The Platform 100 project aims to establish, develop and sustain the interest of ING staff members in art, through involvement as nominators, purchasers and appreciators. But it is also another way of strengthening relationships between the different ING companies and personnel in the UK in order that we can work together more effectively.

The project began in April when all ING staff in the UK were invited to enter a ballot for selection as one of the 100 nominators in the project - hence the name 'Platform 100'. Each nominator was charged with selecting an artist - and preferably a particular work of art by that artist - for inclusion in the exhibition. The response to the ballot was excellent, with significantly more applications being received than places available.

Following a talk by Sacha Craddock - the curator of Platform 100 - and armed with an information pack, nominators spent the summer searching for their artists at art exhibitions, art fairs, graduate shows and private galleries. The 100 works which comprise the Platform 100 show consequently cover a variety of media, and the artists range from recent graduates to established names.

Platform 100 has been sponsored by ING and The Discerning Eye, the arts charity which ING has supported over the last six years. The project was funded by Arts & Business under their New Partners Scheme, which leverages business 'investment' in the arts. Under this Scheme, and on account of ING Bank's annual sponsorship of The Discerning Eye Exhibition, we were awarded a grant for a project in partnership with The Discerning Eye.

ING is grateful for the support of Arts and Business and Parker Harris in preparing the Platform 100 show and is delighted to have this opportunity to support the work of so many artists.

Igno van Waesberghe
CEO ING UK and Ireland