Region’s art collections not for sale, say councils (From The Northern Echo)

Region’s art collections not for sale, say councils

8:59am Tuesday 9th February 2010

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BOSSES at North-East councils have vowed to hold on to their authorities’ multi-million pound art collections, after unions called for items to be sold to avoid job losses.

As revealed in The Northern Echo yesterday, councils across the North-East own more than £74m worth of paintings and sculptures – many of which are kept in long-term storage.

Calls have been made for artefacts not on display to be sold off to avoid redundancies and front-line service cuts at a time when public sector funding is being slashed.

But Councillor David Budd, executive member for regeneration and economic development at Middlesbrough Council, last night vowed to keep hold of his authority’s prized assets.

“Middlesbrough Council’s art collection is not for sale,”

he said. “The collection is part of the town’s civic heritage.”

Coun Budd was responding to comments from Merv Butler, chairman of Unison’s local government group, who said that councils should consider exploiting all available funding sources to stop staff from being made unemployed during the recession.

Mr Butler said: “All options should be explored before redundancies are announced.”

Art worth a total of £75,558,553 is held by councils in the North-East and North Yorkshire. The largest collections are owned by Newcastle, £26.5m, Middlesbrough, £25m and Durham, £8m.

Coun Budd said many pieces could not be sold because they are protected by covenants or other restrictions preserving them for public ownership.

“The collection is an asset that is used extensively for exhibitions in mima, the town’s flagship art gallery, and its two museums,” he said.

“The collection is also loaned to exhibitions nationally and internationally and this, in turn, enables mima to loan art works for their own programme, including from such national organisations as the Tate, meaning the people of Middlesbrough can see the best in national and international art work.”

David Faulkner, deputy leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “It would be foolish short-termism to plunder the contents of our art galleries and sell these items off.

“The North-East’s reputation for promoting and presenting culture has raised the profile of the region and has been worth millions.”

A Durham County Council spokeswoman said there were no plans to sell any of the authority’s art.

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