As one of the important projects for the participation in Expo 2010 Shanghai China by the U.K., the British Council worked together with Shanghai International Culture Association to host the exhibition“The Future Demands Your Participation: Contemporary Art Collection Exhibition of the British Council”at Minsheng Art Museum from February 10 to March 21.

The art collection of the British Council is generally recognized as one of the most exquisite British contemporary art collections in the world. Through the accumulation in more than 70 years, the council has collected more than 8,500 pieces of excellent British works of art.

The exhibition will showcase 89 pieces of outstanding contemporary works of art made by 40 prominent artists collected by the council, including paintings, sculptures, paper work, photography, installations, and icons, which basically cover the various forms of contemporary art in the U.K. Among the artists whose works are on display, 12 are winners of Turner Award (the first special award for young contemporary artists in the U.K.), 21 were nominated by Turner Award, including Damian Hirst, Sarah Lucas, and Mona Hatoum. The exhibition will demonstrate the colourful course of the development of the British contemporary art and bring the visitor a grand banquet in terms of the marvelous British visual art.

It is known that in the course of the Contemporary Art Collection Exhibition of the British Council, the host will carry out overall educational plans and events at the same time including dialogues with British artists and symposiums on British contemporary art and art collection.