Report to the Corporate Trustees Committee Wards All Potential Purchase of art works by Arthur Gaskin and John Smith Report of the Curator of Art, Hull Museums 1. Purpose of the Report and Summary 1.1. To request the use of the Ferens Endowment Fund to support the purchase of two art works for the Ferens Art Gallery; Georgie 1898 by Arthur Gaskin and The Black Tower 1985 -87 by John Smith. 2. Recommendations 2.1 That a contribution of £5,600 (five thousand six hundred pounds) from the Ferens Endowment Fund is approved for purchase of the art work by Arthur Gaskin. 2.2 That a contribution of up to the equivalent of 21 500 euros £18,858 (eighteen thousand eight hundred and fifty eight pounds) from the Ferens Endowment Fund is approved for the purchase of the artwork by John Smith. This is a non-key decision 3. Background The Gallery seeks to continue to add to and strengthen its collections and the Ferens Endowment Fund exists to support this activity. Arthur Gaskin (Birmingham 1862 - 1928) Georgie 1898 30.5 x 23 cm tempera on wooden panel The Maas Gallery, Clifford Street, London, W1S 4JZ Georgie is a signed and dated work of secure provenance by an artist not currently represented in the permanent collection but linked closely to other artist’s that are. The picture will significantly enhance the Gallery’s holding of works in the tempera medium and its collection of portraits which are an acknowledged strength. John Smith (London 1952) The Black Tower (Number 1 of an edition of 5) 1985-87 Duration 24 minutes 16mm colour film Tanya Leighton Gallery, Kurfurstenstrasse 156, 10785 Berlin The decision to purchase this work follows the Ferens Art Gallery’s two year involvement in the Contemporary Art Society’s new Acquisitions Scheme, from 2009- 2011. The Black Tower is an archetypal example of Smith’s style as a filmmaker marrying dark British humour with iconic images. The Ferens is getting the very first opportunity to acquire The Black Tower as an archival film. Despite its significance it is not currently owned by any other public collection. 4. Issues for Consideration Arthur Gaskin (Birmingham 1862 - 1928) Georgie 1898 Rationale for buying the Gaskin: • In full accord with Hull City Council/ Hull Museums Acquisitions and Disposals Policy • Fully supported by education and public access priorities in terms of the work’s display and subsequent use in displays, temporary exhibitions, loans, website, publishing, income generation/ image reproduction • Will generate further positive publicity and increased profile for the Service and the city • Will generate increased civic pride • Meets the Friends requirements for fulfilment of the Drummond Bequest (See Appendix 1 at the end of this report for further details) John Smith The Black Tower 1985-87 Rationale for buying the Smith: Background to the acquisition The decision to purchase this work has come out of Ferens Art Gallery’s two year involvement in the Contemporary Art Society’s new Acquisitions Scheme, from 2009- 2011. Ferens Art Gallery formed a group alongside Nottingham Castle, Grundy Art Gallery, Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, National Museum Wales, South London Gallery, Manchester Art Gallery, Hunterian Art Gallery, Paisley Museum, Victoria Art Gallery and the Ulster Museum, Belfast. The research for these museums, including Ferens Art Gallery, comprised discussions around their collections, aspirations for their development and sharing individual interests in artists work. It involved visits and discussions with a range of galleries and studio visits in London and the Netherlands. The Black Tower was felt by both CAS and the Ferens to be the ideal acquisition for their collection. • In full accord with Hull City Council/ Hull Museums Acquisitions and Disposals Policy and stated desire to collect both historic and contemporary art • Fully supported by education and public access priorities in terms of the work’s display and subsequent use in displays, temporary exhibitions, loans, website and ongoing publishing projects • Special relevance to longer term commitment to audience development work with young people • Will generate PR opportunities and increased profile for the Service and the city • Will generate increased civic pride • Consolidates and renews important long-term partnership with the Contemporary Art Society (See Appendix 2 at the end of this report for further details) Funding Arthur Gaskin (The Maas Gallery) The purchase has been identified for the Drummond Bequest of £15,000 left to the Friends of the Ferens Art Gallery in 2010. The purchase will be made in Dr Drummond’s memory. Costs: • £24, 0000 purchase cost • 10% museum discount negotiated to £21,600 • Further £1000 discount agreed with Rupert Maas to fund conservation treatment of background • Final offer: £20,600 Funding breakdown: • £15,000 Friends of the Ferens Art Gallery- Drummond Bequest • £5,600 Ferens Endowment Fund (including £1000 to pay for the conservation which has been knocked off the asking price to compensate) John Smith (Tanya Leighton Gallery) Costs: • 30,000 euros – purchase cost • 27,000 euros (10% museums discount) Funding breakdown: • 10, 000 euros (V&A Purchase Grant Fund- equivalent to approx £8771.00) • 5,500 euros (Contemporary Art Society- equivalent to approx £4824.00) • 11,500 euros (Ferens Endowment Fund- equivalent to approx £10,087) 5. Council’s Aims and Objectives The potential acquisition of the Gaskin fits the objectives of the Drummond Bequest and will act as a fitting commemoration of this generous donation to the city whilst significantly enhancing Hull Museums’ collections. The work by John Smith The Black Tower is an archetypal example of Smith’s style as a filmmaker marrying dark British humour with iconic images. The Ferens is getting the very first opportunity to acquire the work as an archival film. Despite its significance it is not currently owned by any other public collection. Both purchases will help to engender civic pride and add to the cultural richness of Hull Museums’ collections whilst building on the recent investment made by the new administration in Museums and Heritage Both acquisitions are fully in line with Hull Museums’ Acquisition and Disposal Policy and will enhance Service delivery particularly in relation to the key areas of public access through interpretation, display, education and research. 6. Options 6.1 If a grant from local sources is not available for the Gaskin then the larger sum provided by the Drummond Bequest will remain unspent. 6.2 For the Smith a grant from local sources will enable the Gallery to apply to the V&A Purchase Grant Fund in order to raise sufficient funds to attempt to purchase the Smith. If the purchase is facilitated then the enhancement of the permanent collections and benefits to Service Delivery outlined above, will follow. 6.2 If the gallery fails to secure a funding contribution from local sources then it is very unlikely to be successful in obtaining a grant at national level from the V&A Purchase Grant Fund. In keeping with the economic downturn the competition for grants is currently higher than ever with the V&A budgets cut from £1,600, 000.00 to £600,000.00 this year. A successful grant application is never guaranteed but in the current circumstances is even more competitive. For this reason the Gallery is seeking to use up to £18, 858 from the Ferens Endowment Fund in order to cover any potential shortfall; should support from the V&A be secured, the contribution required from the FEF would be reduced to £10,087. 7. Monitoring Officer Assurance Statement The Acting Monitoring Officer confirms that the proposals to purchase the works of art identified in the report, using funds from the Ferens Endowment Fund and the Drummond Bequest, falls within the objects of the Trust. It is therefore a matter which can be considered by the Corporate Trustees Committee to determine whether or not to support the proposals using monies from the Trusts. The Council has powers to make the purchases using these funds under S.145 Local Government Act 1972. 8. Section 151 Officer Assurance Statement The Section 151 Officer confirms funds are available within the Ferens Endowment Fund to cover the proposed contributions. 9. Comments of Head of Human Resources The Head of Human Resources notes this report. There are no further comments. 10. Comments of Overview and Scrutiny This report has not been subject to pre-decision scrutiny. (Sc3111). 11. Conclusions Purchasing these works in the manner described supports the core aims of the Ferens Endowment Trust and will contribute to the corporate aims of Hull City Council. The use of other funding streams in this process ensures the very best value for the Fund. 12. Recommendations That a contribution of £5,600 (five thousand six hundred pounds) from the Ferens Endowment Fund is approved for purchase of the art work by Arthur Gaskin. That a contribution of up to the equivalent of 21 500 euros £18,858 (eighteen thousand eight hundred and fifty eight pounds) from the Ferens Endowment Fund is approved for the purchase of the artwork by John Smith. Simon Green, Assistant Head of Culture and Lifestyle (Heritage) Contact Officer: Kirsten Simister (Curator of Art) Telephone No.: 01482 613902 Officer Interests: None 18.07.2011 Appendix 1 – Arthur Gaskin Gaskin was a leading member of the Birmingham Group of Artists that included Joseph Southall, Henry Payne and Sidney Meteyard. The Birmingham Group are recognised as one of the last outposts of late Romanticism in the visual arts, and an important link between the last of the Pre-Raphaelites and the new Slade Symbolists. Both Gaskin and his wife, Georgie, the sitter in this painting, were designers of jewellery, enamel and metalwork.