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12
Jan 2023
Just over 1% of 2,658 artworks owned by Harrogate Borough Council are currently on display to the public, figures reveal.
A freedom of information request to the authority by the Local Democracy Reporting Service found that 37 artworks are on display at its galleries or museums.
The council refused to publish the total value of the collection, saying that doing so could attract thieves.
However in 2019 it valued its 2,642 artworks at a combined £6.7m.
Harrogate Borough Council owns the Mercer Art Gallery on Swan Road in Harrogate. It also owns the Royal Pump Room Museum in the town as well as Knaresborough Castle and Museum.
A HBC spokesperson said there was “finite capacity” to exhibit more of its pieces but added it regularly rotates artworks across its locations and also lends pieces to exhibitions across the country. A further 70 artworks will be put on public display later this month, they said.
The collection will become owned by the new unitary authority North Yorkshire Council on April 1.
A HBC spokesperson said:
The spokesperson added:
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