Most council art in England locked away in storage rather than shown to public

English local authorities own more than 500,000 pieces of art, but fewer than one in 20 of these artworks are currently on public display. Data shared by 225 councils shows that just 26,899 works were being shown to the public as of April. Local authorities remain the biggest single group providing public funding for arts and culture, according to Art UK charity chief executive Andrew Ellis.

Collections and Challenges

Many councils face a strain on storage space and resources as spending on museums falls in real terms. These collections feature works by famous artists like Tracey Emin, David Hockney, LS Lowry and Antony Gormley. Waltham Forest Council holds the largest collection with 125,000 pieces, and individual collections carry insurance values in the millions of pounds, though only a fraction of councils provided financial valuations. Rugby Council in Warwickshire is the only responding authority with more than 100 items to have every single one of its 257 artworks on display. Rugby Art Gallery and Museum manager Sally Godden said art must connect communities rather than being hidden away.

Sales and Disposal

Only 10 councils actively disposed of any art during the past six financial years, with others choosing to grow their collections. Derbyshire sold 356 artworks in 2021 and 2022 after closing its Schools Library Service, while North Lincolnshire sold 22 pieces at auction in 2023 and 2024. Kent previously confirmed it sold 418 artworks in the 12 months up to April because its basement art store was closing, and the council also sold a sculpture back to artist Antony Gormley. Andrew Ellis warned that selling off public art would strip lives of extraordinary works meant to enrich and engage the public. Meanwhile, Art UK has spent years photographing public collections to build a digital record of over one million artworks.

Context

Local councils often acquire cultural assets over decades through purchases, donations, and bequests to preserve local heritage. Managing these large archives requires dedicated climate-controlled storage, security, and conservation staff, which creates ongoing financial pressures for local government budgets. Digital platforms and loans to other museums offer alternative ways for the public to view items when physical gallery space is limited.