, Chair, Turning Point South West

Godfrey Worsdale

Director, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Chair, Turning Point North East

Join us today, by signing up to this vision: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/turningpoint/