Bolton withdraws painting from sale following MA ruling
Geraldine Kendall, 05.04.2011
MA Ethics Committee questioned why painting by prominent Bolton artist was not part of core collection
Bolton Council is to withdraw a painting by Bolton-raised artist Alfred Heaton Cooper from its list of 36 artworks earmarked for disposal on the advice of the Museums Association (MA) Ethics Committee.
The council is rethinking the sale of Corrie Village, Arran (1896), after the Ethics Committee expressed concerns that the painting did not fall outside Bolton Museum’s stated core collection of Egyptology, post-war 20th century British art and items documenting Bolton's history.
The council, which is auctioning the artworks to raise £500,000 for a new storage facility, had argued that Heaton Cooper’s work could be sold because it did not depict a scene of Bolton and the artist was actually born in Manchester. The council also argued that Heaton Cooper was well represented by other paintings in the collection.
But this week the council reversed its position, saying: “We are currently reviewing the inclusion of this painting on the advice of the Museums Association as [the artist] was brought up in the borough.”
The MA’s Ethics Committee published its ruling at the end of March. The ruling found that the disposal of artworks was not for short-term gain and would significantly improve the long-term public benefit of the remaining collection, but made a number of further recommendations.
As well as voicing concern over the Heaton Cooper painting, the committee advised the council to undertake a full public consultation into the planned sell-off. At present, the council is only consulting the public over features of the new storage facility.
The committee was also critical of the council’s lack of a “thorough fundraising strategy”, saying it had not yet demonstrated that other sources of funding had been fully explored.
MA head of policy and communications Maurice Davies said: “This is a welcome and speedy response by Bolton Council but the committee made several other points that Bolton needs to address if it is to meet the requirements of the code of ethics.”
A spokeswoman from the council said: “Bolton Council will get the opportunity to make a submission to the Museums Libraries and Archives Council in May, rather than answer each point at this stage.”
Links
Click here for the MA's response to proposed sale (word)
Click here to read more about the sale of collections
Download list of artworks Bolton Council proposes to sell (word)
Update
05.04.2010
Edited to add that the Museums Association has now received confirmation that Bolton Council will definitely not go ahead with the sale of the painting.
The council is rethinking the sale of Corrie Village, Arran (1896), after the Ethics Committee expressed concerns that the painting did not fall outside Bolton Museum’s stated core collection of Egyptology, post-war 20th century British art and items documenting Bolton's history.
The council, which is auctioning the artworks to raise £500,000 for a new storage facility, had argued that Heaton Cooper’s work could be sold because it did not depict a scene of Bolton and the artist was actually born in Manchester. The council also argued that Heaton Cooper was well represented by other paintings in the collection.
But this week the council reversed its position, saying: “We are currently reviewing the inclusion of this painting on the advice of the Museums Association as [the artist] was brought up in the borough.”
The MA’s Ethics Committee published its ruling at the end of March. The ruling found that the disposal of artworks was not for short-term gain and would significantly improve the long-term public benefit of the remaining collection, but made a number of further recommendations.
As well as voicing concern over the Heaton Cooper painting, the committee advised the council to undertake a full public consultation into the planned sell-off. At present, the council is only consulting the public over features of the new storage facility.
The committee was also critical of the council’s lack of a “thorough fundraising strategy”, saying it had not yet demonstrated that other sources of funding had been fully explored.
MA head of policy and communications Maurice Davies said: “This is a welcome and speedy response by Bolton Council but the committee made several other points that Bolton needs to address if it is to meet the requirements of the code of ethics.”
A spokeswoman from the council said: “Bolton Council will get the opportunity to make a submission to the Museums Libraries and Archives Council in May, rather than answer each point at this stage.”
Links
Click here for the MA's response to proposed sale (word)
Click here to read more about the sale of collections
Download list of artworks Bolton Council proposes to sell (word)
Update
05.04.2010
Edited to add that the Museums Association has now received confirmation that Bolton Council will definitely not go ahead with the sale of the painting.
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