‘Robbed in a dark alley’: fears that Mosman’s $5m art collection will be lost in potential merger heist

THE Mosman Art Collection — worth $5m — is under threat according to its biggest benefactor, who fears the public-owned art could be sold off if council amalgamations go ahead.

Neil Balnaves from Mosman, is a philanthropist whose foundation supports arts and medical causes.

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THERE are fears of a major art heist in Mosman involving $5 million worth of paintings.

But the concern is that councils or the government — not thieves — will hijack the paintings.

The alarm bells have been triggered by proposed council amalgamation and the fear that the $5 million Mosman Art Collection, which is held in trust for the Mosman community, could be lost or swallowed up.

Mosman philanthropist Neil Balnaves has expressed grave concern about the future protection of the collection, warning its fate could be akin to being “robbed in a dark alley’’.

He is angry that having given $2 million worth of paintings to the collection there were no assurances that the whole collection would be preserved in its entirety.

Former NSW Governor Marie Bashir and Neil Balnaves at the unveiling of his donation of 16 artworks to the Mosman Art Gallery in 2012.

“The council can do its best under the law to protect the collection, but there are no guarantees that the government, the idiots in Macquarie St, won’t defy the councils,’’ he said.

Mosman mayor Peter Abelson has expressed similar concern, fearing the collection could be “stolen” by other councils if amalgamation goes ahead.

“This is the greatest art collection on the lower north shore and has been paid for by our ratepayers and now suddenly it could be stolen by Willoughby or North Sydney councils — it is outrageous,’’ Cr Peter Abelson said.

Mr Balnaves, who was recently praised for giving away a total of $20 million, donated a valuable collection of 16 paintings from his personal art collection to the Mosman Art Collection.

The collection includes a work by the late Mosman artist Kerrie Lester.

“I gave the paintings to Mosman for Mosman. What guarantees are there that the collection won’t be extinguished with a stroke of a pen?’’ he said.

“The scenes in the paintings aren’t cheap chocolate box scenes but are specifically about Mosman.”

The Mosman Art Collection consists of nearly 800 paintings mainly collected through the acquisitive Mosman Art Prize since its establishment in 1947.

The Balnaves Gift includes paintings by Arthur Streeton and Margaret Preston. The wider collection includes paintings by Margaret Olley, Lloyd Rees, Lucy Culliton, Kerrie Lester, Nancy Borlase and Grace Cossington Smith.

Apart from The Balnaves Gift, the paintings are rotated for hanging in the council chambers, the library and for exhibitions at the gallery.

2008 Mosman Art Prize winner Jasper Knight.

However, Mosman Art Gallery director John Cheeseman says the council, under legal advice, signed a new deed of trust last December which should provide legal protection for the collection in the event of amalgamation.

He said the collection was held in trust “on behalf of the people of Mosman, to remain the existing municipality of Mosman and controlled by the gallery’’,

However, both Mr Balnaves and Cr Abelson are not convinced the future of the art collection is airtight.

Mr Balnaves said he was aware of the deed of trust but wasn’t reassured and urged the NSW Government to provide guarantees for the art collection.

Mosman Art Gallery director John Cheeseman.

“I am very concerned that I donated this gift to the community and it could all go up in smoke,’’ he said.

“What guarantees are there that the collection won’t be sold or watered down.’’

“The collection belongs to the citizens of Mosman. The council houses the collection but the collection belongs to the ratepayers.”.

Mr Balnaves said he was strenuously opposed to council amalgamation.

“The whole damn thing is stupid — penalising communities who have been sufficiently providing for themselves until some idiot sitting up in bureaucracy thinks amalgamation is a good idea without thinking about the impact it might have on communities,’’ he said.