Council criticised over arts collection management

The Northern Ireland Audit Office has today released a report criticising what it claims are historic deficiencies and a series of shortcomings in the management of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's collection.

The Arts Council is the leading body for the development of the arts in Northern Ireland and to raise awareness and interest in the visual arts, the Council has maintained and developed a collection of some 1,200 works of art, valued at £2.7 million.

It also has responsibility for a Partnership Purchasing Scheme (PPS) where it assisted others to purchase works of art.

Today, John Dowdall, Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), produced a report which highlights shortcomings in the management of the Council’s collection and the Partnership Purchase Scheme.

The report found: a history of poor controls and record management which has resulted in the loss of a number of works from the Council’s collection and uncertainty about a number of works acquired through PPS; approximately half of the collection is held in storage conditions which are less than ideal; scope for improved co-ordination between the Council and the Department of Finance and Personnel who also maintain a collection of art work; and that despite taking a decision in October 2000 to “gift” its collection to local museums and galleries, the Council has still to complete the transfer.

The report also records a history of losses and poor record-keeping, following the disappearance of 69 missing works in 1990-91.

However, this issue was not fully addressed given the identification of additional works and further write-offs in 1999, and the identification of almost 300 additional works in the reconciliation of the collection in September 2005.

In May 2006 the Council told the Audit Office that it had completed its reconciliation and had identified 52 works, with a current market value £28,000, which require follow up.

This will include contacting all former and current borrowers, contacting other institutions with collections, e-mailing images and descriptions to auction houses, circulating details on the Arts Council website and where necessary, recourse to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The report also identified significant shortcomings in the Council's management, with record management described as poor, inspection infrequent, and valuation, as with the main collection, outdated and understated.

It also found that 56 works acquired under the Partnership Purchase Scheme require “follow up”.

In addition, the Council has neither records of transactions, nor evidence of departmental approval for write-off for a further 39 works.

Approximately 50% of the Council works not on display are held in storage which is currently provided free of charge by a private sector company.

Concerns have been raised over the care and conservation of works both in storage and on loan, primarily over climatic conditions, although the Council considers that the climatic concerns are not serious ones.

The Council formally agreed to wind down its loan scheme in October 2000 and to gift its collection to local museums and galleries.

However, this has been delayed due to a request from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in July 2003 for further details, including the identification, reconciliation and valuation of works, the production of a business case and the completion of an up-to-date collection database. Work is understood to be continuing on each of these processes.

(EF/KMcA)