Show Wolverhampton's art or sell it to raise cash, demands UKIP MEP
Public art should either be on display or sold to raise vital funds for cash-strapped councils - this is the view of UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge as it emerged Wolverhampton council has thousands of pieces in storage.
The city council owns roughly 17,000 pieces of art but has only 10 per cent on display.
It comes after the Express & Star revealed last month that Dudley Council has less than one per cent of its art on display, which prompted Mr Etheridge to say: "Why has the council still got these pieces if they're just sat in storage for 11 and a half months a year collecting dust?"
And he was just as shocked when he heard of Wolverhampton's figures.
"Good lord, wow, you've actually taken me aback," he said. "I've just had to pick myself up off the floor.
"I would rather have my bins emptied than know there is a piece of art locked away somewhere. I do think it's as bad as that yes. The councillors are admitting themselves that the council is in a dire state, and that's an understatement, and that they cannot afford vital services.
"The art is of no value to anybody if it's stashed away in storage collecting dust. If it's of value to the local community then it needs to be on display and if not it needs to be sold to help fund these vital services.
"Episodes like this bring shame onto the council and it can almost be said that it brings them into disrepute."
But former Wolverhampton mayor and current Heath Town councillor Milkinder Jaspal believes the council should avoid selling off the artwork in storage.
He said: "When I was mayor I was told about this. We did an investigation and found we had some really good art pieces. It's something we should be really proud of.
"My personal view is that we should retain it and try and get it on display when we can. There's an argument in this current climate that we should be selling it off but I'm against that.
"We should keep it and have it on display to the public when we can so people can look at it.
"Some people are totally against it and will say 'sell it off' but it's part of the history of Wolverhampton and we should retain it.
"If you have to charge for some people to view the art then I don't think they would mind to be honest.
"A lot of the pieces are lent out to various exhibitions across the UK and Europe where they are helping to promote the city of Wolverhampton, which is of course a positive thing."
Councillor Jaspal also mentioned the city's main library as a possible alternative location to display some of the art that is currently in storage.
Dr Michael Hardacre, a Labour councillor for the Park ward, echoed Councillor Jaspal's comments about not selling the art off.
He said: "I stand full square on the fact that this is part of Wolverhampton's cultural heritage and any suggestions that this art should be sold off is mere philistinism.
"The artwork that we have is part of our great cultural heritage and I believe that the cultural heritage of the city is vitally important. In this context I would not support the selling of our art for the sake of it.
"It doesn't matter what the money is used for, selling it off is selling it off."
Some of the art that currently sits in storage at Wolverhampton Art Gallery are a collection of rocks and fossils donated by Dr John Fraser and a statue entitled 'Hermes Resting'. There is also a number of stunning oil paintings.
