The David Roberts Art Foundation (DRAF) has recently announced its plans to expand the organisation's 2020 programme to Scotland and other UK regions, most notably with an event on the opening night of the renowned Glasgow International on 23 April at SWG3.

Founded by Scottish art collector David Roberts, the primarily London-based non-profit organisation aims to continue its work within the fields of contemporary art through its dedication to the transformative forces of the art encounter. By expanding, the independent organisation hopes to draw upon David Roberts' own links to Scotland, having been born and raised in Greenock, by building upon previous collaborations but within the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as establishing new artist and writer residencies across Scotland.

David Roberts has stated, 'Having been brought up on the West Coast I will always have an affinity with Scotland. We are keen to take DRAF's work beyond London and, given my own links along with the exciting arts programming happening in Scotland, it felt like a natural step to be collaborating with organisations there. We are thrilled to be working with Glasgow International and looking forward to sharing DRAF's expertise in performance programming with other institutional partners.'

An Evening of Performances, London 2019

Of further excitement is DRAF's announcement of a series of performances to be hosted at SWG3 in Glasgow on the opening night of GI, including work by internationally recognised artists such as Nina Beier, Lina Lapelytė and Paul Maheke.

The artists, who all embody the successful history of live collaborative performance that DRAF is known for, will work with the GI's 2020 theme of 'Attention' to deliver dynamic pieces in the flesh. The programme will include the UK premiere of a new work by Paul Maheke, commissioned by The Renaissance Society in Chicago; as well as the showcase of a new performance piece by Nina Beier commissioned for showing in Montpellier in April, and work from Lina Lapelytė following her win at the 2019 Venice Biennale Golden Lion with collaborators Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė and Vaiva Grainytė. Audiences can expect an experience concerning different registers of attention; such as the flickering presence of dancers to plays on folk, pop and opera music, to the vulnerability of a changing world.

With regards to changes in the DRAF, given the expansion, the organisation will continue to host its popular annual event during Frieze Week in London, an Evening of Performances, as well as it's other events in London during 2020. In doing so, it will continue to be the enriching and progressive platform that has welcomed over 130,000 visitors to contemporary international programmes, partnered with over 100 museums, institutions and not for profit organisations and collaborated with over 1000 artists.

Further national partnerships will concern the David Roberts Collection and the ambition to share it with broader audiences by opening it up to curatorial research, exhibitions and proactive lending. Therefore, as well as its work across Scotland, the DRAF aims to strengthen its commitment to national programming in Sheffield, through a collaboration that will focus on sharing the Collection.

DRAF x Glasgow International, SWG3, Thu 23 Apr, glasgowinternational.org/events/opening/