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English councils collectively hold an extensive array of artworks, numbering over half a million pieces across 225 local authorities. Despite this vast collection, a revealing report by the BBC shows that fewer than 5% of these artworks are publicly exhibited. Most are stored away, often inaccessible to the communities that own them. Local authorities continue to be a major source of public funding for arts and culture, yet budget constraints and limited storage capacity have made it increasingly difficult to showcase these treasures.
Among the council-owned art are pieces by renowned artists such as Tracey Emin, David Hockney, LS Lowry, and Antony Gormley. Some collections are immense, with Waltham Forest Council possessing the largest holding of approximately 125,000 works. Insuring these collections represents a significant financial value, with some individual collections worth millions. Despite this, only a small portion of the art is on display; as of April, just 26,856 artworks were exhibited publicly among those councils that provided data. This situation raises questions about how local governments can make their collections more accessible.
A striking exception is Rugby Council in Warwickshire, which uniquely displayed its entire collection of 257 artworks together for the first time. Sally Godden, manager of Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, emphasized the power of art to engage and connect communities, saying, “If things have been squirrelled away, then it’s not going to do that. It’s not just a picture on the wall. It’s how it connects to somebody and makes people think.” The council is actively investing in plans to redevelop the gallery and museum to include permanent exhibition spaces, further supporting the display and growth of its collection.
Elsewhere, some councils have chosen different paths. Between 2017 and 2023, only ten councils sold or otherwise disposed of artworks. Derbyshire sold 356 pieces following the closure of its Schools Library Service, which had lent art to local schools for decades. North Lincolnshire also auctioned artwork, while other councils transferred or donated items. Paul Webb, a Kent councillor, explained that selling art was sometimes a practical response to storage challenges, noting, “I am sure the works have brought a lot of joy over the years to many people, and will now continue to do so.” However, Art UK’s chief executive Andrew Ellis warned that widespread sales would diminish public access to important cultural assets that enrich lives.
To bridge the gap between ownership and public access, the charity Art UK has spent years creating a digital archive, photographing over one million publicly owned artworks. Ellis highlighted the importance of this platform, describing it as a means to make art available “for everyone, everywhere, all the time,” and to share the stories behind the works. Meanwhile, councils like Rochdale have temporarily stored their collections during museum renovations but have sought to keep art accessible by bringing pieces to community events and schools. Mark Doyle, director at
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