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Bethany Clarke / Getty Images file
'Draped Seated Woman' by Henry Moore was sold to one of London's borough councils at a knock-down price in 1962 on the understanding it would be displayed in the area, which was notorious for its social deprivation and which had also been heavily bombed during the Second World War. It is currently displayed at a sculpture park in Yorkshire.
LONDON — A debt-stricken district of London is to sell a sculpture gifted to the local area by celebrated artist Henry Moore, prompting fierce criticism and raising questions over the future of other publicly owned artworks amid austerity cuts.
The mayor of Tower Hamlets — one of the poorest areas of Britain — decided late Wednesday to sell the 8-foot Henry Moore bronze statue "Draped Seated Woman" as the borough council tries to cut a deficit of $144 million.
It is thought the sale of the sculpture could raise up to $32 million for the council. Independent mayor Lutfur Rahman over-ruled the concerns of a committee of politicians to order the artwork be auctioned to the highest bidder.
Ian Leith, founder and deputy chairman of the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association, told the U.K.’s Guardian that the high-profile decision means other towns and cities might now be tempted to see artworks simply as financial assets.
"We fear that this is the beginning of local authorities wanting to realize the assets they have in their public sculptures," he told the newspaper. "But the danger is that we won't find out about these sales: There is no national audit of public art in England and no at-risk list.”
In the United States, at least four cities have declared bankruptcy as they struggle to make budget cuts.
Read more coverage of this story at ITV News
Among those criticizing the London decision was Danny Boyle, the "Slumdog Millionaire" film director and choreographer of the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, who is also a resident in the east London borough.
Boyle told the Daily Telegraph: "The Moore sculpture defies all prejudice in people's minds about one of London's poorest boroughs. That alone makes it priceless to every resident."
Moore, who died in 1986, sold his sculpture to the council in 1962 at a knock-down price on the understanding it would be displayed in the local area, which was notorious for its social deprivation and which had also been heavily bombed during the Second World War. It sat in a public housing project in Stepney Green until 1997 when the project was demolished and it was loaned to a sculpture park in Yorkshire.
'Not insurable'
Heather Bonfield, the council’s interim head of culture, told a meeting on Wednesday night that displaying the sculpture in public parks in the area was no longer feasible because of the risk of vandalism and metal theft, making it "not insurable", according to a report in The Wharf local newspaper.
Tower Hamlets councilor Shahed Ali told ITV News the cash raised would be used for "services for local people, services that will make as big difference to our local residents."
"We have youth population that is the largest in Europe and the money will help address those needs," he said.
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A diverse community in East London will welcome the world to Britain for the 2012 Olympic Games. Meet residents and hear how they feel about having a huge, world stage in their backyard.
Tower Hamlets was one of the six boroughs adjacent to the Olympic Park, which transformed a derelict former industrial wasteland in east London into the epicenter of the 2012 Summer Games.
Sharon Ament, director of the Museum of London Docklands which is in the borough, proposed a plan to host the statue – but her offer was rejected.
"We are hugely disappointed," she told ITV News. "Just because we’re going through really tough times financially, it doesn’t mean to say that the cultural, artistic and spiritual needs of the population shouldn’t be met."
Local member of parliament, Rushanara Ali, told the East London Advertiser: "The sculpture belongs to the people of the East End and should remain in public ownership and be available for everyone to enjoy as Henry Moore intended it.
"This is a betrayal of the East End’s working class heritage. The sale will only make a small contribution to the council’s budget."
In Sunday’s Observer newspaper, commentator and local resident Rowan Moore wrote: "'Draped Seated Woman' fulfills an ideal that nothing was too good for ordinary people, an ideal that modern local politicians are in danger of losing. To sell the sculpture as if it were a piece of real estate would … betray Moore’s generosity. It would raise the question why anyone should ever want to offer anything to a local authority again."
Tower Hamlets to sell a GIFT from Henry Moore to it citizens.Disgraceful!
— Joan Bakewell (@JDBakewell) November 8, 2012
Local journalist and blogger Ted Jeory told NBC News the decision to sell the statue in order to keep funding for current local projects was a "vote-buying program" by Mayor Rahman, who is up for re-election in 18 months. "This is not about government cuts, it’s about his love of power," he said.
ITV News is the U.K. partner of NBC News.
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People in many countries are tgrying to survive - if they have objets d'arte-paintings-collectibles- they are trying to sell them to the highest bidder. EU countries- Great Britain included have now record numbers of unemployed- their food/petrol/other prices have gone up. Then they have debts from the Olympics (like Spain,like Greece)- their share in war waging (Libya,Afghanistan)-possibly Mali- has been bankrupting the country. Do Brits surrender without a fight to be ruled by EU/Merkel dicta? The storm clouds are brewing in near distance. (Then again the Irish are relapsing to their old terror fighting in Northern Ireland).
lol, when has there been terrorism in Northern Ireland in the last 15 years?
Britain doesn't have record numbers of unemployed, the rate is slightly lower than the USA.
Travis,There recently was some unrest in Northern Ireland.Their economy tanked after the boom years just like ours.Many of the younger Irish citizens have gone abroad,including to the U.S.,for jobs.
Selling off a town's or a country's assets is an extremely short sighted approach to fiscal responsibility.
Yeah, OK. Some clashes with police and maybe a few people thrown into the drunk tank for the night. It's not terrorism is all...
Right on Travis! You are correct, Sir!
Another victim of a socialistic government.
Elvis go to your room
Don't you mean to say: "Truth, you are not welcome here." ?
No we meant to say Elvis go to your room.
Thank you very much!
It appears as another victim of bad art.
Apparently not so priceless after all. You can defy all prejudice fairly easily, if you have an open mind. It is much harder to defy economic reality when you have an open (and empty) wallet.
PS how's that austerity policy working for you Great Britain?
For the people? Working great. They are so austere they can't afford to riot over all the free stuff they were promised if they only put the socialists in power.
It's actually worked very well. Britain's bond ratings are top-notch and in no danger of a downgrade thanks to the government's decisive action. Their banks are much stronger than mainland Europe and investors feel safe putting money into their currency.
Oh, wait... were you trying to paint the sale of artwork to compensate for government cuts as some sort of awful consequence that's too severe for the benefit of cheap government borrowing? Sorry, I didn't catch that right away. I tend to think that proper finances are more important than having nice hunks of bronze taking up public space. In that case, it's going awful. I'm sure the poor people will desperately regret the loss of the statue as they collect the welfare checks funded by its sale. Just shameful.
Well under socialism they have run out of other peoples money now they have to sell their artwork to keep the payola going to the slackers.
Actually, they bought the artwork with other peoples money. They are just selling other peoples stuff to get other peoples money to pay for free stuff they can't afford. A little like Obamas plan.
LOL didn't read the story did YOU>>>LOLOLO
Sell it... it is ugly
Looks alot like Boehner before his head swelled
Give yourself a big high five for being so witty.
Ever consider hooking up with Reid as the redux of Lewis and Martin?
Sorry I was at Faux news the other day trying to explain that Romney lost they wouldn't believe me and ran down the hall
Noo Yuk City will be selling the Empire State Bldg soon, with prez dog obammy re-elected .
I guess you don't realize that the Empire State Building is privately owned, and always has been.
You have to type slower so dangstraightup will understand
Whats sa matta pipple, no humor for you today?
"see artworks simply as financial assets."
I'll give em a buck because that's what I pretty much think all art is worth, but art is in the eye of the beholder so if they can get 32m I would say go for it.
Gotta get them rewards to pay them bills.(32m ? what a sucker)
USA citizens get ready...it's going to happen here also.most will end up in some oil rich country that are already raping us...
Wonder if that will require yet another term for Obama to come up with a plan?
If we could fund our deficit by selling public art, I wouldn't give one fig about the deficit.
We don't have enough statues in all the museums in the country...
the USA is already way ahead and Briutain owns more of the USA than any other foreign nation.
Just because we’re going through really tough times financially, it doesn’t mean to say that the cultural, artistic and spiritual needs of the population shouldn’t be met.”
I have never thought about Cultural, Artistic, or Spiritual as being needs... Nice yes, needs no... our Gov'ts are going broke because they cannot determine these differences...
homosexuality, paid unemployment, and pot. Sounds about right.
Without our Cultural, Artistic & Spiritual needs fulfilled--we are but apes. Devolution rather than evolution.
It depends on what they are going to use the money for.
Just as a "for instance"... if they are going to use some of it for a playground or a community center, okay, it benefits the entire community.
But if they are going to use it to put in or expand the country club golf course.....
Better yet, just apply it toward existing debt.
They will use it to pay for all the free stuff, same as Obama.
@nibor, it's over. You can go back to just ranting at the neighbors now.
Well, considering that they're trying to fill a deficit, they're probably just trying to maintain the same level of services. So I doubt the money is going toward any specific project.
darrall.... its not over...we've got to deal with it for 4 more years and then God knows how much longer after that to clean the mess up.... We aren't going anywhere, deal with it.
darrall... there is another reason it is not over... do you really think we are going away now Obama has to be a big kid and accept responsibilities for his failures? After all, he is going to be a little hard pressed finding someone to blame this time around - not that he won't try.
DrRunsung: " we've got to deal with it for 4 more years and then God knows how much longer after that to clean the mess up...We aren't going anywhere, deal with it."
No one is going anywhere--now YOU deal with it. If you truly want to "clean the mess up" then start COOPERATING & HELPING! We're all in this together. I'm sick to death of all your negativity and blaming one man named Obama! You could NOT do his job--and if you think you COULD--then DO IT!
@!$%# or get off the pot! Please!
Make a good Replica and sell the original. voila !
Or better yet, take a cell phone picture and put it on the city's web site. If people like the way it looks, it shouldn't make a difference whether it's a picture or a physical statue. Show some pragmatism people! We're in a global recession here!
Coming to an Obama second term near you.
nibor,I wonder what the U.S. can fetch for Mt Rushmore or the Statue of Liberty? I wouldn't be surprised if the values have been assessed already for future auctioning.
I doubt many people even knew it was there, and those who did probably didn't plan events around visiting it or taking pictures of it. I think this is a responsible idea by the govt: they can't insure it, so someone may come along, steal it and melt it down, then no one gets any benefit out of it. At least this way the govt gets some money that they seem intent on using for good purpose; and the new owner can make sure it is taken care of. Sure, they may lock it away where only select people can see it, but they may put it on public display, too. I think it is a win/win. Public art is over rated anyhow: put it into museums, keep the costs low, and people who want to see it can; others can stay away in droves.
You mean like paying for free stuff they promised in exchange for votes?
Or stuff that's legitimately important, like unemployment insurance, fire services, police, courts... not all government spending is "giving money to useless people".
Nibor, give it a rest please! Or take your meds! You sound like a robot stuck in a groove. Perhaps you could use some art, music, literature yourself...does wonders for the heart, mind and soul!
For my part this sculpture seems to be worth no more than the time the artist put into it. If that's worth $32M to someone...well.
I'd sell that ugly thing in a minute if it was going to be used to pay outstanding debt.
The artist did not receive proper advice before he sold his sculpture. If he intended perpetual display in a certain way, that should have been in the sale contract. There should have been a contingency clause defining what would happen to it if the borough no longer wished to host, display, and protect it (donation or sale to a particular museum/trust for free-of-charge display, or offered to the estate of the artist for the original sale price plus a specified return on investment, etc.) There could also be easements that cover how subsequent owners could dispose of it.
Is that typical of art sales? I thought it was sold the way most things are sold: I have your money, here's your thing, do what you want with it.
I don't see any problem with this. Times are tough and governments have to be pragmatic. Government services shouldn't have to suffer for the sake of saving a hunk of bronze, especially if the government is nervous about it being snatched or damaged.
Clearly no one commenting here is an artist, or arts administrator, or arts appreciator (excepting perhaps the person who very thoroughly summarized the legal aspects of public art). Ponder this - what is one's "culture" worth? You know that thing that makes us - a collection of various ages, ethnicities, religions, languages, ideologies, etc - quintessentially "American." Ask what makes one "English?" Is it not our cultural contributions to the world and to history? Henry Moore was one of the most renowned, revolutionary, and beloved ENGLISH artists of the 20th century. One might as easily suggest that Italy sell Michaelangelo's "David" to help stabilize their economy (but be sure to cover-up the naughty bits). Artistic contributions draw tourism (= dollars), admiration, and esteem, while enriching our lives. They give value to a "people," not just an indiviual. This is why works of art are considered "priceless," because their value extends beyond the material and labor costs. They cannot be replaced. If you believe the meaning of life is simply dollars and cents, debits and credits, then I'm afraid there is no convincing and no hope you... you're already dead.
Culture and ideas concerning what constitutes art change on a regular basis. Personally I do not find it to be a terribly attractive piece but maybe it looks better in person. There is more to culture than art although art is a part of culture along with music and many other things. It is just sad that we have come to think of things defining culture more than values. You remember values... things like paying your bills providing for education etc. those are values too and should be considered more important than public art. Some of the best art was created by poor men and women with no government association. Art can and will survive without the government. The question is can the government survive without values.
Oh btw oddly enough I am not dead and I love art. Dead rarely is the result of the lack of public art it is however often the result of poor decisions based on choosing non-essentials over essentials. If art has value it will survive without government assistence or display. Art comes from the people and is not something imposed upon them,
"Values" are a good point, when talking of culture and civilization. It is a choice of what a culture choses to "value." But I ask, what remains of a culture 100, 200, 500 or 1,000 years later? Is it their bank statements or their artistic ones? And by the way, most of what western civilization considers the great art of the past was produced by middle-class tradesmen on commission by the aristocracy and/or the Church - the equivolency of Government for the times. Death, by the way, can also be of soul and spirit. All things material are fleeting, only our deeds outlive us.
Exactly. The vast majority of art is made for the specialist, the Ph.D, the person who didn't have to major in Engineering or Business (because their parents were loaded) and racked up $150,000 of tuition debt studying Renaissance art. It's not made for the average person so why be offended when the average person wants to get rid of it?
Besides, in a lot of ways I think the art, music, clothing, food, etc. of a culture are really nonessential. For instance, when an anthropologist goes into the jungle to study tribe X they don't spend months mentally masturbating over the art they find, but rather, look at family structure, how people interact, what they value, relations between husband and wife, etc...in sum, the anthropologist studies a mode of living. A mode that the individual members of that culture aren't even consciously aware of.
Thats what culture is. Not some hunk of bronze sitting in a bad neighborhood.
Anyways, since people pretty much believe in the same stuff the world over (or at least in Europe, North America and Asia) you might say culture is dead and the only thing left to do is ponder over the meaning of relics like this statue. That might be your cup of tea but I find the whole thing quite demoralizing and pointless to tell you the truth...
Travis--With respect, I disagree. Culture is many things. And art, music, clothing, literature, is a BIG (and very important) part. Here in the USA--I think the lack of respect for the Arts contributes greatly to the current negativity, crime and descent into hell.
And if you think all the cultures all over the world "pretty much believe in the same stuff," I recommend you do some traveling. Leave the USA. Take your time. Experience the world. You'll be in for a shock--but you may really enjoy it. I do!
Seriously.
The government should not sell the work of art .. Once it sells all of the (so to speak) crown jewels the public will have nothing to be proud of ....
I find it a hideous sculpture but then beauty is in the eye of the beholder.It was gifted to the people but they have to dig their way out of debt so I see nothing wrong with auctioning this sculpture.
Can't get it insured, made of metal, and is open to any kind of vandalism and worth about 32 million. Ya, I sell it to just to get it to someplace where it would be safe if for no other reason.
They are taking a logical approach and putting what resources they have to good use. Good for them.
It's pretty ugly, you would think they'd be glad to get rid of it. Still, if it was gifted they have no business selling it without the majority's consent.
Wasn't that ugly statue used as the model for Jabba the Hutt?
Central PA 182: "If you believe the meaning of life is simply dollars and cents, debits and credits, then I'm afraid there is no convincing and no hope you... you're already dead.
WELL SAID! SPOT ON! THANK YOU!