Perdita Hunt, the director of the gallery, told Museums Journal that the gallery is facing a serious financial threat and that the trustees have taken the difficult decision to sell Jasmine by Albert Moore and The Triumph of Love by Edward Coley Burne-Jones.
The sale is expected to raise up to £1m. Hunt said she hoped that the paintings could be sold to museums or galleries in the UK, but added that if that was not the case, they could be put up for auction as early as the summer.
According to Hunt, the paintings were last on display in the gallery in autumn 2005. She said although the paintings are interesting, 'they are not essential to the understanding and interpretation of G F Watts or Mary Watts'. She said the gallery had 100 oil paintings and 250 drawings by Watts in storage and that they were the priority for display.
Hunt said the proceeds from the sale would be used to safeguard the future of the collection. 'The money will definitely be spent on the conservation and storage of the collection.'
The prospect of the sale is causing consternation among museum professionals who fear it could set a precedent for governing bodies to sell their collections in times of crisis.
The Museums Association's (MA) ethical guidelines state that disposal should never be undertaken principally for financial reasons, either to raise money for any purpose or to reduce expenditure.
Caitlin Griffths, the MA's advisor on professional issues, said: 'It is important that museums only undertake disposals for sound curatorial reasons and the Museums Association is in principle opposed to museums disposing of items through sale.' She added that the MA was in discussions with the Watts Gallery about the sale.
Sally Wrampling, the head of public affairs at the National Art Collections Fund (Art Fund), said the plan to sell paintings from the permanent collection presented a number of problems.
'As the paintings in question were gifts, it presents the Art Fund with particular difficulties as one of our core activities is to act as a conduit for gifts and bequests, and to encourage donors to offer works to public collections. We are, therefore, opposed in principle to any actions that might undermine the confidence of future donors.'
She added that the Art Fund trustees would be obliged to take the sale into account in the case of future grant applications.
The Watts Gallery will be submitting an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for £4m towards its redevelopment plan later this month. A statement from the HLF said that when considering applications or monitoring projects, it takes into account sector guidelines, policies and standards and would expect applicants to act in accordance with these.
Hunt acknowledged that the decision to sell the paintings would be controversial, but said: 'We have talked to a lot of people but feel this is an exceptional case.' She added that the gallery had taken the decision with regret and that it was a 'desperate measure'.
Charles Saumarez Smith, the director of the National Gallery, described the Watts Gallery as an 'extraordinarily important collection' and said he thought the decision to sell had been undertaken with extreme care. 'It will be a test case of attitudes in the museum community and beyond,' he added.
As Museums Journal went to press Bury council in Greater Manchester was also in discussions about selling a painting to plug a £10m deficit in its budget. A Riverbank by LS Lowry is currently on display at the Bury Art Gallery.
Mark Sanders, the chief executive of the council, said: 'If it means we have to sacrifice one of our treasured works of art in order to maintain core services, then that is what we will have to bear.' Claire McDade, the museums development officer for the MLA North West, said it was totally opposed to the sale and that it 'contravened basic registration standards'.
Sharon Heal
The sale is expected to raise up to £1m. Hunt said she hoped that the paintings could be sold to museums or galleries in the UK, but added that if that was not the case, they could be put up for auction as early as the summer.
According to Hunt, the paintings were last on display in the gallery in autumn 2005. She said although the paintings are interesting, 'they are not essential to the understanding and interpretation of G F Watts or Mary Watts'. She said the gallery had 100 oil paintings and 250 drawings by Watts in storage and that they were the priority for display.
Hunt said the proceeds from the sale would be used to safeguard the future of the collection. 'The money will definitely be spent on the conservation and storage of the collection.'
The prospect of the sale is causing consternation among museum professionals who fear it could set a precedent for governing bodies to sell their collections in times of crisis.
The Museums Association's (MA) ethical guidelines state that disposal should never be undertaken principally for financial reasons, either to raise money for any purpose or to reduce expenditure.
Caitlin Griffths, the MA's advisor on professional issues, said: 'It is important that museums only undertake disposals for sound curatorial reasons and the Museums Association is in principle opposed to museums disposing of items through sale.' She added that the MA was in discussions with the Watts Gallery about the sale.
Sally Wrampling, the head of public affairs at the National Art Collections Fund (Art Fund), said the plan to sell paintings from the permanent collection presented a number of problems.
'As the paintings in question were gifts, it presents the Art Fund with particular difficulties as one of our core activities is to act as a conduit for gifts and bequests, and to encourage donors to offer works to public collections. We are, therefore, opposed in principle to any actions that might undermine the confidence of future donors.'
She added that the Art Fund trustees would be obliged to take the sale into account in the case of future grant applications.
The Watts Gallery will be submitting an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for £4m towards its redevelopment plan later this month. A statement from the HLF said that when considering applications or monitoring projects, it takes into account sector guidelines, policies and standards and would expect applicants to act in accordance with these.
Hunt acknowledged that the decision to sell the paintings would be controversial, but said: 'We have talked to a lot of people but feel this is an exceptional case.' She added that the gallery had taken the decision with regret and that it was a 'desperate measure'.
Charles Saumarez Smith, the director of the National Gallery, described the Watts Gallery as an 'extraordinarily important collection' and said he thought the decision to sell had been undertaken with extreme care. 'It will be a test case of attitudes in the museum community and beyond,' he added.
As Museums Journal went to press Bury council in Greater Manchester was also in discussions about selling a painting to plug a £10m deficit in its budget. A Riverbank by LS Lowry is currently on display at the Bury Art Gallery.
Mark Sanders, the chief executive of the council, said: 'If it means we have to sacrifice one of our treasured works of art in order to maintain core services, then that is what we will have to bear.' Claire McDade, the museums development officer for the MLA North West, said it was totally opposed to the sale and that it 'contravened basic registration standards'.
Sharon Heal
