The New Art Gallery Walsall, in partnership with Coventry University, has been awarded £71,226 to support the creation of a new large-scale sculptural installation by British artist Charmaine Watkiss.
The funding has been provided through the Jerwood Art Fund Commissions programme and will support the development of a new piece as part of Watkiss’s upcoming solo exhibition, The Things We Hold Sacred. The exhibition is scheduled to run from 2 October 2026 to 11 April 2027 and will feature both new and existing works by the artist.
The newly commissioned installation will form a central part of the exhibition and will later become part of the gallery’s permanent collection. It will be the first sculptural installation by Watkiss to enter a UK collection, creating a lasting legacy for the borough.
As part of the project, Watkiss will take up a residency at Coventry University’s Delia Derbyshire building, where she will work closely with students and staff from the School of Arts and Creative Industries. The collaboration will make use of the university’s specialist facilities, including ceramics, metalworking, woodworking, 3D printing, photography and printmaking.
The Jerwood Art Fund Commissions programme supports partnerships between artists and galleries, enabling the creation of ambitious new works by early- and mid-career artists. The initiative is delivered through a collaboration between Art Fund and Jerwood Foundation and is designed to both support artists at key stages in their careers and expand public collections.
Stephen Snoddy, Director of The New Art Gallery Walsall, said:
“ We are so grateful to Jerwood Foundation and Art Fund for facilitating this opportunity for Charmaine to create an ambitious new sculptural work for her major solo exhibition at the Gallery and for making it possible for this undoubtedly significant work to enter our Collections. “
Dr Sam Vale, Curriculum Lead: Creative Practice at Coventry University, added:
“This is an exceptional opportunity for our staff and students to work closely with The New Art Gallery and with such an innovative and exciting artist as Charmaine. Being actively involved in the commissioning process, from early development through to production and exhibition, our students gain valuable insight into contemporary approaches to making work, helping to prepare them future careers in the creative industries.”
Charmaine Watkiss said:
“I am super excited and thankful for this opportunity to create ambitious works that would not be possible otherwise. I look forward to experimenting with new materials and utilizing the University’s expertise to realise my ideas.”
Jenny Waldman, Director of Art Fund, said:
“Jerwood Art Fund Commissions offer a rare opportunity for museums to offer fully funded commissions to exciting artists for ambitious projects. With access to the facilities and expertise of Coventry University, Charmaine Watkiss will be able to develop her artistic practice at a key moment in her career. We look forward to audiences experiencing the work for themselves at The New Art Gallery Walsall later this year. We are delighted to help bring the first sculptural installation by the artist into a UK collection thanks to our partnership with Jerwood Foundation.”
Lara Wardle, Executive Director and Trustee of Jerwood Foundation, said:
“I am delighted that Charmaine Watkiss has been awarded a Jerwood Art Fund Commission, which will enable her to realise an epic new sculptural installation. This unique partnership with Art Fund, now in its second year, continues to benefit our national collections and their visitors and underlines Jerwood Foundation’s long-standing commitment to excellence and emerging talent in the arts in the UK.”
The project will also provide students with hands-on experience of the commissioning process, with opportunities to contribute to the production and installation of the work, including some paid roles supporting its final delivery.