What Art Items GBC Own
Case reference FOI2018/01163
Published 25 October 2018
Request
I am requesting a simple schedule of the items in your ownership or possession (in full or part) which can be described as "art" with a nominal value over £100. Please include items which have been placed into arms length organisations such as trusts and charities, and which would revert to the authority in the event of dissolution. Please provide; > The name and / or description of the item. > Whether it is on view to the general public, or other status such as on loan, restricted viewing, or in storage. > Acquisition date. > Date to be returned if borrowed. > The last known or estimated value. > Acquisition cost. I do not require listings where they are retail stock, or specifically used for theatre production, classrooms, or healthcare.
Response
In response to your request for information on art owned by the local authority, some of the information can be found in our latest statement of accounts (2017-18, pages 49-50):
https://www.guildford.gov.uk/soa
Additionally, our complete borough art collection is available to view by artist via http://www2.guildford.gov.uk/boroughcollection/
We have hard copy accessions registers at the museum which you are welcome to make an appointment to view should you wish to do so.
No works from the borough art collection are currently on display or loan. This is unusual - we generally have at least 5 or so pieces on display in our venues or in other museums. Our most recent temporary display at the museum which ended a few weeks ago included four works of art from the borough collection, for example. At the moment, we have a theatre company installation in the museum temporary gallery, and the works of an arts group in Guildford House Gallery, which will be followed by the Sunday Times Watercolour exhibition and will not include any of our pieces, therefore.
In addition to the borough collection managed by the Heritage Service, we have the following works of public sculpture on display in various locations:
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Bronze Statue entitled "Alice, Her Sister and White Rabbit" sited in front of Hayes Wharf, Guildford |
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Bronze Statue entitled "Alice Through The Looking Glass" sited in the south west corner of the Castle Grounds at the rear of 1 Castle Hill. |
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Sculpture "Vane II" sited at the rear of the Electric Theatre, Guildford |
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The Surrey Scholar sited in Guildford High Street |
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World War 2 Memorial in Castle Grounds |
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Recent wars Memorial also in Castle Ground |
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Sundial at Westnye Gardens, Millmead, Guildford |
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Turing Machine sculpture at G Live. |
We are ethically obliged not to discuss the current value of any of our objects, in accordance with the Museums Association code of ethics, which requires museums to discuss the heritage and cultural value of collections, rather than the financial value. As such I am unable to provide you with a list of items valuing over £100.
Documents
This is Guildford Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.