British Council's Financial Struggles
The British Council is facing "real financial peril" with debts of almost £200m, prompting its chief executive, Scott McDonald, to propose transferring its art collection to the UK government.
The collection comprises almost 9,000 British art works of the 20th and 21st centuries by renowned artists including Lucian Freud, David Hockney, Tomma Abts, and John Akomfrah.
- The works have no permanent gallery.
- Around a fifth of the collection is on display at any one time in the UK and internationally.
The organisation is "selling everything" it can to survive, according to Scott McDonald.
Author's summary: British Council faces financial peril.