About Art Program

With the opening in 1997 of the Bank's Washington D.C. Main Complex - a spacious building of steel and glass that permits ample natural light into its atrium - came the catalyst for developing a collection policy and creating a program that showcases the visual arts of member countries.

This was a natural direction given the institution's long-standing tradition of interest in the arts, most notably in the regular juried exhibitions of its staff Art Society and its International Photographic Society. An Art Committee was founded with broad-based staff support. The Art Program was formally established in 1997.

Creating a Cohesive Collection

The Art Program was given the broad charge of creating a new program and forming a cohesive collection. One option was to simply dress the headquarters by acquiring artworks from galleries for purely decorative aims. However, a more rewarding and complex route was taken.

The result is a program and collection of art that is aesthetically pleasing, intellectually stimulating, and related to the Bank's core business and mission of economic and social development.

The Art Program's activities reflect an implicit understanding of art and culture as integral forces of human development in the broadest sense. Based on these principles, the Art Program established its mission: to promote and draw awareness to contemporary art from member nations with particular emphasis on emerging artists from developing countries. The World Bank's art collection is not just an investment in art but rather an investment in the artists who create it. Whenever possible, the Art Program works directly with the artists or with professionals who work closely with them. Efforts include a wide range of activities: acquisitions, commissions, site specific installations, publications, educational and cultural initiatives and exhibitions.

The Program is committed to bringing together art from the Bank's 184 member nations. This challenge has been eased due to progress in information technology (which offers better communication with artists and colleagues in the field), more and improved access to information, a stronger interest in international contemporary art and especially in art from developing countries, growth in the number and quality of art biennials and art fairs, as well as an overall increase in exhibitions and galleries specializing in art from developing countries.

The Art Program also benefits from having staff who work in these countries. Enthusiastic staff members are among the program's strongest resources, often bringing back invaluable information and important links throughout the world. Thus the Program today has more tools and better information to research artists and the state of contemporary art in developing countries, and to make the works of these artists available to a larger constituency.

The Collection Today

Today, the World Bank Art Collection consists primarily of contemporary and traditional art with a smaller but growing collection of textiles and folk art. Different media are represented: painting, photography, sculpture, collage, construction, assemblage, textile. Many items in the collection are works on paper. While sometimes fragile, works on paper are easier to transport, less expensive to acquire, and easier to display within the working environment than art in many other media. The artwork provides daily stimuli for the employees who work at the Bank as well as visitors.

The overall focus is on the work of living artists, in the general spirit of supporting current activity and exchange rather than a retroactive approach. Of course, all things "contemporary" become quickly "of the past," so themes and aesthetics are carefully considered. Essentially to the collection process is consideration of subject matter and media. Artworks are displayed within the Bank's working environment and not in a museum or a gallery environment. This poses space limitations, yet often provides opportunities for creativity and collaboration between curators and artists.