Southampton City Council's plan to sell art from its collections to fund a new museum is "premature", according to the Museums Association's (MA) ethics committee, which met last month.
The advice from the ethics committee to Southampton City Council stated: "We are not persuaded that the proposed sale of works from the art collection is a last resort… it appears premature to conclude that all other sources of funding have been thoroughly explored."
Vanessa Trevelyan, the convenor of the MA's ethics committee, said: "The council has only just appointed fundraisers, so my assumption is that it hasn't explored that in any detail. They have a lot of work to do." The committee said if the museum had not raised funds by mid-2010, then it would be more ready to accept a proposed sale as a last resort.
Janet Owen, the council's arts and heritage manager, said: "We have already started to embark on a fundraising strategy for the Cultural Quarter project as there is a significant fundraising target required in addition to the considerable investment intended from the council."
Owen said the council welcomed the response from the ethics committee and looked forward to continued dialogue. "We are confident that these points will be resolved appropriately over the next couple of months."
Asked if she expected the council would take the advice on board, Trevelyan said: "So far they have shown every wish to adhere to the guidelines and I trust they will continue to do so."
Southampton must also attend to legal complications because After the Race: the Sir Alfred Munnings painting, one of the artworks earmarked for possible sale, was bought through the Chipperfield Bequest Fund. The terms of the bequest require any sums realised through sale to be reinvested in art for the collection.
Tate has advised Southampton on acquisitions for many years and has responsibility for providing advice in relation to the Chipperfield Bequest. A Tate statement said: "We believe the sale of works acquired through the Chipperfield Bequest to raise funds towards a capital project is not advisable and, indeed, not in the spirit of the bequest."
The advice from the ethics committee to Southampton City Council stated: "We are not persuaded that the proposed sale of works from the art collection is a last resort… it appears premature to conclude that all other sources of funding have been thoroughly explored."
Vanessa Trevelyan, the convenor of the MA's ethics committee, said: "The council has only just appointed fundraisers, so my assumption is that it hasn't explored that in any detail. They have a lot of work to do." The committee said if the museum had not raised funds by mid-2010, then it would be more ready to accept a proposed sale as a last resort.
Janet Owen, the council's arts and heritage manager, said: "We have already started to embark on a fundraising strategy for the Cultural Quarter project as there is a significant fundraising target required in addition to the considerable investment intended from the council."
Owen said the council welcomed the response from the ethics committee and looked forward to continued dialogue. "We are confident that these points will be resolved appropriately over the next couple of months."
Asked if she expected the council would take the advice on board, Trevelyan said: "So far they have shown every wish to adhere to the guidelines and I trust they will continue to do so."
Southampton must also attend to legal complications because After the Race: the Sir Alfred Munnings painting, one of the artworks earmarked for possible sale, was bought through the Chipperfield Bequest Fund. The terms of the bequest require any sums realised through sale to be reinvested in art for the collection.
Tate has advised Southampton on acquisitions for many years and has responsibility for providing advice in relation to the Chipperfield Bequest. A Tate statement said: "We believe the sale of works acquired through the Chipperfield Bequest to raise funds towards a capital project is not advisable and, indeed, not in the spirit of the bequest."
Ethics committee advice
The council should only proceed if, in light of the public consultation, it believes public confidence in museums will be maintained and the proposals will significantly improve the long-term public benefit of the collection.
The committee also said it would need to consider further whether the items under consideration lie outside the established core collection and it would need to be satisfied with Southampton's continued commitment to consult with the MA and other sector bodies.
The council should only proceed if, in light of the public consultation, it believes public confidence in museums will be maintained and the proposals will significantly improve the long-term public benefit of the collection.
The committee also said it would need to consider further whether the items under consideration lie outside the established core collection and it would need to be satisfied with Southampton's continued commitment to consult with the MA and other sector bodies.
Links
MJ editorial, October 2009, p4
MJ comment, October 2009, p15
MJ editorial, October 2009, p4
MJ comment, October 2009, p15
