If you ever wanted to buy an original art work, but hestiated over the cost, you may be interested to know about the Arts Council's Own Art loan scheme.

The scheme is offered to high quality contemporary art galleries throughout the UK and it gives the galleries' clients access to interest free loans (typical 0% APR) for any items with a value of between £100 and £2000.

You can use the loan to buy any pieces of work from the gallery or even commission an artist to make a unique piece just for you and spread the payments over a period of 10 months.

"It's been brilliant for us," says Clare Varley of The Blue Duck Gallery in Caversham, Reading, which is one of only a handful of galleries to operate the scheme in Berkshire and the Chilterns.

You can buy one or several items from The Blue Duck Gallery, such as Tragic Lovers by Sarah Heppner (above), and still go on to use the scheme in different participating galleries providing the total you owe does not exceed £2000 at any one time.

For more information about the Own Art Scheme why not visit www.artscouncil.org.uk/ownart

The Blue Duck Gallery
16 Hemdean Road...

Berkshire & Chilterns Life - August, 2007