Luxembourg is buying up contemporary art

The Ministry of Culture of the Grand Duchy continues its consistent policy of supporting the artistic community by purchasing visual artworks directly from artists. The aim is not just to decorate ministries and embassies, but to create a meaningful public collection that reflects the country's current cultural scene and its evolution.

The next round of applications began on 25 July 2025 and will run until 10 September. Both Luxembourg nationals and artists with a permanent residence or proven cultural connection to the Duchy are eligible to apply. Each participant can bid for up to three works, with a maximum price of €18,000 including copyright, which is transferred to the State in the form of a licence if purchased.

The collection is used for the decoration of public institutions, embassies, consulates and on long-term loan to cultural organisations. This initiative serves several purposes at once: supporting artists, increasing public access to contemporary art and long-term preservation of the national cultural heritage.

There is a progressive scale for setting the price of a copyright licence. If the price of a work is up to 3000 euros (excluding VAT), the price includes a fixed fee of 240 euros. For works more expensive than 3000 euros, the formula applies: €240 + 5% of the amount above the threshold, but no more than €1,000 in total. This ensures transparency and predictability of conditions for both parties.

The works are selected by a special commission comprising curators and experts from the country's major museums: Villa Vauban, the National Museum of Archaeology, History and Art, and former employees of Mudam Luxembourg. The main criteria are artistic value, originality, relevance to the direction of the collection, the possibility of display and conservation, and the work's place in the broader picture of contemporary art.

In case of purchase, a formal contract is concluded, which stipulates the transfer of all property rights to the state on a non-commercial basis and in perpetuity. Delivery of the work is at the artist's expense and the deadline is 5 December 2025. An electronic invoice can only be issued once the contract has been signed and the work has been accepted in good condition.

Importantly, the Ministry warns: the personal data of the participating artists may be transferred to the National Art Archive (Lëtzebuerger Konschtarchiv) for documentation and archiving purposes. However, participants still have the right to access, correct or delete their data, in accordance with European law (GDPR).