Fewer Than One in 20 Council Artworks on Display, BBC Finds

English councils own more than 500,000 pieces of art held across 225 local authorities, according to the BBC. Fewer than one in 20 of those works are on public display.

Councils Struggle With Storage and Funding

Local authorities are the single largest constituent of public funding for arts and culture, as noted by the chief executive of the charity Art UK. Net spending on museums across English councils dropped by a fifth between the 2017-18 and 2025-26 financial years after adjusting for inflation, according to the BBC.

Councillor Mick Barton, who chairs the Local Government Association’s culture committee, said communities deserve to enjoy local art and historic exhibits. Financial pressures leave councils with less money for discretionary services like museums.

Half a Million Artworks Locked Away

Council collections feature works by notable artists including Tracey Emin, David Hockney, LS Lowry, and Antony Gormley. Waltham Forest Council holds the largest collection of 125,000 works.

Only 26,856 of the total half a million works were exhibited by the 225 councils that shared data as of April. Only one responding authority with more than 100 items—Rugby Council in Warwickshire—managed to exhibit all of its art.

“If things have been squirrelled away, then it’s not going to do that,” said Sally Godden, manager of Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, referring to art’s power to connect communities.

“It's not just a picture on the wall. It's how it connects to somebody and makes people think,” Sally Godden, manager of Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, said.

“We can have the best collection in the world, but if they’re not accessed, if they’re not seen, if they’re not enjoyed, if they don’t make people think, then what’s the point of them?” Godden said.

Few Councils Sell Stored Artworks

Only 10 councils actively disposed of any art during the past six financial years while most collections grow. Derbyshire sold 356 artworks in 2021-22 due to the closure of its Schools Library Service, and North Lincolnshire sold 22 at auction in 2023-24.

Rochdale Council in Greater Manchester has kept its 1,701 artworks in storage due to the regeneration of the Touchstones museum.

“A lot of people don’t understand what’s involved in looking after a collection and making sure that it’s there for future generations to be able to access and see,” said Mark Doyle, director of arts, heritage and wellness at Your Trust, which delivers culture and leisure services on behalf of Rochdale Council.