Mosman Council takes drastic action to save $5 million art collection from amalgamation threat

A SYDNEY council is taking drastic action to protect its $5 million art collection if the threat of amalgamation is realised.

John Olsen, the famous artist, has done a painting based on an Arthur Streeton painting. The Streeton is called Sydney Harbour. The Olsen is called The Rolling Sea And That Streeton Painting. Here pictured with both paintings at Mosman Art Gallery. Picture: ELENOR TEDENBORG

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MOSMAN Council is taking drastic action to protect its crown jewels from a possible neighbourhood heist should the municipality be forced to amalgamate.

A charitable trust will be set up for the Mosman Art Collection — housed in the Mosman Art Gallery and other council buildings — in a bid to keep artworks in local hands well into the future.

According to the council, the collection is worth more than $5 million and comprises some 700 artworks.

Mosman Art Gallery director John Cheeseman speaking to North Shore Liberal MP Jillian Skinner and Deputy Premier Troy Grant in October.

“The trust will create legal protection for the collection by clearly identifying the Mosman community as the intended ongoing beneficiary ... and identifying Mosman as the most appropriate location for works in the Collection,” Mosman Mayor Peter Abelson said.

“The Government’s future action under its reform agenda still remains uncertain but we are doing what we can to protect the Mosman Art Collection for the future enjoyment of Mosman residents.”

Cr Abelson said under the proposed arrangements the council would be the owner and trustee of the collection.

The collection includes The Balnaves Gift, donated by Neil Balnaves AO.

“The Mosman Art Collection is a unique and significant collection of artworks that is a critical part of Mosman’s — and Australia’s — cultural and artistic heritage,” he said.

“It was established for the people of Mosman and it is important that appropriate protections be put in place so that the collection continues to be held for the benefit of Mosman’s community.

“While the collection ... has a current dollar value of more than $5 million, its value to the Mosman community is potentially much more. Council agrees that it should be protected.”

Katrina Cashman with the winning painting of this year’s Mosman Art Prize. The large proportion of the artworks in the Mosman Art Collection consist of Mosman Art Prize winners.

When asked if there were concerns the Mosman Art Gallery itself would be closed following possible amalgamation, Cr Abelson said “any amalgamation would be subject to negotiation on an extensive range of issues, and protecting the ongoing work of Mosman Gallery would certainly be a priority”.

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