Angus Robertson steps in as £1.5m of Paisley art works set to be sold at auction
The Scottish Government has vowed to “look into” the dispute between Renfrewshire Council and Paisley Art Institute (PAI) in an 11th-hour bid to halt the sale of £1.5 million artworks.
Culture secretary Angus Robertson told the Scottish Parliament senior officials were actively looking into the planned sale of 100 pieces of art acquired by and gifted to PAI as the premiere arts organisation in the town.
Mr Robertson was responding to a question raised by Neil Bibby MSP whose constituents have raised concerns about some of the most revered paintings in Scotland being “lost to Paisley forever”.
The institute announced plans earlier this summer to sell the works after a disagreement with Renfrewshire Council over its allocated exhibition space within the new Paisley Museum.
The building had six art galleries before it closed for refurbishment.
Frustrated with the lack of a dedicated gallery within the new building, the PAI made the decision to relocate to Glasgow Art Club and take its 400-strong collection of art with it. The first 15 of 100 paintings – some of the most renowned and valuable paintings in that collection – including works by the Glasgow Boys Sir John Lavery, Sir James Guthrie and George Henry – are set to be auctioned off on Thursday.
But, understanding Buddies’ desire to hang on to one of the largest collections of art in Scotland, the culture secretary said he would seek to better understand the dispute between both parties and any potential way forward.
Mr Robertson said: “I thank Neil Bibby for his question and for contacting me a number of days ago to highlight the issue, which is a matter of concern to him and to constituents who have raised it with him.
“I gave him an undertaking that I would raise the issue with senior Scottish Government officials in the culture directorate, so that we can better understand the circumstances that he has outlined to the parliament.
“That work is currently being undertaken. I gave him a commitment that I would let him know what view we are able to take on the challenge that he has outlined to the parliament.
“I intend to work with Neil Bibby, as I have committed to doing, in the spirit in which he raised the issue with me. I very much welcome the way in which he did so.”
The Paisley Daily Express understands the Scottish Government was keen to broker talks between Renfrewshire Council and PAI in order to identify a potential
solution.
But Joe Hargan, president of PAI, said the “time for talking has passed” while confirming the sale of the art would proceed as planned. Mr Hargan told the Paisley Daily Express: “The Paisley Art Institute and its art are not owned by the public.
“This is a private art collection owned by a charity which can do what it wants with its own assets.
“We wrote to all three of our MSPs and gave them a blow by blow account of everything that happened over the past three years and nothing changed – the time for talks and negotiations has passed. The fact is there are no longer municipal galleries in Paisley, they are all gone.”
PAI intends to use the £1.5m income generated from the sale to invest in its new home at Glasgow Art Club. That will be done on the basis the institute is able to hold a large exhibition within the premises every year. The remainder of the money will be used to preserve and insure the remainder of the art collection.
Mr Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, said: “Artworks gifted to Paisley should not be lost to the town, by sale and moving elsewhere. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
“I am not apportioning blame to either party but the interests of the town and its people who these highly valuable works were gifted to must be paramount.
“That’s why I asked the culture secretary and the Scottish Government to look urgently and closely at this and offer to convene talks between the two parties to try and find a positive resolution.”
Renfrewshire Council was approached for comment.
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