Henry Moore Sculpture Entitled Draped Seated Woman

EDM number 1028 in 2012-13, proposed by Rushanara Ali on 05/02/2013.
Categorised under the topic of Art works.

That this House notes with concern that due to excessive central Government cuts to local authority funding, councils are under severe pressure and many nationally treasured works of art are being prepared for sale in order to try and balance the books; is concerned by the decision of the Mayor of Tower Hamlets to sell on the open market the Henry Moore sculpture affectionately known as `Old Flo' contrary to the wishes of many local councillors and people; further notes with concern that there is ambiguity over title to that sculpture; recalls the wishes of Henry Moore and his family that this sculpture should be displayed for the benefit of the people of London and the intentions of the London County Council on purchasing this sculpture that it should remain in public ownership in perpetuity; welcomes the interest of the Museum of London in housing the sculpture at the Museum of London Docklands in Tower Hamlets, where it could be displayed for free and with the support of professional skilled curators; and believes that `Old Flo' and other internationally important works of art could soon be lost, taking with them an important part of the nation's heritage, due to irresponsible cuts to local authority budgets.

This motion has been signed by a total of 12 MPs.