Fears for the future of Paisley paintings said to be worth £25 million have caused a split among art lovers.
The schism within the Paisley Art Institute has been sparked by former president Joe Hargan, who believes the historic collection is at risk.
Artist Hargan has been a member of the Institute for 35 years and is spearheading a group of 20 who believes the paintings are a secret target of Renfrewshire Council.
The group has now lodged an official grievance with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
Renfrewshire Council is denying it is targeting works it does not already own.
But Hargan, who lives in Oakshaw, said: “This is the biggest existential threat in the institute’s near 150-year history.
“This collection is Paisley’s cultural crown jewel, it does not belong to the council. This collection is owned by the Institute and always has been.
“But they’ve slowly taken over control of the institute by stealth, sidelining people who suspect something is amiss.
“We have been trying to resolve this privately. We’ve been cautiously vociferous — but that’s got us nowhere. We’ve been remiss in not bringing it to the fore which is why some of us have decided to now go public.
“It’s impossible when we can’t even get them round the table as we’ve been trying to do. They’ve cited Covid as an excuse but like everything else, we could have met online.
“We have around 350 members and I don’t think many know what’s happening. Most people in the town certainly don’t know nor do Renfrewshire councillors. I feel sidelined as do many other members.”
Now Tory politician Russell Findlay has become involved, offering to mediate in a bid to try and resolve the bitter spat.
The collection of artworks have been built up by the Paisley Art Institute (PAI) since 1876.
Influential Hargan also fears the annual exhibitions will be squeezed out of their long-time home at Paisley Museum, which reopens next year after a £42 million revamp.
On July 27, the PAI announced it had made the “enforced decision” to cancel its 133rd Annual Exhibition, which was due to open this month.
Russell Findlay, Scottish Conservative MSP for West Scotland, said: “Paisley is rightly proud of this extraordinary collection built up over almost 150 years and I share members’ concerns about what is going on behind closed doors.
“Many artists with a passion for the institute and their home town are suspicious about the actions and intentions of both Renfrewshire Council and its arms length cultural body Renfrewshire Leisure.
“They have expressed concerns to me about the council’s motives around ownershship of this multi-million pound collection.
“I am calling for full transparency from the council and would be happy to meet with officials to find a resolution which would be in everyone’s best interests. I also urge that OSCR to conducts a thorough investigation into the concerns raised.
“Ironically, this is the year Paisley hoped to be the UK’s City of Culture, a bid supported by the institute, but is instead embroiled in what some artists are calling Scotland’s biggest art heist.”
The Institute has 350 members and the colllection includes Sir John Lavery’s Paisley Lawn Tennis Club. The painter lived in the town and was a leader of the Glasgow Boys group of artists of the 1880s.
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There are also works by FCB Cadell, the Scottish Colourist who went to art school in Paris and Munich before opening a studio in Edinburgh in 1909.
The Paisley collection has three works by Eugène Boudin, the 19th-century French painter, and three by Francis Newbery, who was headmaster of Glasgow School of Art for 32 years to 1917. Newbery’s work included The Paisley Shawl.
Rowena Comrie, current chairwoman of the Institute, said: “Paisley Museum is currently closed for extensive renovations. Continuing use of the galleries by Paisley Art Institute is under negotiation, and may not be fully resolved until the museum reopens. This is a matter of concern.”
She denied Renfrewshire Council had made any claim over ownership, but admitted there is a possible long term loan.
When the museum reopens there will be a display dedicated to the historic artwork owned by Paisley Art Institute.
A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “Renfrewshire Council has not claimed ownership of works to which it does not have title. Paisley Museum is currently closed for major refurbishment. The museum team are working with a wide range of organisations and communities across Renfrewshire, including Paisley Art Institute, on co-production and audience engagement to ensure the museum reflects their needs when it reopens in 2023.”
