Tate Hung Trustees Works

The Telegraph reports that it obtained confidential papers revealing that many of the trustees, who include some of Britain's most revered artists, received financial benefit from the art gallery's acquisitions. Some were even present at the meetings that approved the transactions. The papers also show that a number of the acquisitions were made on the personal recommendation of Sir Nicholas Serota, the art gallery's director. The revelation is an embarrassment to the Tate, which has said it acquires the work of trustees only in "exceptional circumstances". It has also infuriated the Tate's critics, who want to know if it has breached charity law regarding the management of conflict of interest. "Given the sort of institution the Tate is, if it acquires a work of art by a trustee it is boosting the value of that artist and providing an obvious financial benefit. "What amazes me is that the Tate hasn't come clean about this and we only know because of a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I think the time is right for Nicholas Serota to resign." The new documents show that the Tate bought works by 10 trustees: Sir Anthony Caro, Sir Howard Hodgkin, Sir Henry Moore, Ceri Richards, Edward Bawden, Sir Roland Penrose, Sir William Coldstream, Phillip King, Adrian Stokes and John Piper. Several of those artists, including Moore, Bawden and Richards, attended the meetings that approved the purchase of their work. A spokesman for the Tate said: "Having been alerted by Tate to the fact that works by serving artists have been acquired as far back as 1955, the Charity Commission agreed to review a complete list of all art works, including editioned prints, acquired since that time. "Tate volunteered the list and the commission has reviewed it. They have recently confirmed that in their view, all works were acquired in the beneficial interest of the charity." (For full source and full article click the Headline). Irish Art