Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page in marking the life of a remarkable, dynamic and dear friend - a 'lightening strike' of a woman.

The VASSEUR BALTIC ARTISTS’ AWARD was established in April 2022, in memory of the late Isabel Vasseur (1942-2021), a remarkable champion for commissioning contemporary art for the public realm. Isabel was a lecturer as well as a public art consultant inspiring a generation of curators and many artists. She encouraged artists to produce their best work for public spaces, the built environment, gardens and green spaces.

Early in her career Isabel set the creative direction of two of the National Garden Festivals, Glasgow 1988 and then Gateshead in 1990, that spearheaded the cultural regeneration of these two former industrial areas. She commissioned local and internationally acclaimed artists to create installations along the banks of the River Clyde and Tyne, attracting huge numbers of visitors. It is therefore appropriate that the Avant Gardeners exhibition honours the memory of this influential and dynamic advocate for the arts by directing financial contributions to the award this year.