Southampton City Council to sell off parts of its art collection (From This is Hampshire)

Don't be stupid City Councillors. SKeep The Turners, Lowry's etc the people can reasonably expect to be able to see without going to the capital city. You should sell the Duvet cover and the board full of dung, which literally is pretentious crap !

Surely it is better that these paintings get sold and displayed in galleries for all to see, than languishing in a Council vault?

Not only will people get to enjoy these works of art the people of Southampton will get to benefit from exciting new council projects.

lets face it, this money going to the titanic museum is going to be a waste.
the locals will need to go at lest 1 week to make this project worth while, it be worth while for the first few mths then it will become a white elephant. the council would do better to keep the paintings and hire them out to other gallery's, that way they would bring in money all the time, and not the one big lump off money that will be miss spent on white elephants.

Excellent, they can now spend the money on clearing Southampton FC's debt. I wants to look at Art anyway when we have a much more important home Football club of ours to save. Much more useful to the city. Hope they dont except refunds.

No sign of Denham and Whitehead again. Perhaps we could ask them why we have had a cut in the direct government grant in recent years?

I think its a great idea to sell these old dust collectors. Sell al least enough to buy the debts of the ground of SAINTS. That would keep at least 15,000 people happy instead of just a few that wanna see these old dis-coloured boring pictures.

Hang on - wasn't it going to be £28m spent on the Titanic museum? I realise some morons have no appreciation for the history and heritage of Southampton but the city MUST commit to spending of this nature in order to begin some sort of renaissance for the city. Incorporate the Aviation and Wool House museum's offerings but for God's sake get the professionals in, buy a set from the film from James Cameron, make it interactive, anything to make it an attraction that people will travel from around the globe to see. A shoddy job brought about by insufficient funds will leave the city with yet another half arsed attempt at realising its potential. Southampton is way down the pecking order of south coast desirable locations to visit, it's about time it started catching up.

Any money that is received, do not think it will ALL go into worthwhile causes - Council look upon themselves as 'worthwhile' and they have many cronies that will give their 'Advice' for a reasonable fee! Yes, that is how much I distrust all in high office.

Agree with the Friends. It should definitely NOT be decided by the Council, but by the people, who "own" it - the residents of Southampton. Agree that it is a good idea to loan out articles. But the real shame is that the gallery is so small and the city lacks places to show its art. A Titanic Museum - what a depressing idea!

On the one hand, perhaps this is good to ensure that the paintings can be seen.

On the other hand, the proceeds should not be used to prop up the Saints - perhaps their dwindling fortunes is a good indicator that taxpayer's money should be spent on something more worthwhile.

Remember: it's only a game(!) ;)

I hear that plenty of people round the world, who either do not have a local football team or do have a football team but a rubbish one at that, who plump for supporting Man Utd.

nikolai wrote:
On the one hand, perhaps this is good to ensure that the paintings can be seen. On the other hand, the proceeds should not be used to prop up the Saints - perhaps their dwindling fortunes is a good indicator that taxpayer's money should be spent on something more worthwhile. Remember: it's only a game(!) ;) I hear that plenty of people round the world, who either do not have a local football team or do have a football team but a rubbish one at that, who plump for supporting Man Utd.

They should use the money to get a local BNP center opened.

banhammer wrote:

nikolai wrote:
On the one hand, perhaps this is good to ensure that the paintings can be seen. On the other hand, the proceeds should not be used to prop up the Saints - perhaps their dwindling fortunes is a good indicator that taxpayer's money should be spent on something more worthwhile. Remember: it's only a game(!) ;) I hear that plenty of people round the world, who either do not have a local football team or do have a football team but a rubbish one at that, who plump for supporting Man Utd.

They should use the money to get a local BNP center opened.

Ha ha, good attempt at trying to get me to bite considering my comments regarding the other story about Oaten, but I think I'll pass up the opportunity!

nikolai wrote:

banhammer wrote:

nikolai wrote: On the one hand, perhaps this is good to ensure that the paintings can be seen. On the other hand, the proceeds should not be used to prop up the Saints - perhaps their dwindling fortunes is a good indicator that taxpayer's money should be spent on something more worthwhile. Remember: it's only a game(!) ;) I hear that plenty of people round the world, who either do not have a local football team or do have a football team but a rubbish one at that, who plump for supporting Man Utd.

They should use the money to get a local BNP center opened.

Ha ha, good attempt at trying to get me to bite considering my comments regarding the other story about Oaten, but I think I'll pass up the opportunity!

Sell the pictures!!

set up a rehab centre for those who are hopelessly addicated to trolling on the Echo 'Have your Say' ;)!

freemantlegirl2 wrote:

nikolai wrote:

banhammer wrote:

nikolai wrote: On the one hand, perhaps this is good to ensure that the paintings can be seen. On the other hand, the proceeds should not be used to prop up the Saints - perhaps their dwindling fortunes is a good indicator that taxpayer's money should be spent on something more worthwhile. Remember: it's only a game(!) ;) I hear that plenty of people round the world, who either do not have a local football team or do have a football team but a rubbish one at that, who plump for supporting Man Utd.

They should use the money to get a local BNP center opened.

Ha ha, good attempt at trying to get me to bite considering my comments regarding the other story about Oaten, but I think I'll pass up the opportunity!

Sell the pictures!!

set up a rehab centre for those who are hopelessly addicated to trolling on the Echo 'Have your Say' ;)!

What about the ones that are gainfully addicted to trolling on the Echo 'Have your Say'?

The article states:

"But Anne Anderson, chairman of Friends of Southampton Museum and Art Galleries, said: “The people of Southampton should be asked what they want to happen to their art – it’s not up to those in the council chamber to decide.”

Thus speaks the voice of common sense. What happened to democracy?

Is the middle of a recession the best time to get the highest return on these items?

The sooner the tory council leaders get sent on their way, the better for the city and all of us. They got in to power because people couldn't be bothered to vote. A low turnout always favours the right wing parties.

(A very appropriate security word:
they-hike)

I've got a great idea for the council re what to do with the art - stick it on the wall so we can see it. Southampton could draw people from all over the country to see these great paintings, instead the council keeps them in the cellar. No vision, no culture, and it isn't theirs to sell off anyway so they will be in big trouble if they even try it. Come on council, stick the blooming paintings ON THE WALL!!! Or are you totally devoid of class?

I agree with Jenjo, why cant we actually see these paintings on display? When I lived here last time about 10 yrs ago the city art gallery had a great reputation nationally, seems like the rest of Southampton it has declined significantly. A Titanic museum is a white elephant, we need culture here not gimmicks. rebuild a great new contemporary gallery on Tyrells site and show off the paintings. If a small town like Eastbourne can build a new gallery surely Southampton can.

ja9allen wrote:
I agree with Jenjo, why cant we actually see these paintings on display? When I lived here last time about 10 yrs ago the city art gallery had a great reputation nationally, seems like the rest of Southampton it has declined significantly. A Titanic museum is a white elephant, we need culture here not gimmicks. rebuild a great new contemporary gallery on Tyrells site and show off the paintings. If a small town like Eastbourne can build a new gallery surely Southampton can.

I totally agree - get the artworks up there. Surely there must be existing buildings that could be used and/or converted at relatively low cost. Not so sure the Council can "afford" - or rather would not give sufficient resources and attention - to a new building though.

This is nothing short of selling off the family silver.

Get the proposed Titanic museum out of the Civic Centre (a ridiculous location for it - it should be near the water) and use the extra space to extend the art gallery. There, I've solved it