Art Lost Through Flawed RM Practices
Art Lost Through Flawed RM Practices
September 1st, 2006:Archive of artworks valued at $6.72-million is found to be incomplete due to poor record-keeping practices.
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (the Council) is the lead body for the development of the arts in Northern Ireland. 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 £2.7million.
John Dowdall CB, 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 records a history of losses and poor record-keeping.
Following the write-off of 69 missing works in 1990-91, the Council should have reviewed the soundness of its control systems. 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.
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;
- 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.
In May 2006 the Council told the Audit Office that it had completed its reconciliation and had identified 52 works, 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 Arts Council of Northern Ireland (the Council) is the lead body for the development of the arts in Northern Ireland. 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 £2.7million.