Western Morning News (Saturday)
Keeping watch: sale flags up value of Gormley works
AREPORT that sculptor Sir Antony Gormley has sold a statue for £400,000 has focused attention on the cost of the artwork bought by Plymouth City Council.
The sculptor donated a figure made of wooden blocks called Attend to support the Help the Hungry Campaign set up by the news website The Independent, which reported the price paid by a private collector.
The city council has refused to disclose what it paid for Look II, the 12ft cast-iron statue by Sir Antony which has been installed on the West Pier on the waterfront at West Hoe.
The council says it is unable to give the amount as it is covered by a confidentiality agreement with the artist, but it has put a figure of £425,000 on the budget for the installation costs, including repairs to the listed pier.
The city council has turned down requests for the cost made under the Freedom of Information Act, and it is now facing challenges under the appeal process.
Plymouth MP Johnny Mercer has called on the Information Commissioner to force the authority to say what it paid for the artwork. Mr Mercer said in a letter to the commissioner’s office that an appeal against the refusal to disclose the fee was under way, and he has asked for the information to be published.
The statue was announced by the city council as one of the key artworks for the opening of The Box museum and heritage centre, and to mark the planned Mayflower 400 celebrations.
It was described by the city council as a “world class” artwork and major cultural attraction for the city. Objectors during the planning process said it was “ugly”, “out of place” and a “waste of money”.
The leader of the Conservative opposition group on the city council, Nick Kelly, has also been pushing for the information to be revealed, saying taxpayers had a right to know how their money was spent.
Plymouth historian Ernie Stanton, a semi-retired roads and drainage engineer who worked for the city council, said he considered the cost should be revealed. He said: “It is our money after all. They are spending our money, and we should have a say in that.”
The council has said the amount of the fee was being withheld because disclosure “would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of the Council and The Box.”
It is our money after all. They are spending our money, and we should have a say in that HISTORIAN ERNIE STANTON