Madam, – The Bank of Ireland’s art collection is unique. As pointed out by Prof Anne Crookshank in the catalogue of the initial collection, it represents a body of modern Irish art of exceptional quality and in terms of its visual impact is a testimonial to a new awareness by Irish artists of their role in the international art scene that arose in the 1960s and early 1970s. To dissipate such a unique collection would do great disservice to Irish art.
These are straitened times for the bank, but the proceeds of a sale of these works of art would be minimal in the overall context of its indebtedness. The bank has benefited greatly from, and indeed owes its very survival to, the public purse. It would represent a token of appreciation were the bank to donate its collection to the public either by making it available to the public in a gallery created in one of its own buildings or by transferring it to one of the public art galleries. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Barry Keating (October 21st) cites the bank’s “commercial decision” as a good reason for selling off what is an Irish cultural asset. The same bank whose “commercial decisions” have helped to bankrupt the country should not be allowed to bankrupt our artistic culture as well. Bank of Ireland should donate the works to the National Gallery as a resource for all Irish citizens.
The vast majority of Irish artists earn salaries under €15,000 from their art (“The Living and Working Conditions of Artists in the Republic” Survey 2010.) They pay PRSI and the artists’ tax exemption merely allows them to survive, even if choosing a financially poorer life. Removing the tax exemption for artists will drastically affect the arts in Ireland.
On the world stage it is our artists who promote us and who we can be proud of. Mr Keating would do well to remember that it is our artists who have, and will, lead us out of the bleak times – and not the bankers. – Yours, etc,