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Public backlash forces rethink on hospital’s paintings sell-off
‘Surprised’ health bosses agree to look again at decision to dispose of artwork
PLANS to sell off four famous paintings owned by University College London Hospital may be abandoned after health chiefs received a blitz of objections.
UCLH chairman Peter Dixon says the board will now reconsider the future of the large paintings by British symbolist Frederick Cayley Robinson, which were displayed at the Middlesex Hospital, Goodge Street, before it was closed down. The change of heart comes just one week after UCLH’s annual meeting, during which Charlotte Street Association chairman Max Neufeld showed Mr Dixon a letter he had received in 2003, stating the board “would certainly not consider permanent disposal”.
Mr Dixon said 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 decision was taken 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 to keep them grew, 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 that not selling will have consequences.
He said: “We’ll need to find some money to fund the arts programme. Maybe the worthy burghers of Camden could fund it.
“I would like to come up with a sensible solution which might allow them to fit into 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.” |
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