Flog it!
Photo by Jessica Ruscello
British Airways has hit the headlines for auctioning off some of its collection of 1,500 artworks in order to raise money as demand for air travel plummets. The sale includes pieces by renowned artists Bridget Riley and Damian Hirst that had been hung in BA’s premium airport lounges and offices.
As a young exec at BA in the early 2000s I was hugely impressed by the artworks I saw and also with BA’s commitment to supporting and showcasing the work of young British artists.
The best art has the power to inspire creativity, raise important questions and challenge accepted ways of thinking, being and doing. We might not have any Damian Hirsts on the walls of Workshop but we do have a number of prints and original artworks that have come from within the community and which help to create a stimulating environment.
We are on the lookout for work by exciting local artists to add to our walls; perhaps British Airways could use a small proportion of the proceeds of its auction to reinvest in new work by the next generation of young British artists and continue a great tradition.
Further reading:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/cash-strapped-british-airways-to-sell-some-of-art-collection-in-bid-to-save-jobs