Who we work with

Asian woman looking closely at picture in modern art gallery

Aspiring collectors

  • Education on the art market and its players
  • Guidance on defining a purpose, vision, and strategy for the collection
  • Support with the realization of collecting goals
Couple looking at paintings and talking about business

Seasoned collectors

  • Legacy planning including collection governance and ownership structure
  • Advice on collection management principles
  • Guidance on creating impact with a collection
Smiling grandparents seated together at dining room table during dinner

Family collections

  • Guidance on establishing a shared vision and strategy among family members
  • Holistic assessment of family collections in the context of the overall family strategy and governance
  • Education of family office professionals in relation to managing family collections
Business people having conversation while looking at artwork

Corporate collections

  • Advice on collection alignment with corporate values and culture
  • Guidance on leveraging a corporate collection for branding purposes
  • Support with defining a framework and required resources to manage a corporate collection

What we offer

  • Insights on art market dynamics
  • Advice on defining a clear collection purpose, vision and strategy
  • Advice on defining a collection governance
  • Guidance on setting up an acquisition plan
An artist at work

An artist at work
  • Development or review of a collection governance including drafting a Collection Charter
  • Advice on best management practices of a collection
  • Support in identifying industry-leading third party providers in relation to collection management needs:
    – Appraisals and valutations
    – Insurance
    – Storage and logistics
    – Collection management systems
    – Monetization 
Group of people discussing artwork

Group of people discussing artwork
  • Insight sharing on collection legacy options and strategies
  • Guidance on multi-generational succession for the collection
  • Advice on an impact and cultural philanthropy strategy in the context of the collection
  • Advice on (partial) deaccessioning

Client stories

  • Young family having fun

    The next generation revives an important impressionist collection

    Profile

    Two siblings have inherited a large collection consisting mostly of impressionist paintings. It is a family heirloom they wanted to preserve but the maintenance costs were becoming a true challenge.

    During a conversation with their UBS advisor, they shared the desire to reassess the existing collection and shape it with their own footprint.

    Approach

    The siblings were introduced to the UBS Art Advisory team who supported them by:

    • Analyzing the existing collection and associated maintenance costs.
    • Defining a “core collection” comprising a selection of key artworks to be preserved for the next generations
    • Supporting the sale of the non-core part of the collection.
    • Developing a Family Collection Charter, stating the purpose and the vision of the collection, the roles of the two siblings in the management of the collection, refined ownership principles, as well as an updated collection strategy.

    Through this strategic reorientation, the collection was relaunched from a solid foundation with purpose and vision for the years to come.

    Continuing on the vibrant legacy of their parents, with the continued support of UBS, the two siblings are now working on a bespoke plan to share the core collection with the public.

    The client stories presented are provided as an illustration and may not be representative of the experience of other clients. There is no guarantee of the future success of any of the strategies discussed.

  • Olde couple standing in front of the house.

    A couple transitions their collection from a personal passion to a family- and philanthropic legacy

    Profile

    A seasoned collector couple focusing on post-war and contemporary art had decided on a mixed approach for the continuity of their collection, with the aim to loan or bequest some of the most prominent artworks to a public art institution, while reserving other pieces for their four children.

    The couple joined a UBS event on art legacy strategies and feeling inspired thereafter, reached out to UBS Art Advisory to discuss their idea and get some insight on how to approach their collection legacy..

    Approach

    With the family at the helm, the UBS client advisor has put together a team of internal experts comprising an art advisor, a family advisor, a wealth planner, and a philanthropy specialist, who provided guidance by:

    • Jointly defining a long-term family strategy and governance for the entire family enterprise including the collection alongside the businesses, the financial wealth, and other real assets held by the family. 
    • A discussion on the topics of ownership and wealth equalization among the four heirs through a wealth planning session.
    • Developing a strategy for ongoing loans to regional museums as well as a future bequest to a single leading institution, based on a prescreening of suitable partners.

    As a result, the collectors achieved to create a true legacy beyond their own lifetime – the continuity of the cherished collection becoming a family project while also giving back to society.

    The client stories presented are provided as an illustration and may not be representative of the experience of other clients. There is no guarantee of the future success of any of the strategies discussed.

  • Young adults having a conversation about artwork

    An entrepreneur is leveraging his passion for art to develop a corporate collection

    Profile

    The founder of a large international corporation operating in the health care industry started building a collection as a strictly personal pursuit. Having read about the positive impact of art on wellbeing, he had decided to transform it into a corporate collection to inspire employees and other stakeholders.

    Approach

    Unsure how to translate the existing collection into corporate language, the collector reached out to his UBS advisor for guidance. The UBS Art Advisory team assisted the entrepreneur by:

    • Assessing the existing private collection to understand how it matches the values and culture of the company. 
    • Identifying gaps and opportunities, and defining the long-term strategy of the new corporate collection.
    • Guiding on defining which part of the collection remains private and which one will form the corpus of the new corporate collection.
    • Reviewing the ownership situation in light of the separation of the collection into a private and a corporate collection, including the transfer mechanisms.
    • Advising on suitable profiles for the curatorial team.

    As the corporate collection continues to grow, UBS Art Advisory is providing ongoing independent guidance while connecting the entrepreneur with other relevant art world participants.

    The client stories presented are provided as an illustration and may not be representative of the experience of other clients. There is no guarantee of the future success of any of the strategies discussed.

UBS Collectors Circle

UBS Collectors Circle

An exclusive members-only global network*

The UBS Collectors Circle is a unique community connecting some of the world’s top collectors, patrons of the arts, and cultural philanthropists. Our global network is second to none, offering a wealth of engagement opportunities with like-minded peers and multi-day insight trips to key art destinations with visits to private collections, artist studios, and important institutions.

*Exclusively by invitation from UBS

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