Clydebank Post | News | A waste of art

Wednesday, 19th November, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 10th October, 2007 10:00

A waste of art

By Kirsteen Paterson

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Extensive treasure trove is left in storage

Image related to story, see caption or article text

HIDDEN: A painting by William Holman Hunt, who has work in the collection

ART and antiques worth a six figure sum are languishing in council stores.

Just a fraction of West Dunbartonshire Council’s (WDC) treasure trove is ever on public view.

WDC refused to disclose the value of its cache, stating that individual objects are only valued “on an ad-hoc basis to cover insurance for loans to other museums”.

But the Post can reveal that one collection alone — the 31-item body of work by the acclaimed Scottish Colourist group — set the authority back £186,400.

This is despite a number of council services facing the axe — including five libraries and two nurseries — in a bid to recoup £10.5m

Many of the stores used to ‘protect’ the publicly-owned works have been rated inadequate by officials.

But a Post investigation can now shine a light on the area’s hidden gems.

Over the years, WDC has built up an impressive art collection boasting work from hugely influential art movements.

French impressionist Berthe Morisot, English pre-Raphaelite William Holman Hunt and Mexican muralist Diego Riviera are just three of the big names included.

The catalogue also shows listings for Russian abstract painter Wassily Kandinsky and medieval Italian artist Fra Angelico.

And there are also decorative wooden panels created by Margaret McDonald Mackintosh from her family home, Dunglass Castle, Bowling, and a stunning collection by Dalmuir contemporary artist Tom McKendrick.

Deck from Clydebuilt ships, Singer sewing machines and a silver trophy donated by Jackie Stewart from his 1969 grand prix-winning year are also under lock and key.

Many of the pieces, including paintings by artist George Leslie Hunter, were purchased between 2005-06.

These artworks were displayed in a one-off show last summer.

However, they are confined to hidden storerooms on a day-to-day basis due to a lack of suitable exhibition space throughout the area — the only two dedicated places are Clydebank Museum and Dalmuir’s Backdoor Gallery — which is on the council’s budget saving list as part of Dalmuir Library.

For example, the painting Pale Nude, by Robert Fergusson, is stored in a safe in a Garshake office.

But this piece fares better than other items which are kept in “unsuitable” sites like the prison cells and basement at Clydebank Town Hall, the basement of Gavinburn Library, Old Kilpatrick, and “damp” Levenford House.

A recycling centre and a Clydebank school are also used. A report acquired by the Post shows environmental monitoring equipment is needed for three stores, despite the fact that some are “full to capacity”.

Despite the current budget crisis, WDC says there are “no plans to sell any of the museum collections”, and the funds from any sales would be ring-fenced for the museum collection due to policy.

There are no plans for more dedicated exhibition spaces.

A spokesperson said: “We aim to make all museum collections as accessible to the public as possible.

“Collections are displayed on a rotating basis in Clydebank Museum and the Backdoor Gallery.

“Public spaces in council buildings are also used for the display of fine art.”

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