The EP art collection was started in 1980 on the initiative of the first President of the directly-elected European Parliament, Simone Veil. Her aim was to introduce at a European level the custom of exhibiting works of art from all over Europe, as practiced by many national parliaments. The first works of art were purchased from 1982-1989. A second set of acquisitions followed from 1989-1993, while a third tranche, approved in 1997, completed the process of acquiring works from the original EU-15 countries. Following the accession of Central and Eastern European countries in 2004 and 2007, the Bureau adopted a fourth acquisition plan for the years 2006-2011, completing the collection for EU-27.
Over 30 years the European Parliament has acquired 355 representative works of modern art, with a focus on young, promising artists at the beginning of their careers. By the end of 2011 the collection will comprise around 500 paintings, sculptures and other artworks from all EU Member States, including works of art donated or loaned to the EP by national parliaments and other institutions.
The works of art are displayed at the EP's three places of work in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg. In order to give everyone a chance to enjoy the collection, the European Parliament is developing an online gallery.
For more information on the collection or particular works of art see FAQs (link) or write to art@europarl.europa.eu.
