Fewer than 1 in 20 council-owned artworks in England are displayed

An investigation found that 225 English councils hold over half a million pieces of art, including works by notable artists such as David Hockney and Tracey Emin. However, as of April, only a small fraction of these works were on public display, with the vast majority remaining locked away in storage. Local authorities face real-term funding cuts for museums and mounting challenges regarding storage space and resources. While most councils keep their collections hidden, a few have managed to exhibit large portions or have resorted to selling pieces due to practical constraints and closures of storage facilities.