Council urged to take ‘honest and moral decision’ over return of art
A renowned art society is demanding the return of its collection of paintings worth millions in a dispute with its local authority.
The collection, which includes works by the Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists, belongs to Paisley Art Institute (PAI).
The Sunday Post revealed in April last year how the art society had only been offered 25% of the wallhanging space previously provided when Paisley Museum reopens after a £45 million revamp.
The PAI dates back to 1876 and its members have included the Paisleyborn playwright and artist John Byrne, who died in November.
In July, Renfrewshire Council asked for £10,000 a year for storage of PAI’s collection, which had been stored for free by the council for over 100 years.
PAI requested the return of its 400-strong collection, while the council asked for a five-year loan of 43 paintings to hang in the museum.
That request was rejected and PAI arranged an uplift of the collection for October. But, according to PAI, six days before the removal was due to begin, the council asked for paperwork including insurance documents, courier details and names of trustees.
This was provided, but two days before the uplift, they were told the person who could give authority for the removal to go ahead was on holiday.
In December, the council also expressed concerns about documentation, PAI’s legal status and “the demands an uplift of this scale will place” on staff.
A decision on the release of the paintings will now be taken by the council on Wednesday.
PAI president Joe Hargan said: “We encourage the council to not add insult to injury and make the honest and moral decision to hand over our property without prejudice.
“For 148 years this institute has given so much in promoting art in Scotland and putting Paisley on the artistic map.
“The art galleries in Paisley have been there for the last 100 years for the benefit of Paisley folk, due to the beneficence of the Paisley Art Institute.
“The members of the art institute bought the land, enlisted the architect, saved up for the building costs for over 30 years, and negotiated with the town an agreement of use, in perpetuity, six galleries for up to three months in the year.”
Renowned art critic Clare Henry said: “Paisley Art Institute has one of the best collections in Scotland.
“Its annual exhibitions, which I went to for more than 40 years, were a high point of the arts calendar.
“They were mobbed and they were good for artists and good for the town.
“The institute has been treated atrociously by the council and OneRen, who have acted in a very short-sighted and destructive manner.
“It looks to me as if this will end in tragedy.”
Renfrewshire Council said: “We have engaged with Paisley Art Institute since 2016 to agree how to integrate their collection artworks into the new museum and, separately, formally offered the future use of a large, prominent gallery space for their commercial exhibition. This was declined.
“We attempted to put in place a Collections Agreement with PAI to ensure the storage, insurance and conservation costs of their collection would be covered by them as owners rather than being publicly funded – which they have not agreed to.
“A separate Loan-In Agreement to display 43 artworks from their collection was intended to tell the story of PAI’s important contribution to the town’s cultural legacy.
“Despite previously agreeing to this in writing, and £53,000 subsequently invested by the council to conserve these items, the current trustees have since requested their collection, including the works prepared for display, is returned to them.
“When Paisley Museum reopens it will be a world-class attraction and will reflect all communities in Renfrewshire – with more than 70 local groups involved in shaping its content.
“More than 40% of the new displays will include art objects.”