HAMPSHIRE civic chiefs have come under fire for spending public money on hundreds of modern art works for their offices that the public rarely if ever see.

County bosses have hoarded 353 paintings and other works in the little-known ‘Art in Offices’ collection to adorn meeting rooms, corridors and reception areas.

Only one sculpture is currently on public display, at Winchester Discovery Centre.

Critics have slammed the council for spending taxpayers’ money on art that is mostly kept behind closed doors for staff enjoyment.

Although it is technically available for public view through appointment, no requests has been made in the last 12 months, the Hampshire Chronicle can reveal.

Figures obtained by the Chronicle under Freedom of Information show the council spent £14,203 adding to the collection in the last five years.The current policy is to invest in local artists.

The most recent purchases were three oil paintings by Jane Skingley for £2,985 in 2009.

Managers say the pictures are in storage.

Other purchases include two oils on canvas (£2,600) hung in Mottisfont Court and four photographs (£1,120) in Trafalgar House — both in Winchester — as well as “two acrylic and oils on paper” (£1,300) in Nuance House, Eastleigh.

The art collection was started by former Tory council leader Freddie Emery-Wallis in 1989 to “enhance the working environment for staff and visitors”.

The council was asked for the value of the collection but refused, saying the information was not held. Officers said the council self-insured the art along with its buildings and contents.

However, an art expert said the collection could be worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pounds.

The collection includes important paintings by significant British artists including Annabel Gault, Brendan Neiland, Robert Butler, David Morgan and David Atkins.

Lymington-based valuer George Kidner said: “If the 353 works have been selected carefully, then it is a very significant collection. I can’t think of a private person who has that sort of collection unless they are very wealthy.

“If the council was spending at the rate of £2-3,000 for each piece 20 years ago, the collection could be worth rather more — a seven-figure sum. It depends how clever they were in buying.”

The council, which is planning to increase council tax by £20 to an average £1,037 in April, has no plans to sell any of the collection.

Nick Stewart, a senior tutor at Winchester School of Art, said he supported the investment in contemporary art.

But he said: “If the art is paid for with public money, it needs to be available for public view.

“In a recession, I don’t think people will be happy to discover the council is spending thousands of pounds on art for council offices.”

Liberal Democrat opposition spokesman for the arts, Cllr Peter Chegwyn, described the collection as “a shocking waste of public money”.

He said: “I don’t have a problem with the council investing in art, but a lot more of the collection should be on public display in galleries, museums and libraries where people can see it.

“If taxpayers have paid for the art, it belongs to them.”

Christine Melsom, chairman of anti-council tax group IsItFair, said: “When people are struggling to pay their council tax bills, it is rubbing salt in the wound to discover the county is spending money on indulgences like original art works for offices.”

Council leader Ken Thornber declined to comment. A council spokesman insisted the art is on display in public buildings and people can view specific items by making an appointment on 01962 846966, or at arts.office@hants.gov.uk.

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