David Roberts Art Foundation

David Roberts Art Foundation (DRAF) is a non-profit centre for contemporary art in central London.[1][2][3]

Programme

DRAF produces art works, exhibitions, performances and events open free to the publicd.[4][5][6] Over the last seven years, DRAF has collaborated with over 680 emerging and established artists and curators, including Phyllida Barlow, Bruce McLean, Danh Vo, Benoit Maire, Nina Beier and Sarah Lucas.[7][8]

Building

Founded in 2007 by British collector David Roberts and directed by curator Vincent Honoré, DRAF originally occupied a gallery space on Great Titchfield Street in Fitzrovia.[9][10] It moved in 2012 to its current headquarters in Mornington Crescent, a 19th century converted furniture factory with 500 sq m exhibition space on the ground floor. In Autumn 2015, DRAF will expand to include a substantial new first floor space dedicated to live events.

Performances & Live Events

DRAF is noted for its focus on performance, animating art works, spaces and situations through commissions from artists, choreographers, musicians and writers. The annual Evening of Performances held in October during the Frieze Art Fair has become an established highlight of the week.[11][12] In 2014, Quinn Latimer & Megan Rooney, Joe Moran, Sarah Lucas, planningtorock and Eloise Hawser performed to 1,000 guests.[13] In 2013, the evening featured Florence Peake, Michael Dean, Juliette Blightman, Rodney Graham and Kim Gordon.

Year-round talks and live events in collaboration with institutions and universities discuss emerging questions with artists, specialists and audiences.

Curators’ Series

The Curators’ Series invites an independent guest curator to produce a major exhibition at DRAF, and has previously hosted Cylena Simonds (UK), Raimundas Malasauskas (Lithuania), Mihnea Mircan (Romania), Mathieu Copeland (UK), Simone Menegoi and Chris Sharp (Italy and US), Pablo Leon de la Barra (Mexico), and Vivian Ziherl (Australia) & Natasha Ginwala (India).[14] The eighth guest curator will be Christine Eyene (Cameroon) in summer 2015.

David Roberts Collection

DRAF is responsible for the David Roberts Collection, a body of over 2,000 artworks by 600 artists. The Collection exists independently in parallel to DRAF’s public programme, offering a resource for research and presentation.

Structure

DRAF is a registered charity (no. 1119738) and is supported by Edinburgh House Estates Limited.

References

  1. ↑ Hastings, Sophie (21 February 2014). "Meet the property developer putting care into collecting". GQ Magazine.
  2. ↑ Coles, Alex (3 October 2014). "But Is It Art?". Evening Standard Magazine.
  3. ↑ Trebuchet. (13 January 2014). "Hanging Offence: David Roberts Art Foundation". Trebuchet Magazine.
  4. ↑ Andrews, Kate (23 April 2014). "A Collection Which Never Sleeps". BMW Art Guide.
  5. ↑ Hurford Brown, Debra (3 May 2014). "The Collector". WeekendLife.
  6. ↑ (October 2014). "Best Contemporary Art Galleries London". Indigo Memoirs.
  7. ↑ Snow, Phillipa (October 2014). "Frieze Camden: Sarah Lucas' Fried Eggs". Art Slant.
  8. ↑ Quaintance, Morgan (7 October 2014). "Review: Nina Beier". Art Review.
  9. ↑ Muñoz-Alonso, Lorena (12 September 2012). "Interview with Vincent Honoré". This is Tomorrow.
  10. ↑ Mansfield, Susan (03 May 2014). "Art collector David Roberts on his new gallery". The Scostman,
  11. ↑ Goldberg, Keren (October 2014). "Frieze Previews: Digital Discussions and Genderless Aliens". Art Slant.
  12. ↑ Beradi, Caterina (13 Oct 2014). "Weekly Bulletin 13/10". Curating the Contemporary.
  13. ↑ (16 October 2014). "Evening of Performances with Quinn Latimer & Megan Rooney, Joe Moran, planningtorock, Sarah Lucas and Eloise Hawser". Time Out.
  14. ↑ Rui An, Ho (September/October 2014). "A Special Arrow was Shot on the Neck...". Page 145. artasiapacific.