Danny Boyle in bid to stop Tower Hamlets selling off £20m Henry Moore

 
P29 Kew Gardens Henry Moore Sculpture
Anna Davis @_annadavis8 November 2012

The creator of the 2012 Games opening ceremony is trying to stop a £20 million Henry Moore sculpture being sold by an Olympic borough.

Film director Danny Boyle has joined other top figures from the arts world in a bid to persuade Tower Hamlets to halt its plan.

The council is considering selling the work, Draped Seated Woman — known as “Old Flo” — despite the artist specifying he wanted it displayed in an underprivileged area.

It says the sculpture, currently on loan to Yorkshire Sculpture Park, would be at risk from metal thieves if returned, and would cost too much to insure.

Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota, the artist’s daughter Mary, and Bethnal Green and Bow MP Rushanara Ali have joined Boyle in writing a letter to mayor Lutfur Rahman.

It says: “While we understand the financial pressures that Tower Hamlets faces, we feel the Mayor’s proposal goes against the spirit of Henry Moore’s original sale to London County Council at a favourable price on the understanding that it would be placed in east London.

“The presence of the sculpture in Stepney was a demonstration of the post-war belief that everyone, whatever their background, should have access to works of art of the highest quality.

"That is why Moore was so delighted to see the work sited as the centrepiece of a housing estate in the East End ... there are a number of sites in the borough where the work could be safely sited for the benefit of the community.”

Queen Mary, University of London, based in Mile End, has offered to house the sculpture and is in talks about covering insurance costs. The letter is also signed by Richard Calvocoressi, director of the Henry Moore Foundation.

“Old Flo” was quietly moved from the Stifford Estate, Stepney, to Yorkshire Sculpture Park in 1997 after a series of graffiti attacks.

"The council will decide on its future at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. It said it would use money from a sale to pay for affordable housing, education and community safety.

Council papers state: “Recently, Henry Moore artworks have generated considerable receipts when offered at auction. If the sculpture is sold it will generate a substantial capital receipt which can be used for the immediate benefit of the local community.”

A Tower Hamlets spokeswoman said: “With unprecedented cuts to budgets, the council finds itself ... forced to make hard decisions.

"The sculpture was purchased in 1962 to benefit the community and the council will keep this in mind as it explores its options.”

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