Camden New Journal - News: It’s a UCLH-turn as art sale causes uproar

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Camden New Journal - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 04 October 2007

Detail from one of Cayley Robinson’s paintings that once hung in the foyer of the Middlesex hospital

It’s a UCLH-turn as art sale causes uproar

PLANS to sell off four famous paintings owned by University College London Hospitals may be called off after hospital chiefs were taken by surprise by the swell of objections.
UCLH chairman Peter Dixon said the board, which has until now remained resolute on the controversial decision to sell off the massive works, will reconsider the future of the paintings by British symbolist Frederick Cayley Robinson.
The change of heart comes just one week after UCLH’s annual general meeting, when Charlotte Street Association chairman Max Neufeld showed Mr Dixon a letter he had written in 2003, which said the board “would certainly not consider permanent disposal”.
Mr Dixon maintained the decision was not connected to Mr Neufield’s intervention but said: “We’ve been surprised at the fact that three years ago no one showed the slightest bit of interest and there’s a change in that suddenly everyone’s jumping up and down about it. At one stage it looked like it was just one person but it became apparent it was more than that.
“It doesn’t embarrass us – it just means we have to think. On this basis (chief executive) Robert Naylor and I feel we have to take another look at it. We’re not promising anything.”
He added: “We are considering whether it might be possible to include them in the other buildings. We are listening to what people are saying. It will go back to the board in November.”
Since the board decided to sell the paintings to fund future art projects, the hospital has progressed with the plans, putting them into the hands of auctioneers Christie’s and entering into negotiations with potential buyers. But, as pressure not to sell mounted, UCLH finally agreed to delay the sale for six months for any interested art galleries such as the Tate, to gather funds.
Now, as the deadline draws near, Mr Dixon has promised no decision will be made until it goes before the board.
However, he has warned, not selling will have consequences: “We’ll need to find some money to fund the arts programme.
“Maybe the worthy burghers of Camden could fund it, or maybe we could find someone to pay for the paintings but keep them on display at the hospital. I would like to come up with a sensible solution which might allow them to fit in to one of our buildings which might be built in the future but that route won’t be easy. They are big, not to everyone’s taste and it may not be possible.”
Mr Neufeld said: “I’m absolutely delighted and I hope that they will now make the decision to incorporate them in a future building. It’s something of a tribute to them that they listened to local opinion on this.”

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