Crafty closure cannot happen (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Crafty closure cannot happen

9:19am Monday 22nd January 2007 in

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MILLIONS of pounds worth of original art may be lost to Waltham Forest if the council cuts opening times at the William Morris Gallery.

Under proposals agreed by Waltham Forest Council's cabinet last month, £43,000 will be saved in the coming year by closing the flagship venue in Lloyd Park, Walthamstow, to the public during the week, opening just on weekends and holidays.

But hundreds of paintings, watercolours, drawings and sculptures donated by the famous Arts & Crafts artist and William Morris trainee, Sir Frank Brangwyn, must stay on display to the public.

Article 8 of the Brangwyn Gift Trust deed states: "It shall be open to the public without charge during each day and shall be open for at least one Sunday in each month."

Chairman of the trustees of the Gift, Martin Stuchfield, said the borough could lose the art to another gallery, such as the Victoria & Albert Museum.

"It's the largest Arts & Crafts collection that we have in Britain. It has an international reputation. It was a national collection that was given to Walthamstow. That is why we are up in arms about the fact it could be put at risk."

He said the collection was worth several million pounds.

"I think it would cause a great deal of embarrassment for councillors and council officers to lose a collection of this importance for such an infinitesimal amount of money."

The Brangwyn Gift is the largest Arts & Crafts collection in Britain and includes work by British, French, Belgian and Austrian Arts & Crafts artists, including Sir Frank.

He was the first artist to be honoured with an exhibition of his own at the Royal Academy during his lifetime, and he collected the Gift art between 1930 and 1950.

It comprises the majority of the Gallery's fine art collection and was pivotal in its creation.

Its importance was even reflected in the gallery's full name: The William Morris Gallery and Brangwyn Gift.

Mr Stuchfield said the collection had been on loan to galleries all over the world.

He added: "If we lost the Gift, I think serious questions would be asked. I could even see questions being asked in Parliament."

Cabinet member for arts and culture, Cllr Naz Sarkar, indicated that the council was considering a U-turn over the opening hours.

He said that £43,000 of savings had to be found, but there was "flexibility" in how that could be achieved.

"We want to make sure that we don't upset the art community," he said.

scosgrove@london.newsquest.co.uk