Archived decisions
Hampshire County Council
Executive Member - Policy and Resources Item 3
31 January 2006
The Public Catalogue Foundation `Art in Hampshire Collections'
Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage
Contact: Nicola Horsey Ext: 5423 e-mail: [email protected]
1. Introduction
1.1 The Public Catalogue Foundation is a registered charity that has been set up to make paintings held in public collections more accessible to the public. This focuses on oil and acrylic painting and provides a colour illustration and description of every painting in volumes or catalogues, usually distinguished by geographical area.
2. Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight
2.1 The area of Hampshire, including Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight was been identified as a focus for one of these catalogues. However, due to the sheer volume of work held in public collections across the area it has been decided that two catalogues will be produced:
i) Hampshire and Portsmouth
ii) Southampton and the Isle of Wight
2.2 The catalogues will bring together nearly 5000 oil, acrylic and tempera paintings held in public collections, many of which are rarely on public display and are either in storage or in official buildings with limited access. Many of the works to be included in these catalogues will be reproduced for the first time. Paintings from Hampshire County Council's own collection, predominantly those works held by Museums and the Arts Service, will be included. There are also plans to make the catalogue information and images accessible on the internet.
2.3 It is proposed that free copies of the book will be given to all Hampshire secondary schools and that catalogues will be made available at half the retail price to galleries and museums, in addition to a small free allocation.
2.4 3,000 copies of each catalogue will be printed.
3. Financial Implications
3.1 The County Council has been asked for a £20,000 contribution towards the costs of producing the two catalogues. It is proposed that Policy and Resources find £10,000 with a further £10,000 from Property, Business and Regulatory Services.
3.2 The three unitary authorities (Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight) have all been asked for a financial contribution too. It is understood that Southampton have pledged £5,000, the other two authorities are still considering their response.
4. Legal Implications
4.1 The County Council is able to utilise broad powers under the Local Government Act 1972 to provide financial support for the arts. In particular, Section 145 of the Act enables the Council to contribute towards the expenses of doing anything necessary or expedient for any of a number of purposes, including the provision of entertainment of any nature, or the provision of a theatre, concert hall, dance hall or other premises suitable for entertainment. The powers include the ability to contribute towards the expenses of maintaining a band or orchestra and towards the development and improvement of the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts.
5. The Views of the Local Members
5.1 This project will cover the whole of the Hampshire area and therefore it was not appropriate to source views of any individual local members.
6. Impact Assessment
6.1 Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the assessment of the project. No adverse impact has been identified.
7. Hampshire County Council's Corporate Strategy
7.1 This project supports the Corporate Strategy to maximise life opportunities by creating an opportunity for people to access information and images of the art held locally in public collections.
Recommendation
That The Public Catalogue Foundation be provided with a £10,000 grant from Policy and Resources 2006/07 budget and £10,000 from Property Business and Regulatory Services' 2006/07 budget towards the costs of producing a Catalogue of Art held in Public Collections in Hampshire, subject to confirmation that the:
i) resources are made available on the internet within six months of the catalogue being
published.
ii) funding awarded must only be used to cover costs associated with the Hampshire and
Portsmouth catalogue.
Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers
The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.
N.B. the list excludes:
1. Published works
2. Documents that disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.
TITLE LOCATION
Public Catalogue Foundation File Arts Service, Mottisfont Court