Future uncertain: Arts council England's vision for the future of the contemporary visual arts

This paper considers the construction and presentation of the Arts Council of England's (ACE) vision, Turning Point for contemporary visual arts. It constitutes a case study of the processes entailed in planning the future of the visual arts. By examining the commissioning of the visual arts review, and the various contexts within which it was set — namely, those of the visual arts, ACE, and Department of Culture, Media and Sport, (DCMS) it asks in what sense this strategy specifically caters for the future. The article closes with some observations about the case made for the visual arts and the business of formulating strategy within DCMS's non-departmental public bodies.