Acquisitions are made through a committee of six individuals, usually an artist, a writer, a curator, and a senior representative from the Hayward and Arts Council England. Working on a two year cycle the committee makes recommendations to purchase innovative works of art that reflect artistic practice in Britain at that time.

The Acquisitions Committee is chaired by Caroline Douglas (Head of Arts Council Collection) with Ralph Rugoff (Director, Hayward Gallery), Jill Constantine (Senior Curator, Arts Council Collection) and Andrew Brown (Senior Strategy Officer - Visual Arts, Arts Council England). The external advisers to the Acquisitions Committee for 2009-2011 are: Kay Pallister (independent curator), Mark Sladen (Curator and Writer) and Carey Young (artist).