Island’s art stash is worth cool £1.7m
ARTWORKS held by a North Wales council are valued at more than £1.75m.
Anglesey Council keeps its collection of 1,498 paintings on canvas and paper at Oriel Ynys Mon in Llangefni.
More than 100 artworks are on display at any one time in the History Gallery and the Kyffin Williams Room at the purpose-built facility.
Responding to a Freedom of Information request an Anglesey Council spokesman said: “The collection was independently valued in 2012. The market value of the works at that time amounted to some £1,776,270.”
But despite the council being forced to find £30m in savings in the next three years, it says it has no plans to sell the collection.
The officer added: “The art collection has been acquired mostly through grants, and donations by artists and individuals to be held in trust for the future and for the people of Anglesey.
“There are no plans by the Council as the museum’s governing body to dispose of or sell the works of art in its possession.”
Oriel Ynys Môn was opened in 1991 and since then, the gallery has expanded its fine art collection.
The collection contains works by Charles Tunnicliffe, Sir Kyffin Williams and the Massey Sisters.
The collection held by Anglesey is considerably larger other North Wales local authorities.
Gwynedd Council have 46 art works in their possession, many of which are prints of works rather than original art works, an officer said.
She added the current value of these artworks is £35,720 and 41 are currently on display, either publicly or in council buildings not generally accessible by the public.
“There is no policy for the acquisition or sale of these items at present,” the officer said.
Denbighshire Council have no central list of artwork but an officer said the authority’s Heritage Services collection has six items and five sculptures that could be classified as fine and decorative art.
“The majority are not on display as their condition is too poor. Two of the paintings are also on display at Plas Newydd Llangollen when it is open as they relate to the social history of the house and the ‘Ladies’.
“I do not believe the value of any of the art holdings is substantial as individual items are more likely to be in the £100s or less category rather than £1,000s or more,” the official added.
Various other items, including the Civic Regalia Plate are insured for £30,000.
About 80 oil paintings are held by Flintshire Council and these are displayed at various locations including Mold Museum, Greenfield Museum and County Hall
An official said many watercolours, sketches etc. would have come to the council a s part of archive collections.
“No specific information is held about these and it would take many weeks to check all the collections, extract the information and ascertain which are owned by the council.