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Bury Art Gallery 'faces funding exclusion'

21/11/2006

Bury Council could face difficulties in securing future funding for its art gallery following the sale of a LS Lowry painting, a museums body has warned.

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) will meet next month to discuss whether Bury Art Gallery should be stripped of its accredited status, reports website 24 Hour Museum.

LS Lowry's 'A Riverbank' – a depiction of the River Irwell – was recently sold at Christie's for £1.25 million. Bury Council intends to use the money to help fill a £10 million deficit in its accounts.

According to the MLA, Bury Council breached accreditation policy, which means it could lose access to funding.

"Bury Council should have taken all possible steps to ensure that the painting was kept within the public domain," MLA chief Chris Batt told the website.

The Museums Association has also threatened to exclude the local authority, thereby blocking funding to the art gallery.

Bury Council has accused its critics of being ignorant and guilty of putting pictures before people.



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