Applications are now closed.
The Hallett Independent Acquisitions Award is a purchase grant to enable a museum or gallery to acquire an original print or prints for their collection. The Award aims not only to enhance art collections across the country, but also to build relationships between museum curators and the art market. Applications are invited from museums, public galleries and print collections across the UK. Hallett Independent, who are generously funding the Award, are brokers specialising in fine art and heritage insurance, committed to supporting museums throughout the country.
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Shortlist
We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2026 Award:
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Victoria Art Gallery, Bath
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The Burton at Bideford
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Graves Gallery, Sheffield
The winner will be announced at the Private View on Wednesday 13 May 2026.
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Previous Winners
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Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth
2025Sarah Newman from Russell-Cotes accepting the 2025 Award at the opening of the London Original Print Fair from Elena Carofyllakis of Hallett Independent Insurance. She chose a lithograph by Eric Ravilious from his famous Submarine Series.
"Top of my list was a Ravilious and it was quite literally the first print that I saw. (it must have been a sign). It will go on display in our upcoming exhibition of Artist as Witness: Impact of War in the autumn. And fill a significant gap in our collection. We are over the moon."
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Holburne Museum, Bath
2019The museum’s application and subsequent selection marks a significant moment in the Holburne’s history as it seeks to build a contemporary collection which will enhance its world renowned display of historic treasures. Director of Holburne Museum Chris Stephens was presented the cheque at the opening of the 34th London Original Print Fair on Wednesday 24th April 2019.
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Imperial Health Charity
2018Imperial Health Charity is the only hospital art collection with a fully accredited museum and designated programme of exhibitions. The collection provides art for Charing Cross, Hammersmith, Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea, St Mary’s and The Western Eye hospitals. It uses art as a means to engage with patients and staff through its collection of 2,000 artworks, which play a crucial part in creating a warmer, more welcoming environment. Artists already in the collection included Patrick Caulfield, Julian Opie, Bridget Riley, Anish Kapoor, Bruce Maclean and Richard Long.
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Hatton Gallery, Newcastle
2017Rob Airey, Keeper of Art at the Hatton Gallery, intended to use the prize to buy one key print for the collection, but having seen the huge variety on offer he felt that the award could stimulate the growth of the collection in different areas. Careful selection and generous support from the exhibiting galleries meant the Hatton Gallery was able to purchase 14 significant works for its collection, which is a significant research resource for students and staff at the University as well as an important component of many of their public exhibitions.
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The Atkinson, Southport
2016The first winner of the Hallett Independent Acquisitions Awards was The Atkinson, Southport, who sent Gallery Manager Jane Brown to choose 12 Objects, 12 Etchings (2010), a portfolio of prints by Rachel Whiteread from Paragon Press. The portfolio functions like a permanent index to Whiteread’s collection, and the mixture of objects ranges from instantly recognizable and mundane items, such as a jelly mould and a light switch, to the weird, wonderful and outright unidentifiable.
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A Buyer's Guide to Prints