Dechert Assists Outset Contemporary Art Fund’s Launch of New Virtual Art Gallery, theVOV

Dechert’s London office assisted pro bono client Outset Contemporary Art Fund, to help launch theVOV, a new digital art platform presenting landmark art exhibitions that can be enjoyed both live and on demand in virtual reality. 

Celebrated and significant exhibitions from the past 15 years—organised by UK institutions including the Tate, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and National Galleries Scotland—will be brought back to life on theVOV.  Trailers describe the participating institutions and the artists involved. 

theVOV also intends to generate much-needed funds for the creative sector by pooling all donations received and distributing them to all participating institutions.

Dechert’s London office worked with Outset Contemporary Art Fund to draft agreements with each of the institutions supplying the artwork and with the platform host to deliver the exhibitions on a very tight time frame.

The Dechert team included partners Chris Gardner and Smridhi Gulati and associates Bishoy Eskander, Eve Wright and Aleksander Reda. 

Jack Charlesworth, Associate Director at Outset Contemporary Art Fund said, “With Dechert’s assistance, we have brought cutting-edge technology to the not-for-profit sector. This has redefined how wide audiences can now experience culture from anywhere in the world, enabling the viewers to visit shows from leading public galleries, giving unprecedented virtual access to important contemporary artworks. theVOV allows the physical and digital realms to coexist symbiotically side-by-side, making the arts more accessible for all on a global scale.”

Dechert partner Christopher Gardner noted, “The art world has been so unfortunately impacted by the pandemic. It was rewarding to work with some of the UK’s top curators and experts to help to create theVOV, which combines a new micro-philanthropic model with cutting-edge technology.”

During the pandemic in 2020 we worked with Outset’s project Studiomakers assisting artists in renegotiating their leases in light of the pandemic. Dechert provided template documents and fact sheets hosted on their website to help artists understand their rights and renegotiate their leases. 

About Dechert

Dechert is a leading global law firm with 24 offices around the world. We advise on matters and transactions of the greatest complexity, bringing energy, creativity and efficient management of legal issues to deliver commercial and practical advice for clients.

About Outset

Established in 2003, Outset Contemporary Art Fund is the leading international, independent charity supporting innovative art projects that engage the widest possible audiences. With a presence in nine countries, the charity has raised over £13 million worldwide in support of the creative ecosystem. Outset is recognised for creating influential models of responsive arts philanthropy with its innovative public-private schemes and initiatives. Practising catalytic philanthropy means not only offering crucial funding support but also activating networks and initiating new relationships and partnerships. The charity was the first to introduce a pioneering paradigm of cross-institution collective patronage to fund challenging artistic projects in the UK, and is now proud to operate on a global scale. Outset is powered by inspiration, driven by expertise, renowned for its engagement, and focused on effective energy and ideas, with a commitment to being there at the outset of impactful change.