Vox pop

 
"Nobody wants to sell off public collections. But sometimes there are exceptional circumstances where it is in the public interest to do so.

In Croydon we have taken the difficult decision to sell 24 pieces of high-value Chinese porcelain, while ensuring the rest of the collection remains on display.

Given the unaffordable security and insurance costs, we are not able to keep the higher value items on display.

We are faced with a choice of keeping the items but storing them out of sight, or selling them and using the proceeds for much needed investment in the wider cultural infrastructure, such as the dilapidated Fairfield Halls theatre and concert venue.

This isn’t about making a quick buck, or plugging budget deficits, but about the greater cultural benefit to our residents.”


“They say “never say never”, and that may apply to some sales of publicly owned art collections.

But local councils should never sell-off public property just to make good the mismanagement of the municipal finances by a handful of councillors – as is the case in Croydon.

Croydon Council would have kept the sale secret had it not been for Inside Croydon’s investigations. It has ignored the advice of the Museums Association and the arts council.

And surely a council should never lie to its residents, as Croydon did when they claimed the Riesco sale was because they could not afford the insurance. We uncovered that no premiums had been paid for at least five years.

Should public-owned art be used to bail out a few town hall numpties? Never.”


“Had Raymond Riesco known that Croydon Council would sell the collection of Chinese ceramics that he gifted, I doubt he would have donated these pieces.

The threat to philanthropy is one reason why public collections should not be sold; because it will put donors off. There are other reasons too.

The purpose of museums is to conserve, research and exhibit artefacts, to care for the past in perpetuity for the public. Selling collections departs from this.

Museums and galleries will be tempted to dump what isn’t in vogue for a few pounds, reneging on their responsibility to take a long view, to care for the old and unpopular in collections for future generations, in the long run undermining the role of museums for short-term gain!”


“Ever acceptable? Yes, of course it is. In fact UK ethical and procedural guidelines explain why in great detail.

The problem arises not when we make ethical decisions about a collection’s future, but when something is sold without due consideration of adopted procedures; or something of significant value is sold, regardless of the process followed.

The sector often finds itself embroiled in debate over the former, and persecuted by both press and professional for the latter. Neither should be an issue nor concern if we dealt with the legitimacy of disposals within the modern museum properly.

There is no debate on this – yes, sales are acceptable, but cutting corners or pretending disposal (by whatever method) isn’t an effective management tool is not.”